The American Automobile Industry in World War Two
An American Auto Industry Heritage Tribute by David D Jackson

 Overview      Lansing Michigan in World War Two   The U.S. Auto Industry at the Normandy Invasion, June 6, 1944    The U.S. Auto Industry and the B-29 Bomber   U.S. Auto Industry Army-Navy "E" Award Winners   The Complete listing of All Army-Navy "E" Award Winners   Sherman Tanks of the American Auto Industry   Tank Destroyers of the American Auto Industry    M26 Pershing Tanks of the American Auto Industry   M36 Tank Destroyers of the American Auto Industry   Serial Numbers for WWII Tanks built by the American Auto Industry   Surviving LCVP Landing Craft    WWII Landing Craft Hull Numbers   Airborne Extra-Light Jeep Photos  The American Auto Industry vs. the German V-1 in WWII   American Auto Industry-Built Anti-Aircraft Guns in WWII   VT Proximity Manufacturers of WWII   World War One Era Motor Vehicles   National Museum of Military Vehicles   Revisions   Links

 Automobile and Body Manufacturers:  American Bantam Car Company   Briggs Manufacturing Company   Checker Car Company   Chrysler Corporation   Crosley Corporation   Ford Motor Car Company   General Motors Corporation   Graham-Paige Motors Corporation   Hudson Motor Car Company   Murray Corporation of America   Nash-Kelvinator   Packard Motor Car Company      Studebaker    Willys-Overland Motors

General Motors Divisions:  AC Spark Plug   Aeroproducts   Allison   Brown-Lipe-Chapin   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Cleveland Diesel   Delco Appliance   Delco Products   Delco Radio   Delco-Remy   Detroit Diesel   Detroit Transmission   Electro-Motive   Fisher Body   Frigidaire   GM Proving Grounds   GM of Canada   GMC   GMI   Guide Lamp   Harrison Radiator   Hyatt Bearings   Inland   Moraine Products   New Departure   Oldsmobile   Packard Electric   Pontiac   Saginaw Malleable Iron   Saginaw Steering Gear   Southern California Division   Rochester Products   Ternstedt Manufacturing Division   United Motors Service   Vauxhall Motors

 Indiana Companies:  Bailey Products Corporation   Chrysler Kokomo Plant   Continental Steel Corporation  Converto Manufacturing    Cummins Engine Company   Diamond Chain and Manufacturing Company   Delta Electric Company   Durham Manufacturing Company   Farnsworth Television and Radio Corporation   General Electric Kokomo Plant   Haynes Stellite Company   Hercules Body Company   Horton Manufacturing Company   Howe Fire Apparatus   International Machine Tool Company   J.D. Adams Company   Kokomo Spring Company   Magnavox   Muncie Gear Works   Pierce Governor Company   Portland Forge and Foundry   Reliance Manufacturing Company-Kokomo Plant   Reliance Manufacturing Company-Washington Plant   Republic Aviation Corporation - Indiana Division   Ross Gear and Tool Company   S.F. Bowser & Co.   Sherrill Research Corporation   Tokheim Oil Tank and Pump Company   Warner Gear   Wayne Pump Company   Wayne Works

Commercial Truck and Fire Apparatus Manufacturers:  American LaFrance   Autocar   Biederman Motors Corporation   Brockway Motor Company   Detroit General   Diamond T   Duplex Truck Company   Federal Motor Truck   Four Wheel Drive Auto Company(FWD)   International Harvester   John Bean   Mack Truck   Marmon-Herrington Company   Michigan Power Shovel Company   Oshkosh Motor Truck Corporation   Pacific Car and Foundry   "Quick-Way" Truck Shovel Company  Reo Motor Car Company  Seagrave Fire Apparatus   Sterling Motor Truck Company    Ward LaFrance Truck Corporation   White Motor Company

Aviation Companies:  Abrams Instrument Corporation    Frankfort Sailplane Company   Hughes Aircraft Company   Kellett Aviation Corporation   Laister-Kauffman Aircraft Corporation   Naval Aircraft Factory   P-V Engineering Forum, Inc.    Rudolf Wurlitzer Company-DeKalb Division  Schweizer Aircraft Corporation   Sikorsky Division of United Aircraft Corporation   St. Louis Aircraft Corporation   Timm Aircraft Corporation

Other World War Two Manufacturers:  Air King Products   Allis-Chalmers   American Car and Foundry   American Locomotive   American Stove Company   Annapolis Yacht Yard   Andover Motors Company   B.F. Goodrich   Baker War Industries   Baldwin Locomotive Works   Blood Brothers Machine Company   Boyertown Auto Body Works   Briggs & Stratton   Burke Electric Company   Caterpillar   Cheney Bigelow Wire Works   Centrifugal Fusing   Chris-Craft   Clark Equipment Company   Cleaver-Brooks Company   Cleveland Tractor Company   Continental Motors   Cushman Motor Works   Crocker-Wheeler   Dail Steel Products   Detroit Wax Paper Company   Detrola   Engineering & Research Corporation   Farrand Optical Company   Federal Telephone and Radio Corp.   Firestone Tire and Rubber Company   Fruehauf Trailer Company   Fuller Manufacturing   Galvin Manufacturing   Gemmer Manufacturing Company   General Railway Signal Company   Gerstenslager Company   Gibson Guitar   Gibson Refrigerator Company   Goodyear   Hall-Scott   Hanson Clutch and Machinery Company   Harley-Davidson   Harris-Seybold-Potter   Herreshoff Manufacturing Company   Higgins Industries    Highway Traile    Hill Diesel Company   Holland Hitch Company   Homelite Company   Horace E. Dodge Boat and Plane Corporation   Huffman Manufacturing   Indian Motorcycle   Ingersoll Steel and Disk   Iron Fireman Manufacturing Company   John Deere   Johnson Automatics Manufacturing Company   Kimberly-Clark   Kohler Company   Kold-Hold Company   Landers, Frary & Clark  Lima Locomotive Works   Lundberg Screw Products   MacKenzie Muffler Company   Massey-Harris   Matthews Company   McCord Radiator & Mfg. Company   Metal Mouldings Corporation   Miller Printing Machinery Company   Morse Instrument Company   Motor Products Corporation   Motor Wheel Corporation   National Cash Resgister Company   Novo Engine Company   O'Keefe & Merritt Company   Olofsson Tool and Die Company   Oneida Ltd   Otis Elevator   Owens Yacht   Pressed Steel Car Company   Pressed Steel Tank Company   Queen City Manufacturing Company   R.G. LeTourneau   Richardson Boat Company   R.L. Drake Company   St. Clair Rubber Company   Samson United Corporation   Shakespeare Company   Sight Feed Generator Company   Simplex Manufacturing Company   Steel Products Engineering Company   St. Louis Car Company   Twin Disc Company   Victor Adding Machine Company   Vilter Manufacturing Company   Wells-Gardner   W.L. Maxson Corporation   W.W. Boes Company   Westfield Manufacturing Company   York-Hoover Body Company   York-Shipley, Inc.   Youngstown Steel Door Company  
   

Other Kalamazoo Companies in World War Two:  Checker Car Company   Fuller Manufacturing Company   Gibson Guitar   Shakespeare Company
Ingersoll Steel and Disc During World War Two
 1884-1904 - Sandoval Manufacturing Company - Sandoval, IL
1904-1929 - Galesburg Coulter-Disk Company - Galesburg, IL
1929-1937 - Galesburg Coulter-Disk Company, Division of Borg-Warner- Galesburg, IL
1937-1950 - Ingersoll Steel and Disk, Division of Borg-Warner, after Borg-Warner Purchased Pressed Steel Products in Kalamazoo, MI
1950-19?? - Ingersoll Products Division of Borg-Warner, Kalamazoo, MI
Unknown Dates - Kalamazoo Division of Borg-Warner, Kalamazoo, MI
Unknown Date to Current - Ingersoll Tillage Group in Hamilton, ONT (Not part of Borg-Warner)

This page updated 3-15-2022.


LVT-3s are very rare.  To find one with the manufacturer's date plate is exceptional.  This data plate on the LVT-3 on display at the National Museum of the United States Marine Corps shows that this unit was built in March 1945.  It is U.S. Navy Registry Number C72509.  Normally, data plates are on or near the driver's location.  This one was probably moved from its original location to the bulkhead behind the cockpit for museum display purposes.  Author's photo.


During World War Two, Ingersoll Steel and Disk reversed the proverbial phrase of turning swords into plowshares by turning plowshares into swords.  In this case, the sword was the LVT-3.  In 1884, the company started when Steven Ingersoll purchased a coulter disk company in Sandoval, IL.  Working with his son Roy, the two developed new heat treating methods to produce longer lasting disks for its farmer customers.  The current Ingersoll Tillage Group in Hamilton, Ontario continues the production of coulter disks.  Author's photo.

 
In 1945, the Ingersoll Steel and Disc Division of Borg-Warner won the Army-Navy "E" flag one time.


Several workers from the Ingersoll Steel and Disk Division were photographed during the acceptance of their Army-Navy "E" flag. 

Ingersoll Steel and Disk World War Two Production:  The company had $81,384,000 in war contracts, of which $71,744,000 was for the building of several types of LVTs.  This was 88% of the company's total World War Two contracts.  The company built an estimated 2,984 of the 18,621 total LVTs built during the war.  This was 16%.  It was also the prime builder of the LVT-3, which was a Borg-Warner designed vehicle, producing an estimated 2,306 of the LVT-3s.  This was 78% of the total LVT-3s built. 

Table 1 - Ingersoll Steel and Disk's Major World War Two Contracts
 The information below comes from the "Alphabetical Listing of Major War Supply Contracts, June 1940 through September 1945."  This was published by the Civilian Production Administration, Industrial Statistics Division.
Product Contract Amount Contract Awarded Completion Date Contract Number
Tractors $3,089,000 1-1942 9-1942 Nos 98120
Tractors Amphibian $100,000 11-1942 3-1943 Obs 881
Landing Vehicles LVT $13,148,000 12-1942 4-1944 Obs 862
Landing Vehicles LVT $16,950,000 10-1943 12-1944 Obs 1344
Landing Vehicles LVT $30,331,000 4-1944 7-1945 Obs 1667
Ships LVT3 $250,000 7-1944 11-1945 Obs 1876
Vehicle Parts LVT $9,105,000 11-1945 6-1945 Obs 1989
Landing Vehicles LVT $7,876,000 12-1944 8-1945 Obs 2014
Overhaul Tools $125,000 12-1944 3-1945 Xxs 85945
End Connector Kits $410,000 4-1945 6-1945 Obs 22907
Total $81,384,000      

The terms Tractors, Tractors Amphibian, and Landing Vehicles LVT are interchangeable terms for the Landing Vehicle, Tracked or LVT.  It would have made my life easier if the type of LVT was identified for each contract. 

Ingersoll Steel and Disk built Landing Vehicles, Tracked (LVT) of several types during World War Two.  Using Tables 1 and 3, it can be determined how many of each type the company built.

Contract Nos 98120:  Table 1 shows contract number Nos 98120 was for tractors that were built between January and September 1942.  Table 3 shows that the LVT-1 was the only vehicle of this type built in 1942, indicating that contract Nos 98120 was for the LVT-1.  According to Information from "LVT(4) Amtrac - The Most Widely Used Amphibious Tractor of World War II" by David Doyle, the range of costs of an LVT-4 was from $22,000 to $26,200.  I will assume that the other types of LVTs fell within this same range.  I will use an average $24,000 for calculating the estimated numbers of LVTs built by Ingersoll Steel and Disk during World War Two.  Dividing $24,000 into the contracted amount of $3,089,000 results in an estimated 127 LVT-1s. 

Contract Nos 881:  The time period for this contract matches up best with the LVT-1.  Dividing $24,000 into the contracted amount of $100,000 results in 4.  Given the previously stated range, the calculated cost of each unit for this contract was $25,000.

Contract Nos 862:  The time period for this contract matches up with LVT(A)-1, LVT-2, and LVT(A)-2.  I am going to pick LVT-2 as this had the largest number of vehicles built.  Dividing $24,000 into the contracted amount of $13,146,000 results in an estimated 547 LVT-2s.

Contract Nos 1344:  Production of the LVT-3, the company's own design began in late 1943 with the vast majority of the production in 1944 and 1945.  This most likely was the first contract for the construction of the LVT-3.  Dividing $24,000 into the contracted amount of $16,950,000 results in an estimated 706 LVT-3s.

Contract Nos 1667:  The dates of 1944 and 1945 indicate this was LVT-3 production.  Dividing $24,000 into the contracted amount of $30,331,000 results in an estimated 1,264 LVT-3s.

Contract Nos 1876:  This contract actually states the contract is for LVT-3s.  Dividing $24,000 into the contracted amount of $250,000 results in an estimated 10 LVT-3s.  Given the previously stated range, the calculated cost of each unit for this contract was $25,000. 

Contract Nos 2014:   The dates of 1944 and 1945 indicate this was LVT-3 production.   Dividing $24,000 into the contracted amount of $7,876,000 results in an estimated 328 LVT-3s.  

Table 2 - Estimated Number of  LVTs of all types built by Ingersoll Steel and Disk
Type LVT Number Built Source Contract
LVT-1 127 Estimated from Tables 1 and 3.  Nos 98120
LVT-1 4 Estimated from Tables 1 and 3. Nos 881
LVT-2 547 Estimated from Tables 1 and 3. Nos 862
 LVT-3 706 Estimated from Tables 1 and 3. Nos 1344
LVT-3 1,264 Estimated from Tables 1 and 3. Nos 1667
LVT-3 10 Estimated from Tables 1 and 3. Nos 1876
LVT-3 328 Estimated from Tables 1 and 3. Nos 2014
Total LVT-3 2,306 This is an estimate.  
Total LVTs of all types 2,984 This is an estimate.  

The estimated total of 2,306 is less than the total LVT-3 total of 2,964.  This allows another estimated 658 to be built by the Graham-Paige Company which was the other builder of the LVT-3. 

Table 3 - World War Two LVT Production
From "Amtrack:  US Amphibious Assault Vehicles by Steven Zaloga published 1987
Type 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Total
LVT-1 72 851 302     1,225
LVT(A)-1   3 288 219   510
LVT-2     1,540 1,422   2,962
LVT(A)-2     200 250   450
LVT-3     1 733 2,230 2,964
LVT-4     11 4,980 3,360 8,351
LVT(A)-4       1,489 401 1,890
LVT(A)-5         269 269
Totals 72 854 2,342 9,093 6,260 18,621

While the production of LVT-1s, LVT-2s, and LVT-3s was done at the Ingersoll Steel and Disk plant in Kalamazoo, MI during the World War Two, it was one of several Borg-Warner divisions that participated in the development of not only the Borg-Warner designed LVT-3, but also its earlier version of the LVT-1, the Model A.

The U.S. Navy invited Borg-Warner to look at the early design of the Food Machinery Company (FMC) LVT-1 and submit a competing version.  This was Borg-Warner's Model A.  While it did have some advantages over FMC's LVT-1, they were not enough to change suppliers and disrupt early production.  The U.S. Navy did encourage Borg-Warner to continue work and re-submit another entry.  The actual engineering of the new and improved vehicle, denoted as Model B, was engineered by the Rockford Clutch Division in Rockford, IL.  The Navy accepted the new design as the LVT-3.


LVT-3s on the assembly line at the Ingersoll Steel and Disc Company. 


The Model B prototype is undergoing testing in a partially frozen lake near Kalamazoo, MI. 


Ingersoll Steel and Disc commissioned this water-color painting of its LVT-3 in 1944.  This painting added 12-29-2021 is courtesy of Mr. Frank Antos.


Currently, the LVT-3 on display at the National Museum of the United States Marine Corps is the only one available for public viewing in the United States.  Author's photo.


The driver had a seat belt to keep him securely in position in rough waters.  The machine gunner did not have a seat belt.  Author's photo.


The USMC Museum has added the expanded metal screen to protect the contents of the cockpit  Author's photo.


Author's photo.


The LVT-3 used two Cadillac V-8 engines and two Detroit Transmission Hydro-Matic transmissions mounted in the sponsons.  This utilized normally unused space in the LVT-1, 2, and 3s.  It allowed for more cargo space behind the driver's position where the engines were located in the LVT-2 and LVT-4.  In the LVT-1, the engine was mounted in the rear of the vehicle.  The LVT-3 had more cargo space than the similar LVT-4.  Both the LVT-3 and LVT-4 had ramps at the rear of the vehicle.


The next series of photos is of the port sponson from front to rear.  This view shows the drive shaft and transmission and engine linkages.  Author's photo.


The air cleaner is in the next compartment along with a fire extinguisher.  Author's photo.


The engine and transmission compartment show the linkages coming into the compartment to the transmission and engine.  Author's photo.


Previously, M5 Stuart light tank used Cadillac V-8 engines and Hydra-Matic transmissions.  Production of the M5 series ended in June 1944, freeing up production of the units for use in the LVT-3.  Production of the LVT-3 began in earnest in early 1944.  Author's photo.


Author's photo.


Author's photo.


This LVT-3 was photographed  in 2013 at a former military museum in Auburn, IN.  Since that time, the museum has closed.  The current location of the LVT-3 shown here is unknown.  Author's photo.


Author's photo.


Author's photo.

Other Ingersoll Steel and Disk World War Two LVT Production:  While the Rockford Clutch Division of Borg-Warner was engaged in engineering development for the LVT-3, the Ingersoll Steel and Disc Division built an estimated 131 LVT-1s. 

Borg Warner's original Model A LVT was bested in completion by the Food Machinery Company's LVT-1 like the one seen here.  Borg Warner engineers redesigned its original entry into its Model B that became the LVT-3.


The Ingersoll Steel and Disc Division built an estimated 131 of the total amount of 1,225 LVT-1's.  This diorama at the National Museum of the USMC depicts am LVT-1 going over a log barricade at Tarawa.  Author's photo.


This and the following photo show that the rear is a solid piece with no ramp.  The Marines had to go over the side, as shown here, and jump down eight feet to the sand.  The Borg-Warner-designed LVT-3 included a ramp at the rear of the vehicle so the Marines would no longer have to jump over the side.  Author's photo.


  Author's photo.

The Ingersoll Steel and Disc Company World War Two Plant:  The company was located on the southwest corner of Vine and Shelton Streets in Kalamazoo.  Borg-Warner purchased the plant in 1937 from the U.S. Steel Products Company.  It moved the Galesburg Coulter-Disk Company from Galesburg, IL and combined it with U.S. Steel Products Company to create the Ingersoll Steel and Disc Company.   After World War Two, the company added a larger plant on North Pitcher Street.  That plant no longer exists but the one on Vine Street still does.


  This view is looking southwest from Vine Street.  Like many older factories, the original facade of the plant has been covered with steel sheet metal.  It was in this plant that Ingersoll Steel and Disc built an estimated 2,306 LVT-3s built in World War Two.  It was a busy place during World War Two.  Author's photo.


This 1958 Sanborn Map shows the plant as the Ingersoll Conditioned Air Division of Borg-Warner.  These were built for Borg-Warner's Norge Division. 


This is a current Google Maps satellite view of the facility. 

Post-World War Two LVT-3Cs:  After World War Two, the Marines modified the original open top LVT-3s to be fully enclosed with an armored roof to protect the crew and passengers inside.  The 1,500 vehicles that were modified were designated as LVT-3Cs.  The Continental Aviation and Engineering Company did the modifications in 1950. 


This LVT-3C is on display at the Georgia Veterans Memorial Park in Cordele, GA.  Author's photo.


  Author's photo.

Post-World War Two Military Products:  During the Korean War, the Ingersoll Products Division designed and then with other companies produced 1,124 LVTP5 and 210 LVTH6s.  These were replacement vehicles for the earlier LVT-3.  Production began in 1952 and was completed by 1957.  Both the LVTP5 and LVTH6 were fully amphibious and totally enclosed to protect the crew and passengers.


Ingersoll Products Division built this rotisserie to assist in construction and welding.


Several LVTP5s are under construction at the Ingersoll Products Division plant. 


This LVTP5 is on display at the Georgia Veterans Memorial Park in Cordele, GA.  Author's photo.


This is a monstrous vehicle for something that operates in water.  The Sand People's Sand Crawler in Star Wars has a resemblance to the LVTP5.  Both are massive.  Author's photo.


This rare LVTH6 is on display at the Mott Military Museum in Groveport, OH.  The LVTH6 weighs 34 tons and is armed with a 105mm howitzer.  Author's photo.


 The LVTH6 is fully amphibious abd totally enclosed to protect the crew and passengers.  Author's photo.


In 1958 Ingersoll Kalamazoo Division was contracted to design and build prototypes for two new types of wheeled amphibious vehicles to replace the DUKW.  The first was the LARC 5 which had a 5 ton cargo capacity.   Author's photo.


This is marked as LARC 5 5X as it was the fifth of seven prototypes built by the Ingersoll Kalamazoo Division.  It had a very interesting career before being placed on display at the Army Transportation Museum.  After being loaned to the U.S. Navy for testing, it was assigned to NASA and participated in the Mercury Program.  It was then assigned to Fort Bragg, NC where it participated in a Combat Readiness Demonstration for President Kennedy.  It was the last survivor of the prototypes when it arrived at the museum in 1968.  Author's photo. 


Author's photo.


At the same time, the Ingersoll Kalamazoo Division designed the larger LARC 15 which had a 15 ton load capacity. This LARC 15 is also on display at the Army Transportation Museum.  Author's photo.

 

 

 

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