So in my constant searching, I run across items I buy that I don't know much about and despite cost. Now I didn't spend much on this one in my opinion, but I don't know much about it, other than it's a Cadillac tank builders overalls in HBT material and it was made in my hometown. I was wondering what you guys know about it, and what the "retail" price is on it. I've never seen another one, so I don't know if they are common or rare. I have no intentions on selling it although my collection is almost all Marine Corps. I appreciate any help or comments.

The patch.

The tag... made in good ol' Kent Ohio. My hometown.

This is REALLY cool! The coat of arms is the WWII era image for Cadillac- the motor company. In WWII, among other things, they built tanks. This is from the following website: http://www.100megsfr...1940/cad43s.htm

 

After the abbreviated '42 model run, during which only 16,511 units were produced, Cadillac became a major cog in the wheel of America's war machine. There is much justification for saying that the '43 Cadillac was the highly maneuverable M-24 light tank (sometimes called the M-24 Chaffee) that utilized two Cadillac V-8s and two Hydra-Matic transmissions -- each powering one track of the tank. The two driveline systems were coordinated and connected by a spider gear. Inside each tank, a plaque proudly proclaimed that this was a product of Cadillac. Cadillac Division received the Army-Navy "E" Award for excellence in the production of war equipment. The reliable V-8 engines were also used on the M-19 anti-aircraft gun carriage, and Cadillac engines and transmissions powered the M-5 light tanks, the predecessors of the M-24, as well.

 

I would ASSUME that the coveralls were worn by an employee of the production facility during the war. Now, someone's going to say, "but the patch is merrowed." Yes it is, but the merrowing process existed during WWII.

 

Note- the attached image came from the following web location: Source: car-nection.com, who has lots more Cadillac emblems.

 

Quick story- One of my high school friends had a grandfather who was a retired doctor. In World War II, he drove a tank in combat in the ETO. The guy had grown up during the depression and his family was dirt poor. He had once told his friends and classmatess that some day, he was going to be driving a Cadillac. Of course, that created a lot of ribbing and teasing because everyone was sure that he would never amount to anything beyond being a farmer or laborer. WWII came along and the young man found himself driving a Cadillac tank! Thanks to the GI bill, the vet made it through medical school and became a very successful physician. He actually owned the first Rolls Royce that I ever got to ride in. His tastes had escallated beyone the several Cadillacs that he owned from the 50's through the 80's.

 

Allan