The Badger
Junior Member
Europe V8 engine block from Henschel – a hypothesis?
No one has yet given any explanation to why there are a number of Ford V8 (3.9 L) flathead block from the late 30 's and early 40's, which are marked with an uppercase H in the molding above the clutch. The engines produced by Ford in Cologne had during the same period in casting, the letters EB (Eisenwerke Brühl). Engines manufactured after the war had the initials EB and F and K in the two ellipses.
Ford in Cologne had major problems with the production of V8 (239,4 CI) engines during World War II. Cologne was a primary target in the war, and was bombed intensively by the Allies. The bombings began May 12, 1940 and finished 2nd March 1945. Overall the Allies bombed Cologne area 262 times.
To ensure the supply of V8 engines to the German armed forces trucks and half-track vehicles they used every possible opportunity to get the engine blocks and complete engines. One such resource was the huge armaments industry Henschel & Sohn (Henschel-Werke), with the main factory in Kassel. The company manufactured locomotives, cars, tanks (Tiger I and II), and aircrafts and many other items for use in wars. The city of Kassel was bombed by the Allies 40 times. But it was only on 22-23 October 1943 that Henschels factories seriously were injured.
Henschel began with foundry manufacturing in 1810. The products were in the first half of the 20th century steam locomotives. The company merged in 1969 with Hanomag. The company Hanomag - Henschel was acquired by Daimler-Benz in 1974 and then disappeared as an own vehicle brand.
It is reasonable to believe that there were some of Henschels foundries that complemented Ford's production of engine blocks, and these blocks were labeled with a capital H and two dots. Although, without to use the Henschels star logo.
No one has yet given any explanation to why there are a number of Ford V8 (3.9 L) flathead block from the late 30 's and early 40's, which are marked with an uppercase H in the molding above the clutch. The engines produced by Ford in Cologne had during the same period in casting, the letters EB (Eisenwerke Brühl). Engines manufactured after the war had the initials EB and F and K in the two ellipses.
Ford in Cologne had major problems with the production of V8 (239,4 CI) engines during World War II. Cologne was a primary target in the war, and was bombed intensively by the Allies. The bombings began May 12, 1940 and finished 2nd March 1945. Overall the Allies bombed Cologne area 262 times.
To ensure the supply of V8 engines to the German armed forces trucks and half-track vehicles they used every possible opportunity to get the engine blocks and complete engines. One such resource was the huge armaments industry Henschel & Sohn (Henschel-Werke), with the main factory in Kassel. The company manufactured locomotives, cars, tanks (Tiger I and II), and aircrafts and many other items for use in wars. The city of Kassel was bombed by the Allies 40 times. But it was only on 22-23 October 1943 that Henschels factories seriously were injured.
Henschel began with foundry manufacturing in 1810. The products were in the first half of the 20th century steam locomotives. The company merged in 1969 with Hanomag. The company Hanomag - Henschel was acquired by Daimler-Benz in 1974 and then disappeared as an own vehicle brand.
It is reasonable to believe that there were some of Henschels foundries that complemented Ford's production of engine blocks, and these blocks were labeled with a capital H and two dots. Although, without to use the Henschels star logo.
