Wrecker Oil Can Bracket

[nf6x]

My old M543A2 has a mounting bracket for an old-fashioned oil can up in the gondola, and my new M936A1 has the rusted remains of one underneath the newer coats of paint. Neither one included the oil can itself. I found a somewhat beat up oil can at a military surplus yard many years ago, but it's just a bit too small in diameter to fit in the bracket on my M543A2 so I suspect it came from something else.

Are those oil cans and brackets still used on wreckers that haven't left service yet, or have they been abandoned and replaced by something like a newer trigger-style oiler stored in a tool compartment?

I'm just wondering whether that oil can and bracket is something I want to chase down replacing on my M936A1. A site search here didn't turn anything up... particularly because the search engine deemed "can" to be a too-common word. A google site search didn't help, either. Most of the internet-wide google results referred to oil can brackets in Model T Fords, WW2 jeeps, etc.

 

[crasheej]

I never saw a oil can on any of the wreckers that we had while I was in the service.

 

[5tondeuce]

I think they were for fire extinguishers

 

[nf6x]

The brackets on the back of the gondola are for fire extinguishers. There's another bracket inside the gondola for an oil can.

 

[Csm Davis]

I really want to see this mount I thought it just sat on the shelf.

 

[nf6x]

I'll take a picture after I get some more coffee into me.

 

[1958 M274]

Snapped these pics for you yesterday while using the M816 to pull the powerpack and replace the clutch in my Dad's 151. The oil can pictured came with the truck when it was excessed. I found it in one of the tool boxes, still has oil in it!

 

[nf6x]

Here's the mount on my M543A2. My M936A1 just has some rusty residue from the bracket. I could have stolen the bracket off the M543A2 for it, but since I didn't get around to doing that before making a deal to sell the M543A2, I guess its new owner gets to keep the bracket!

 

[nf6x]

Snapped these pics for you yesterday while using the M816 to pull the powerpack and replace the clutch in my Dad's 151. The oil can pictured came with the truck when it was excessed. I found it in one of the tool boxes, still has oil in it!

Thanks! I was also interested to see the field chock mounts on the boom. I'm considering moving my chocks up to the boom to get them off the deck, too. Are the bottoms bolted to those front mounts, are are the visible bolts just pins that holes in the spades fit over? How are the tops of the chocks mounted at the rear of the boom?

 

[zebedee]

Ground Spades

Thanks! I was also interested to see the field chock mounts on the boom. I'm considering moving my chocks up to the boom to get them off the deck, too. Are the bottoms bolted to those front mounts, are are the visible bolts just pins that holes in the spades fit over? How are the tops of the chocks mounted at the rear of the boom?

C'mon now, surely THIS is worthy of a new thread!

I have seen 'pins' for the 'heel' end of the spades either orientation, with feet to the cab and the other way around to the back of the truck. But the feet end securement seems a mystery. Have seen strapped spades, bolted spades and staple type loops for the feet. My 816 has the heel pins forward but no feet brackets. The ones in the pic seem 'non-factory' or recent additions.

Would imagine they'd clatter a lot if not strapped tight.

Where did the 818 (tractor) carry them? (819 probably on the boom too)

 

[Csm Davis]

Yes! I have at least one!

 

[Csm Davis]

Here's mine

 

[nf6x]

Snapped these pics for you yesterday while using the M816 to pull the powerpack and replace the clutch in my Dad's 151. The oil can pictured came with the truck when it was excessed. I found it in one of the tool boxes, still has oil in it!

It looks like the manufacturer of your oil can is still around:

Dutton-Lainson Company - Since 1886​

I haven't found a supplier of the bracket yet, though. I'd like to find one for my M936A1, whose original bracket has rusted away.

Edited to add: I've emailed them to ask if they know a source for the mounting bracket.

 

[Csm Davis]

Hey Nf6x did you ever get a reply?

 

[73m819]

C'mon now, surely THIS is worthy of a new thread!

I have seen 'pins' for the 'heel' end of the spades either orientation, with feet to the cab and the other way around to the back of the truck. But the feet end securement seems a mystery. Have seen strapped spades, bolted spades and staple type loops for the feet. My 816 has the heel pins forward but no feet brackets. The ones in the pic seem 'non-factory' or recent additions.

Would imagine they'd clatter a lot if not strapped tight.

Where did the 818 (tractor) carry them? (819 probably on the boom too)

The BII for the m818, m819 do not call for spades, with that being said, I am mounting my spades on each side on the top rail of the bed with a U-bracket, post and strap, this way one person if need be can get them down and back up, If you have ever tried to get spades down to use then and then back up on the boom you WILL know what a pain in the a$$ it is, LOOKS nice on top of the boom, but looks do not always make a happy crew. remember function before looks.

 

[nf6x]

Hey Nf6x did you ever get a reply?

Yes, I did. I had to dig it out on my old laptop:

We would have made that oil can but not the bracket that holds it in place.
We do still make that can and have done so for many many years.

I can’t help you as far as the source of that bracket, since it is a military item; you might try to ask someone there if they have any ideas for you.

Thank you so much for the photo of the can on the military wrecker. It’s nice to see how the products are incorporated into different uses.

My MV hobby has been on the back burner for several months, and lately I've been obsessed with vintage computer stuff. One of these days I need to resume work on my big green beasts! I have more hobbies than time, and I'm a lot better at starting projects than finishing them…