This is directed towards John because a while back he mentioned he would like to own a WW II Stuart Tank built by Massey Harris.  Well, it just so happens there is one coming up at Auction aproox 5 weeks from now at an Auction held by the Rock Island Auction Company during their Guns Auction 35 miles from my house.  I found this on proxibid's web site.  The description states it runs, and everything.  Auction price estimate is $170.000.00 to $250,000.00. and if you  are the lucky buyer by way of the internet, tack on another  21.5 %.  However a 3.5 % cash discount is available at purchase.  plus of course Tim would enjoy the standard 10% finders fee.  The bid at this time is $90,000.00.  This would be the greatest self present ever.  Belly up to the bar guys, a once in a great while chance.  Tim

Only 35 Miles?   You better get over there and take plenty of pictures!!!

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/74/1387/outstanding-world-war-ii-us-m5a1-stuart-light-tank

It would be nice to have a serial number to verify if it was a Massey made tank.  

Tim,

Thanks for the tip off.  However the big snag is that it is not of confirmed Massey-Harris manufacture which is what I require.  So unless some confirmation is forthcoming I will be keeping my hand in my pockets.  Pity - it's a nice example but one has to remain a true purist!

John

John How do you you tell who manufactured the Tank. Did they stamp a manufacturers code on it somewhere? I imagine it didn't have made by Massey- Harris stamped on it. It would look nice perched on top of the hill behind your house!!! Alan

Alan,

I haven't a clue as to how positively how a tank was made by MH rather than one of the other manufacturers!  I have sought in vain to find out but no luck, and of the odd ones that I have seen and claimed to be MH I have found no positive MH identification marks or serial number plates on them.  I am also unaware of what the serial number ranges were for the MH tanks

Living in hope.....

John

This was previously posted by David Doyle.  I will re-post as to keep this information available to all who casually stumble across another Stuart tank.

Drew

Knowing for certain that a M5A1 was built by MH (rather than Cadillac or American Car and Foundry) is really pretty easy.   Look closely at the trapezoidal armor plate on the right front of the tank.  MH-built tanks are fittingly stamped "M-H" in that plate.  Also stamped into that plate is the construction number of the tank.

There are a variety of numbers associated with US tanks - and this is good time to discuss these.  The M-H construction number stamped into the tank pretty much means nothing to anyone but MH.  

Painted on the side of the tank (and other US Army vehicles) is the Army registration number.  This is the number that begins "USA".

The registration number can be compared to a non-expiring license plate number - this is the number that typically the army uses to keep track of the vehicle.  Under normal circumstances, these numbers do not change during the vehicle's military service (however, preserved/restored tanks are often painted with erroneous numbers).

Thus, if the number is visible in a vintage photograph, by matching it with the data below, you can tell if it is a M-H tank.  If the registration number visible on a Stuart does not fall in the ranges below, then the Stuart in the photo was built by Cadillac or American Car and Foundry.

Embossed into the tank is the Ordnance Serial Number - this number too is sometimes used by military accountability, and normally it too does not change.

The model/registration/serial numbers for the MH-built Stuarts are:

M5     3064984-3065233       3268-3517
M5A1 3065234-3065483       3518-3767
M5A1 3059072-3059571       9768-10267
M5A1 30102715-30103048   15501-15834

By the way, none of these numbers are the same as the M-H construction numbers.

Hope this helps!

Respectfully,
David Doyle

Wow, we came alive on here, which is great.  John your concerns of manufacture are founded.  I would like to make my assessment that this in fact a Massey- Harris built Tank.  First I see there are no tires on this Tank, so I rule out American Car and Foundry.  Second,  I see no suspension, so this Tank would not be able to ride like a Cadilac.  Through process of elimination this must be a Massey-Harris built Tank that has been painted over with green paint. I hope this helps .  Perhaps contact to the Auction Co. for the Owners' name for further information would be best.  Tim

I contacted the auctioneers with this reply:-

""Hello Mr. Farnworth,
 
Thank you for your interest in the upcoming sale and the question on Lot 1387.
 
You had inquired to the markings on the front right trapezoidal armor plate. Our describer noted that inside the hull the front armor plate on the right side is marked "LOL" followed by "T" inside an octagon, "E5040 328".
 
I hope that information answers your question. Do let me know if I can be of any additional assistance.""

So we are no further on in knowing whether or not this is an M-H tank...............

John

Hi Tim,

How does one explain getting on for 150,000 views on this tank thread that you started so recently?  Are there really that many tank fanatice out there - or can enyone else explain?

Keep thinking

John