VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 bumper jack 1938

Hi All, A mate of mine just bought a 1938 master sedan and wants to know what the jack looks like and where it is placed to lift the car.
If someone has jacking instructions could you please post it here so I can pass on the information .

thank you Peter

Not sure of what jack was used in export/Canadian cars.The US 1937-1938 bumper jack lifted fron the bumper mounting brackets.
The jack tounge that contacted the brackets had like V groves for the brackets to drop into. Also had a lrage set screw to lock the tonge into the tonge.

I'm attaching a scan from an article in the G&D several years ago for the '37-'38 Chevy bumper jack, as well as pics of the jack that came in my '37 (3rd Owner) coupe.

I believe you can get a repro of the original tag that came on the bumper jack and showed how to place it from the Filling Station.

Hope this helps.

What a great article in the G&D.

dtm

T thought the article you did on the 1939 jack was much better because my picture was included...

Do you know which issue the 39 jack article was in?

Thanks

Dave

I believe it was early 2000. Can't find my copy right now.

thanks

Here's a scan of the article. There's an ad on the second page for an event in 2000, so I'd say the article was in '99 or 2000.

As you may see the 1939 and 1940 jack did not have the big set screw.

When I bought my Canadian '39 in 1964 it was equipped with the bumper friction jack which I presumed was original. The first time I used it to change a tire I was amazed at how far I had to lift it before the front wheel was off the ground.It looked very unstable. Suddenly there was a loud bang and the jack dropped a good six inches. As the wheel was still on no harm done but it was a laundry changing moment. I could have been under it. I went straight out and bought a screw jack. 50 years on the bumper jack (clean and freshly painted) is still in the trunk well (also freshly patched and painted) but has never been used since.

The friction jack was listed as an accessory up=grade from about 1938-1948. Was also considered a universal jack.

The instruction tag inserted into my 1939 jack story is actually for the friction jack and not the factory supplied ratcheting jack.

Thanks for the scan.

Dave

Thanks for the replies and great information
Regards peter