“JEEP GIRLS”

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13773, 16 October 1942, Page 7

“JEEP GIRLS”

MIDGET CARS FOR ARMY Constructed By Women “Can Work Faster Than Men”

TOLEDO.Ohio. Sept. I—Whether you're a grey-haired mother or her grown daughter, you are known as a “jeep girl” if you help assemble those amazing little Army automobiles. affectionately known as “jeeps.”

There are nearly ”00 “jeep girls” working on the Willys-Over-land jeep production line here. Climbing in and around the cast’s moving down the assembly line, the girls install dashboard instruments, wiring systems, safety belts, seats, and a maze of fittings and controls, writes Mary Honiaday in the “Christian Science Monitor.”

George Aydelotte, foreman in charge of women war workers, said they exihibit a great deal of enthusiasm and serious determination on the job. They were not hired because of a shortage of men, but because their fingure dexterity makes it possible for them to work faster than men.

“Jeep girls” report that their work is much harder than it used to be on pleasure cars “because everything has to be done much tighter” on the little reconnaissance cars that bump over rough terrain on the hattlefronts of the world.

Taken on Jolty Ride

Newspaperwomen who visited the Willys assembly line yesterday included a climb up and down were taken on a jolty jeep ride that 12 cement steps” in front of the Willys administration building here. There are a number of cases of mother and daughter working side by side on the jeep hardware line. Most of the “girls” have' sweethearts, sons, husbands or brothers in the service.

Slacks are gradually coming into style on the jeep production line, although many of the women still wear cotton dresses. Many are older women who had jobs in the pleasure car industry and came into this new war industry through union seniority. The only uniformed women at the Willys plant are a corps of secretaries and other girl assistants serving in the United States Ordnance Department office. These girls acquired their olive drab gabardine uniforms a few weeks ago on the suggestion of Lieut. H. O. Jedd, officer in charge.

Despite the distinguishing Ordnance Department “bomb flare” insignia worn on the uniform hats the girls are continually being mistaken for Waasc. Actually they are the only civilian employees of the Ordnance Department.

The girls who work on the jeep end even plant officials are no more certain where the powerful little reconnaissance car got its name jeep than is the average citizen. The name may have come from the ‘GP’ — peneral purpose—labels on the first Ford reconnaissance cars,” said J. W. Frazer, Willys President “Some people think the soldiers named them after the little fellow with Popeye in the funny papers who can do everything. The Russians call it a ‘jeepski.’ A ‘peep’ is only another name for a jeep and not recognised officially. But then neither is ‘jeep’ actually. The Army designation for the car is ‘4-ton 4x4 truck’.”

Uses After War

The Willys company has already had numerous inquiries from persons wondering what the Army is going to do with all its jeeps after the war. Farmers say they will make an ideal vehicle for pulling the hay wagon, drawing the plow, and taking the family to church. Cowboys are looking forward to using them to round up cattle. Utility companies want them for installing telephone lines in rough country. With war a full-time job, automobile officials have had no afterwar plans, but, according to Mr Frazer, are “hopeful that when the time comes w r e can develop a market throughout the world, especially to take products from the mountains over jungle trails to airfields.” The jeep’s unusual pulling ability is due to its four-weel drive, thrown into use by means of a transfer case next to the transmission.

Nobody will venture to say exactly what a jeep will cost a civilian after the war. , The extra transmission may make it more expensive than a medium-priced touring car.