where to find inside m37 mirror

[davek]

i need the inside mirror for my 1954 m37. does anybody know where to buy them. i need the complete setup. thanks dave

[jordankjcm]

John at Midwest Military has them. At least he did a year or so ago when I got my complete set (bracket and mirror).

[DAP]

I didn't think that M37s had inside rear view mirrors originally?

[52 M-42]

My understanding is that Civilian Power Wagons had an inside mirror, but military trucks (M-37 / M-42 / M-43 etc) did not. In fact, originally the M-37 series had only one external mirror. The assistant driver was a lot busier in those days....

52 M-42

[mike_l]

There is a photo of an early M37, probably the Ordnance Dept's prototype, that has what looks like a WC closed cab mirror mounted to the windshield - fig 95 in TM 9-840. Fig 15 of TM 9-8030 shows the windshield folded down and you can see the spot where the same mirror would have been attached. I don't think that is a production truck since I've not seen a production windshield with that mount.

However, ORD 7, 8, and 9 all list an interior mirror. In the 1954 edition of ORD 9, it lists Mirror, rear view, inside, assy; CC-1277783 and lists 2 screws to mount it (1/4-28 x 1/2in. int-ext tooth lockwasher, cross-recess, round head, header point, phosphate coated). In the 1957 edition of the ORD 7 & ORD 8 manuals, it lists Mirror, Assembly, Rear View: inside; Ord PN 7397869/Mfr PN IHC-100-794/FSN 2540-739-7869 and then it supersedes this mirror with Ord PN 547201/Ord Stk No. H017-0547201 and describes it as 2.5in. x 6in.

I bought my mirror from John Bizal (Midwest Military). It carries the same NSN as the first Ord PN cross-references to. It is the current style mirror so the corners are a little squarer looking but I found an older style mirror that I replaced it with, using the same mount bracket supplied with John's mirror. It has rounder corners and looks period correct. I just had to drill a couple of holes in the center post of the windshield frame to mount the mirror bracket.

Since it is in the manual, it would have been up to the unit commander to authorize them. So, it shouldn't lose any judging points unless you were going for an original factory restoration.

[52 M-42]

That's interesting, Mike. I wonder if it was intended for all M series 3/4 tons? I can see them being useful in trucks with fixed cab covers (hardtops) but not ambulances or trucks with removable tops or fixed bodies which would block the rear view.

Also, I would have expected to see some sort of indication on the front, center windshield post for where they should be attached (provisional installation). In an AO where the windshield was commonly lowered or the top was off, I would expect the mirror would be likely to be damaged or interfere with vehicle operation.

The interior mirrors are another curious bit of detail about these trucks. I've never actually seen an interior mirror on them.

Do you happen to have a picture of yours? Could you please post it if you do? I'd really like to see where it attaches and what it looks like.

52 M-42

[mike_l]

I don't think I have seen any photos of trucks with an interior mirror yet either. For that matter, even though they were authorized, I've never seen a photo of a truck with the rifle racks in it. I don't know if they would be that much of a hindrance on the windshield. We had them on all our M151s and didn't have a problem when we had the windshields down. Not that we had them down often but with the glass windshields, we were already careful what we put up on top of them so we didn't break the glass.

I "eyeballed" mine IAW Fig 15 of TM 9-840. It lined up pretty well with the window in the canvas top and as long as I keep the plastic window clean, I get pretty good use of it. I also added a couple of rubber washer with this mirror because the threaded stud was longer than the original that came with the mount. I think it also took some of the vibration out of it too.

Here is my mirror:
Forward
Side.

[mike_l]

I found a couple of photos of what I believe is the correct interior mirror. This is from an ebay auction some time back and the box is marked with the correct FSN and dated 1957 which falls in line with the ORD manuals. There wasn't a mounting bracket included with the auction but I would think, looking at the mirror's threaded post, it would use the same as the newer mirrors come with.

[52 M-42]

Thanks for the pictures, Mike!

That mirror certainly looks a lot more discrete than I imagined it would. From the shape of that bracket you could minimize the clutter of the mirror when the windshield was down by turning it 90 degrees to be parallel with the center post. The rubber isolater is a good idea, too.

I have both the canvas covered rifle racks mounted in my truck along with a copy of the MWO that installs them. I also have a copy of the PS Magazine article that discusses their authorization and installation. They were in some trucks when I was in the military, but they were pretty ratty and usually got taken out and either put in jeeps (after stripping the canvas covers off) or thrown away.

Thanks for the pictures and maybe I start looking for a mirror and bracket. Don't know if I'll install it, but it would be nice to have.

52 M-42

[52 M-42]

Sent you a couple of PM's Mike.

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[mike_l]

I was looking around and found an eBay auction that may have been the original mirror as listed in the 1957 parts manual. The mirror above is the mirror listed as the later replacement mirror, or 3rd model. The eBay auction lists the earlier one as 7" wide whereas the later one is listed as a 6" wide mirror. So, this would have been 2nd model mirror. I noticed it has the G742 designation which is also in the parts manual. It doesn't show a mounting bracket but as with the other one above, it looks like it would fit the same mount.

There is still the first model, a CC-1277783 mirror listed in the 1954 ORD 9 TM which may be a carry over of the WC-series mirrors. I haven't cross-referenced it to confirm.

2nd model mirror-back
2nd model mirror-box label

[52 M-42]

I see where these mirrors are standard issue for G742 (Deuce & 1/2 trucks) so I can see where the DoD would standardize up and down the vehicle chain.

I ordered one of these from John at Midwest. I'm not sure I'll install it, but it will be nice to have.

Thanks for all your help for clearing this up for me. The minutiae surrounding these trucks is like a series of rabbit holes in a hedgerow; it is easy to fall down one and end up like Alice.

52 M-42