South African Reconnaissance Car ‘Marmon Herrington’ Mk III – Industrial Process - Inside Track | Renault TSF Tank Kent

. Prior to commencing restoration of any artefact, the Weald Foundation has developed a process of carrying out in depth research on the subject. This ensures that “surprises” are reduced to a minimum during the actual restoration process and we have time to locate vital components. . In this respect we have been looking into the industrial background of the production of South African Reconnaissance ‘Marmon Herrington’ armoured cars between 1941 and 1943. The Foundation has secured two South African Reconnaissance ‘Marmon Herrington’ Car Mk III out of the over 2600 of these iconic cars that were assembled. Production of such a volume represents a significant achievement for South African industry during WW2. How could such large numbers have been produced over such a short period and from a comparative standing start?. We know that from our past research on the German leichter Panzer Spähwagen that understanding the industrial process is essential in highlighting where specific differences may occur when many different companies are involved. So, Horch completed and tested the chassis. The chassis was dispatched to assembly firms such as Weserhuette, Wegmann, Schichau etc. In turn the assembly firm mounted armoured bodies that had been manufactured by various companies such as Schoeller-Bleckmann in Austria and Deutsche Edelstahlwerke from Hannover. So how would this process work in South Africa?. . Archive data shows that the overall contract for the South African Reconnaissance Car ‘Marmon Herrington’ was awarded to Consolidated Engineering Industries. CEI set up the process for the completion of the armoured cars. They in turn nominated Dorman Long Industries Germiston as their lead contractor in the project. Dorman Long had a fine engineering history in Africa including the construction of Beit Bridge (between South Africa and Zimbabwe) and the Victoria Falls Bridge (between Zimbabwe and Zambia). Dorman Long was subsidiary of the famous British Engineering company of the same name. Change came in 1946 when Dorman Long merged with Vanderbijl Engineering Corporation. The defence related side of Dorbyl has since evolved into DCD Protected Mobility - a leading defence contractor in South Africa now as in the 1940s. . Returning to our South African Reconnaissance Car ‘Marmon Herrington’. Ford of Canada supplied the chassis for assembly to Ford in Port Elizabeth South Africa. Ford of Canada being chosen because they built right hand drive vehicles. The 4-wheel drive was achieved in collaboration with the Marmon Herrington Company of Indiana who provided driven front axles, transfer boxes and other parts to convert a standard Ford truck to 'All-Wheel-Drive'. The now rolling chassis were shipped from Port Elizabeth to Dorman Long, Germiston, where to ensure consistency, Dorman Long had developed a process, using jigs, to construct the angle iron frame 'framing' which was attached to the chassis. The chassis, with the mounted frame, were then supposed to be issued to the following 10 companies who would weld the armour plating, supplied by Iscor Steel Works, Pretoria, to the frame. These companies were:. . . Alpheus Williams & Dowse . Head Wrightson & Co . Couzin & Attwood. A Stuart,. Railway Workshops - Germiston. Wright Boag & Co. Dorman Long. Premier Metal . East Rand Engines Rillstone. It will be interesting to see if differences emerge from the approach of these different firms. Already we have identified that Foundations early and late South African Reconnaissance Car ‘Marmon Herrington’ Mk III were completed by two different companies. Our research continues.

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