R-1820 Engine shipping crate

[RAMC181]

Does anyone have details of the wartime crate used for shipping R-1820 Cyclone engines?

From the few partial photos I've seen it looks to be a 5'-ish cube, with a support box inside the bottom section which the back of the crankcase fixes to, with the accessory gear within this.

Thanks in advance,
Paul

[Second Air Force]

Paul,

These images are from the Fortress mechanic school at Amarillo. These may (or may not) be similar to the crates that were shipped to England but it'll give you some idea. The top photo is a -33 for a Y1B-17 and the other is a later engine. Unfortunately the lid is not in either shot.......

[RAMC181]

Ta Scott,

Yes, that's the same type of crate.

From a number of partial photo's and guesstimated dimensions I've gotten as far as this computer mockup:



The plan is to make some repro ones for display over here.

All the best,
PB

[RAMC181]

Any info on the R-2800 crate would be of use too...

All the best,
Paul

[The Inspector]

The crating steel straps ( about 2" X 1/4" thick) were bolted into the bottom or top cross braces and bolted together via the flanges seen in the pictures and to the side boards so the entire assembly could be lifted on or off a truck or ship or flatcar without running the risk of having the box come apart by crane, cherry picker, or Norwegian steam no matter where in the world the engine was sent from Tulsa to some coral speck in the middle of the Pacific with minimal chances of damage to the contents. Think making it monkey proof and then beefing that up some.
In A&P school we had several R 760 tank engines still in the crate that we used to run to learn how to start a 'big' engine and, in the mid 60's after hundreds of students opening and closing the crates (which sat outside year round in Seattles balmy climate) the original crates were still pretty much intact. The crates had a throttle quadrant bolted inside and a place to hookup a 5 gallon gas can and a ground power socket.

[agent86]

I'm guessing this was before they sealed them in a big can?

[robkamm]

My r-4360 can top half is in my parents backyard as a fish and lilliy pond. ill email anyone a picture if you want to see it.

[cco23i]

Thanks Paul and everyone else. Like an idiot I keep forgetting about asking on this forum. Thanks for the help!

Scott

[The Inspector]

This was WAY before engine cans, prior to WW2 if you ordered an R-1820 and needed it shipped to Bug Junction, it came to you in the big wooden crate shown in the pictures, 'get out the big Crescent wrenches and unbolt the lid Private!' (big, crude bolts and nuts with about 9 threads per inch and big, square 'build a barn' nuts). Engine cans were later and designed to keep fresh or overhauled engines in a steady, stable environment sometimes for years until needed.
Shipped in a square packing crate that was very cheap to procure, they were easier to quickly package @ the factory or overhaul facility as the crates were probably contracted out to furniture manufacturers or coffin makers. They stacked easier in a truck or ship hold or C-47, and the troops had standard sized pieces of lumber to turn into things to help make Bug Junction a more hospitable place to do your tour. (not that anyone would misappropriate government property )

[agent86]

I'm sure that more than a few of those crates became housing,furniture ,latrines,etc. and a bonfire or two

[The Inspector]

Chairs, tables, desks, decking (in case it rained a lot every day in Bug Junction) side rails for a Jeep, ramps to get the Jeep out of a mud hole in case it rained a lot every day in Bug Junction----

RAMC181, is this helpful to you?

[cco23i]

Thanks guys, this is helpfull to MANY. We are talking about building a "line shack" out of "engine crates" we prefab so it'll be quick to set up at airshows. Thanks again and thanks Paul!

Scott

[RAMC181]

Cheers guys, it's all good stuff.

Here's a few R-2800 crate photos I collected today:







These appear to have the same 5-foot(ish) square base dimensions, with a correspondingly taller lid to accommodate the Double Wasp.

Side views of the R-1820 crate model to show basic markings:





All the best,
Paul

[cco23i]

OUTSTANDING SHOTS Paul!!

[RAMC181]

Cheers Scott,

I'll try to get those 401BG ground crew group photos to you ASAP.

All the best,
PB