robinb Posted June 7, 2008 Share #1 Posted June 7, 2008 Got this a year ago. Found it next to a barn while driving home from a picnic. It was hard to recognize it at first, but under all of the extra scrap iron welded to it, there was a Rock Island Arsenal M3A4 Utility Hand Cart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted June 7, 2008 Author Share #2 Posted June 7, 2008 I really had to laugh at the bracket bolted to the rear of the cart. It was made to hold tail lights, like someone would actually tow this little guy on the road. They used 14 3/8" bolts to hold the bracket to the cart. Overkill, I'd say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted June 7, 2008 Author Share #3 Posted June 7, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted June 7, 2008 Author Share #4 Posted June 7, 2008 It the middle of all of this iron, is the original lunette ring and spade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted June 7, 2008 Author Share #5 Posted June 7, 2008 Now I'm happy to report that after MUCH grinding, cutting, welding, paint, and cussing, it's finished. I had a pair of original WW2 handcart tires to replace what was on it. One side note, during the removal of "extra" stuff on the cart, the sparks started a smoldering fire in the nearby leaves than I wasn't aware of. 2 hours later, at 11PM, my wife spotted the blaze outside of the bedroom window, and we luckily got the fire extinguished without too much collateral damage. The cart was OK, just some nearby lumber got burned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted June 7, 2008 Author Share #6 Posted June 7, 2008 Some of you may notice that this cart has no holes drilled in the body like most carts have. This one is a fairly uncommon late RIA model made as a utility cart only. It does not have the extra strip of metal around the top of the body that reinforces the cart when machinegun or mortar brackets are installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeeper704 Posted June 7, 2008 Share #7 Posted June 7, 2008 Beautfiul restoration. Isn't there a jeep in the picture as well? Erwin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camelgreen44 Posted June 7, 2008 Share #8 Posted June 7, 2008 Good eye in identifying a mil. cart in the middle of all that extra mess. great job and a good save ! Denny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted June 7, 2008 Share #9 Posted June 7, 2008 Robin: That turned out beautifully. Nice rescue job! Was there a data plate on the hand carts? Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted June 7, 2008 Share #10 Posted June 7, 2008 Great work in that restoration. Congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted June 7, 2008 Author Share #11 Posted June 7, 2008 The data plate was missing, but the serial number was stamped on the body underneath it. Number 10292 makes it a Rock Island 1943 cart. The Jeep in the background is a 1943 Willys. It's going to be a donor for my 1944 Willys MZ-2 USMC radio Jeep restoration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveR Posted June 7, 2008 Share #12 Posted June 7, 2008 Nice job sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeeper704 Posted June 7, 2008 Share #13 Posted June 7, 2008 Looking forward to the jeep restoration too. Erwin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted June 8, 2008 Author Share #14 Posted June 8, 2008 The jeep has a long way to go. Probably years. I do have all of the radio equipment for it already, but there is a lot of rust and damage and missing pieces to the jeep itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artu44 Posted June 8, 2008 Share #15 Posted June 8, 2008 Nice job Robin. Do you had metal shop facilities for such a restoration? I noticed that on France ebay often appear WWII original parts for US jeeps and other bigger vehicles. It would be worthwhile look at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted June 8, 2008 Author Share #16 Posted June 8, 2008 Artu, I'm a sheet metal fabricator by trade, and have many tools here at home also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted June 9, 2008 Share #17 Posted June 9, 2008 Nice! I spotted one of those early RIA Utility Carts in Beltring last year. They are rather rare! JOhan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Packard Merlin Posted September 28, 2008 Share #18 Posted September 28, 2008 Is your axle "inverted"? I believe the flat face of the axle should be facing toward the front of the cart. Or is it the other way around? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted September 28, 2008 Share #19 Posted September 28, 2008 Axles have been observed to be mounted both ways. There seems no logic to it but most seem to have been facing the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Packard Merlin Posted September 28, 2008 Share #20 Posted September 28, 2008 Axles have been observed to be mounted both ways. There seems no logic to it but most seem to have been facing the front. Thanks! I've noticed that on a couple, and it had always puzzled me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted September 29, 2008 Share #21 Posted September 29, 2008 Nice Save! That had certinly been a victum of Assualt with a deadly welder! BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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