David EilersJanuary 16, 2019

1949 Voice of America Jeep

UPDATE: Terry pointed out that this same vehicle, a SPEN self-sustaining motion picture unit, appears in a Willys Industrial Equipment book brochure. Here it is below:

Talk about a rare jeep. Anyone ever seen one of these (if there are any left). It's a specially outfitted jeep for the State Department for carrying the story of America to the world. The first pics below were from a September 1949 issue of Popular Science, while the newspaper article was carried in the Sunday Star on Sunday, April 17, 1949.

From the September 1949 issue of Popular Science:

1949-09-popular-science-voice-of-america1

1949-09-popular-science-voice-of-america2

From the Sunday Star, April 17, 1949:

1949-04-17-sunday-star-voice-of-america-jeep

8 Comments

MauryJanuary 16, 2019 at 7:04 PM
I wonder if this truck's body was derived from the Jeep 4x2 Economy Delivery / 4x2 Ambulance, or was completely custom?: http://www.cherokee-fr.com/~jeepfamily/AmeriqueNord/USA/Truck473et475/Truck473et673.htm
Joe BJanuary 17, 2019 at 2:10 AM
The shortwave receiver is likely the Hallicrafters SX-28 Super Skyrider / AN/GRR-2.
TerryJanuary 17, 2019 at 1:19 PM
This unit was made by Henry Spen and Co . ,Brooklyn NY , makers of the SPEN trailer .
David EilersJanuary 17, 2019 at 5:41 PM
Terry, How did you conclude the Spen observation? Is that documented somewhere? Thanks!
TerryJanuary 17, 2019 at 11:27 PM
Page E-13 Willys Industrial Equipment Book circa 1949 .Spen Movie Truck, same photo as in magazine .
David EilersJanuary 18, 2019 at 12:57 AM
Good thinking Terry. I'll check it out and add it. - Dave
David EilersJanuary 18, 2019 at 1:06 AM
I had a copy of that brochure and added it to the post. I was surprised to learn that I've not posted it on eWillys (I thought I had).
BobJanuary 18, 2019 at 4:25 PM
That is amazing...very cool and lots and lots of equipment on board that one.