Converto Manufacturing Company iin World War Two

Converto Manufacturing Company During World War Two
Cambridge City, IN
1939-Present

This page updated 1-27-2025.

Converto Manufacturing is a privately-owned company in Cambridge, IN. Converto currently manufactures a line of products that are used for recycling, scrap, and waste disposal. Its main product line is material handling equipment for this particular industry.

Converto Manufacturing Company World War Two Products: Table 1 shows that the company had $1,775,000 in major contracts during World War Two. Table 1 also shows that the company produced war material for the U.S. Navy, the Army Corps of Engineers, and Army Ordnance. Table 2 shows that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was the company's largest customer. The company manufactured trailers for all three of its customers during the war.

Table 1 - Converto Manufacturing Company's Major World War Two Contracts The information below comes from the "Alphabetical Listing of Major War Supply Contracts, June 1940 through September 1945." This was published by the Civilian Production Administration, Industrial Statistics Division. Added 5-27-2022.
Product	Contract Number	Contract Amount	Contract Awarded	Completion Date
Lockers Ammunition - Navy	NOS-2880L	$303,000	4-1942	12-1942
Trailers - Army Corps of Engineers	203-ENG-2019	$63,000	2-1943	4-1943
Trailers - Navy	NXS-48123	$80,000	1-1944	9-1944
Wood Gas Producers - Navy	OBS-13092	$197,000	2-1944	10-1944
Trailers - Navy	XSA-67690	$82,000	6-1944	2-1945
Dump Trailers - Army	33017-ENG-120	$214,000	9-1944	4-1945
Trailers - Army	33038-ORD-1680	$199,000	11-1944	9-1945
Dump Trailers - Army	11114-ENG-336	$637,000	11-1944	3-1945
Total		$1,775,000

Table 2 - Converto Manufacturing Company's Major World War Two Customers
Customer	Contract Amount	Percentage
Army Corps of Engineers	$914,000	51%
U.S. Navy	$662,000	37%
Army Ordnance	$199,000	12%
	$1,775,000

Table 3 - Converto Manufacturing Company World War Two Trailers Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army The information below comes from "Summary Report of Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945" Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and Progress Branch January 21, 1946.
Type	Model	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	Total
Trailer, 1/4-ton, 2W, Cargo							1,157	1,157

Author's Note and Disclaimer: The Detroit Office of Ordnance of the U.S. Army was the primary purchasing entity for vehicles for the U.S. Army during World War Two. It also purchased vehicles for the USMC, US Navy, and for Lend-Lease. However, there were other organizations that also purchased vehicles including the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Air Force, U.S. Army Signal Corps, Navy Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, and foreign countries direct purchases.

The trailers shown below were part of a group of specially designed small pieces of equipment that could be used by airborne engineers to prepare airfields. The equipment was all small enough to fit into a C-47 transport or a CG-4A glider, which would bring the equipment in for further airfield preparation.

The first two trailers shown below are the oldest of the 1/2-ton dump trailers that the company built during World War Two. Both are dated June 17, 1943.

This is on outside display at the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois, WY. Author's photo added 1-27-2025.

Author's photo added 1-27-2025.

While there is no contract number on this data plate, the trailer was most likely built under contract 203-ENG-2019. Author's photo added 1-27-2025.

Author's photo added 1-27-2025.

Converto Airborne Trailer U.S. Registration Number 0650787 was on display at the 2022 MVPA National Convention in South Bend, IN. This is a really cool display as it is original and has the USA number still painted on the side of the trailer. Author's photo added 6-14-2022.

Author's photo added 6-14-2022.

The trailer has the original data plate and shipping data plate attached to it. These are not reproductions. Author's photo added 6-14-2022.

Author's photo added 6-14-2022.

The next series of trailers were built under contract 11114-ENG-336 in late 1944 and early 1945.

Author's photo added 1-27-2025.

The dump trailer is part of the collection at the World War II American Experience. Author's photo added 1-27-2025.

Author's photo added 1-27-2025.

|
This Converto Airborne Trailer was on display at the 2019 MVPA National Convention in York, PA. According to the owner, this is one of two that he owns. He related how he had been looking for one of these trailers for many years, and then found this one in a field not far from where he lives in Lexington, KY. He then related how a couple of weeks later, again not far from his house, he found the second one. Note that the registration number on the trailer 0878055 is shown on the original data plate below. Author's photo.

Author's photo.

The Case tractor shown here is a 1954 version, similar to the SI airborne tractor produced by Case during World War Two. The original tractors are very rare, and there appears to be only a couple still in existence. This set-up shows how the two pieces of equipment worked together. Author's photo.

This information placard has the important details about the trailer and its use. Author's photo.

Converto Airborne Trailer U.S. Registration Number 0877548 was on display at the 2021 MVPA National Convention in South Bend, IN. Author's photo added 8-17-2021.