Hidden or exposed hinges

I am totally confused on this hinge thing and split rear glass, I am under the impression that 1950 was the only year for hidden hinges yet on Hemmings I find an L Series with exposed hinges. While doing a Google search I find 1955 series trucks with split rear glass and one piece rear glass. My truck is titled as a 55 and I am told what it really is, is a 1950 L series. Did the cab plate fasten with rivits or screws? I tried my darndest to get the frame number but it is so very faint it cannot be read.

I am totally confused on this hinge thing and split rear glass, I am under the impression that 1950 was the only year for hidden hinges yet on Hemmings I find an L Series with exposed hinges. While doing a Google search I find 1955 series trucks with split rear glass and one piece rear glass. My truck is titled as a 55 and I am told what it really is, is a 1950 L series. Did the cab plate fasten with rivits or screws? I tried my darndest to get the frame number but it is so very faint it cannot be read.

I have seen newer trucks with the split window, but keep in mind, perhaps those are cabs that have replaced a totally rusted out cab. The L series is from 1950 to 1952. The 1950 is the only year that came with the hidden hinges. Keep in mind, that with International, NOTHING is totally written in stone. They would build a truck to order. The two window back glass is mostly in the 50-52, but have seen them also on some of the 53 R trucks. Your Chassis number is the Best way to get an Idea of the year. You may have to lightly sand that area off to bare metal and try some chalk to "brighten" the numbers up(could try the chalk first) The Data plates are held on by small screws. Perhaps someone did put an older cab on your chassis? The Cab is a Hidden hinge 1950 tho.

Lloyd

I just looked at your pictures on Photobucket and your Cab is definitely a 1950; hidden hinges, waterfall grill and all. it is also a shortbox which makes it even nicer. As for the double rear windows both of my '53s have them. I have an R130 and an R160.

I am pretty sure that your trucks cab is not on the original frame however as the wheelbase on the Data plate(which was screwed on) says it is a 127" not a 115" as it should be for a short box.

thanks guys i feel better now and the handles are lever type

A possibility of the descrepany is the truck may have had a data plate from a different truck (that has a title) installed and then registered as that truck. That does happen on a lot of vehicles that are missing a title. MM

A possibility of the descrepany is the truck may have had a data plate from a different truck (that has a title) installed and then registered as that truck. That does happen on a lot of vehicles that are missing a title. MM

This is a possibility too.

Buzzman replyed to my electrical post about relays or circuit breakers which were on the very early trucks "...but on EARLY L-series trucks, there is also a "JUNCTION BLOCK AND CIRCUIT BREAKER" in the same general area of the firewall.

This would apply to L-110 models below chassis number 33276, and L-120 models below chassis number 14835...and other L-series trucks"
The serial on the frame is just not there to faint to read or scribe.
Jim

According to the MT-63 parts book, on the L-110, the hidden hinges were used from the first truck--serial number 501--to serial number 30196. On the L-120, they were used from serial number 501 to 13945 [group 1603E1].

According to the serial number chart in the Wisconsin Historical Society archives, on January 2, 1951, the beginning serial number for L-110-111-112 trucks was 29203...and for L-120-121-122 trucks it was 13501. So there were 993 L-110-111-112 trucks and 444 L-120-121-122 trucks built in 1951 that still had the hidden hinges.

Link: http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/ihc/id/5529/rec/274

Hope this helps explain when the hidden hinges began and ended.

generally all the L series had split rear window,

went to bigger rear window mid production of R series sometime,

also went to taller glass in door windows, and from leer to push button exterior handles too, mid production R, had em with both type,

don't know when or serial number change designation,