1937 Pickup/Truck Glove Box Compartment

[v8fordman]

I recently purchased a ‘37 1/2 ton pickup and I already had a cab from a 3/4 ton. Both of these had a glove box compartment that was metal. My question is…was this original or did by chance I end up with two vehicles that someone made a glove box for? One came from Georgia and one from North Dakota. Both fit perfectly. The reproduction boxes are made of cardboard like the passenger car (and they don’t fit). Pictured are all three. Bottom from Georgia, middle from North Dakota (I painted it black) and top are two reproductions.

[hotcoupe]

Hello, my very original '37 1/2 ton had a card board (deteriorated) glove box in it when I bought it about twenty years ago. I replaced it with a Drake re-pop and it fit perfectly. It was a little hard to get it into position.
Tom

[Model51]

The original design is a cardboard glove box. This was used in the commercial pickup (1/2 ton) and the truck (1-1/2 ton). Ford didn't produce a 3/4 ton truck in 1937, just the commercial pickup and the bigger truck.
I'd say use whatever fits and you like. If the metal box works for you and you are happy with it, then go ahead. If you are looking for a point judged vehicle, then use the cardboard box.

[oldandtired]

I have had three of the metal glovebox liners that fit a 35/37 pickup/truck. They were not exactly as v8fordman's shown in the picture, with none of them having what looks like a divided compartment like the one shown in the picture. The three I have had all came out of Kansas and Nebraska. I do not know who made them, but they came out of 1-1/2 ton trucks. I believe Model 51 to be correct that there was no 3/4-ton in 1937. I believe 38 was the first year for a Ford 3/4-ton. In 1937, Ford made the typical 1/2-ton with the usual pickup bed, and they also made a 1/2-ton stakebed pickup. Nolan Cason a valued friend from the past, had a very nice Deluxe 37 half-ton stake that I got to drool over on various visits.

[Model51]

V8FordMan (and anyone else) - Can you share more pictures of the metal box? Perhaps it is an aftermarket part? The metal box would certainly be a stronger material than the cardboard material used by Ford. Ford even used the term "Dispatch Box" in some of the period literature. A metal box would certainly stand up to more frequent and heavy use so it makes sense. I've not seen any Ford Engineering Drawings or Ford part numbers for a metal box so that's why I'm thinking it's likely an aftermarket part.

[v8fordman]

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Thanks for the replies. What I called 3/4 ton was purely speculative because when I got it, the frame had been cut off and the entire history of North Dakota registrations was in the pictured black metal glove box. Oldandtired, this is the truck that you went with me to Kentucky to get and it is now the 1/2 ton which is my avatar. (That’s been quite a while ago). It also has the Anthony bed that I got from you and the left rear fender was a NOS stake bed fender that was in your stash. I will make more pictures of the bottom glove box. If it’s not an original piece, I would love to hire the fabricator who made it…and it appears to be rustic brown which was the interior trim color for passenger cars. Isn’t the antique vehicle hobby interesting, quizzical and fun?

[ActionYobbo]

I have had aluminum boxes in 36 37 and both 39’s. Thought it was standard. Only cardboard was the 51 F1

[v8fordman]

Here are a few more pictures. Notice what appears to be aviation style rivets holding it together and notice the rear panel is rolled, soldered and riveted (one). The inner shelf is attached with slotted screws and square nuts which would be period correct.

[Model51]

Thanks for the additional photos. That's quite a neat bit of fabrication. I'd assume the owner just re-used the standard glove box mounting nuts and bolts which included the square nuts.
I've not seen any advertisements for metal replacement glove boxes so maybe there was a local supplier in the day? A metal box sure makes sense for commercial and Truck applications. I especially like the extra tray (or shelf) for paperwork maybe?