Metal Mouldings Corporation During World War Two
Detroit, MI
1924 - 1959

This page added 6-20-2023.

In 1924, Mr. Clarence P. Chamberlin, then 35 years old, founded the Metal Mouldings Corporation of Detroit, MI.  Mr. Chamberlin's new company produced metallic trim components for the growing automotive manufacturers in the Detroit area.  During World War Two, the company had $7,602,000 in major contracts with the U.S. Navy for bomb shackles and racks.  Table 1 shows that with the exception of Navy contract number ORD-6611 for bomb lug removers the other seven contracts were for bomb rack, shackles, and parts. 

Mr. Chamberlin remained the president of the company during its 35 year life time.  At its peak, the company employed 700 workers making trim parts for various auto companies.  At the end of July 1959, Mr. Chamberlin announced that his company would cease operations on August 31, 1959.  His company, like many other automobile component suppliers, were caught in a squeeze between rising material costs, and a customer base that would not pay for the increased cost of materials.  When his company closed, 275 workers lost their jobs.

I understand Mr. Chamberlin's pain and dilemma.  For many year, I worked for a major automobile component supplier that was also squeezed between rising material costs and our main customer that would not let us increase prices.  Stainless steel is the one I remember in particular.  Its cost was going through the roof, and we lost money on every stainless fuel injection system we shipped to the customer.  In the end, most of our company ended up like Metal Mouldings Corporation did, out of business.  I was lucky and was able to take an early retirement.  Many others weren't so lucky.

I discovered the existence of the Metal Mouldings Corporation while visiting the National Naval Aviation Museum in May 2023.  I was unaware of its existence until I found two Mark 51 Mod 11 bomb rack under the wings of the TBM Avenger on display.  Further research showed that the Metal Mouldings Corporation was an unknown and undocumented Detroit company that made significant contributions to the winning of World War Two.  Even the Detroit Historical Society overlooked the Metal Mouldings Corporation and has not listed it on its Detroit Arsenal of Democracy website.

This page recognizes the contribution of the Metal Mouldings Corporation that helped win World War Two.

This Metal Mouldings Corporation data plate shows that the company also built the Mark 47 bomb rack.  The serial number indicates it made at least 6, 527 of them.  The Mark 47 may well have been built under Navy Ordnance contract numbers ORD-3705, ORD-3931, and ORD-4183.

This images shows that the Mark 47 was a rather complex device.

This is an interesting photo, as it shows that Metal Mouldings Corporation originally subcontracted to the Pollak Manufacturing Company of Arlington, NJ for the Mod 7 version of the Mark 51 bomb rack.  Pollak was a large producer of ordnance items for primarily the U.S. Navy during World War Two.  It was awarded its first Navy contract for bomb racks in October 1940.  It was also the lead company on the Mark 51 bomb rack and wrote the manual on it.  Apparently, with all of the contracts it had, Pollak did not have the manufacturing capacity to produce the Mark 51.  Instead, it found Metal Mouldings to make the Mark 51s.  Note the "P" inside the circle with wings.  This indicates that it is Pollak contracted bomb rack. 

This image shows the cover page for the Mark 51 manual authored by the Pollak Manufacturing Company.

This TBM Avenger is on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL.  On each wing there is a replica 500 lb. bomb mounted to the wing by a Metal Mouldings Corporation Mark 51 Mod 11 bomb rack.  Note that there is no barrier around the aircraft.  Actually, none of the aircraft on display at the Naval Aviation Museum have barriers around them.  This is very unusual; as most, if not all, other aviation museums have a barrier to keep the spectators from damaging the aircraft.  For me, this allowed me to get up close and photograph the bomb racks.  Author's photo.

This is the bomb and bomb rack underneath the port wing.  Author's photo.

This image shows how the bomb rack attaches to the wing and the bomb to the Mark 51 bomb rack.  Author's photo.

This is serial number 9010.  Note the two "M"s stacked on top of each other inside a circle.  This indicates it is a Metal Mouldings contracted bomb rack.  Author's photo.

This is the bomb rack and bomb from the starboard wing.  Author's photo.

Author's photo.


This is serial number 39464.  This is the highest serial number I have found for a Metal Mouldings Mark 51 Mod 11 bomb rack.  The indicates the company made at least 38,464 of these bomb racks.  Author's photo.

Nine days later and 767 miles to the northwest of the Naval Aviation Museum, I was at the annual TBM Reunion and Salute to Veterans at the airport in Peru, IL.  Here I would find two more Metal Mouldings Corporation-built Mark 51 Mod 11 bomb racks.  With four of these bomb racks now identified, I decided I need to recognize the company for it contribution to winning World War Two.  Author's photo.

For this particular TBM, the 100 gallon drop tanks were mounted to the wing with bomb racks constructed by Metal Mouldings Corporation.  Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Early in the morning, I was able to photograph the 100 gallon fuel tanks and the Mark 51 bomb racks.  This is from the starboard side of the aircraft.  Author's photo.

This is serial number 7376  The two "M"s stacked on top of each other inside the circle can readily be seen in this photo.  Author's photo.

This is the port side 100 gallon drop tank.  Author's photo.

Author's photo.

This is serial number 26412.  Author's photo.

Now that I know what I am looking for, I expect to find more Metal Mouldings Corporation bomb racks on other U.S. Navy aircraft at other museums and aviation events.  I will add photos of those as I find them.