[Milsurplus] URM-32 and Gruen

[Bob Camp]

Hi

Here's as far as I have gotten on the different labels on the URM-32A 
from order number 32256-P-56.

According to the stuff on the web Gruen industries pretty much 
collapsed in 1956. A significant issue in the collapse was an 8 million 
dollar military electronics contract. Since the URM-32 has a 1956 
contract date on it this may be relevant.

The Divco in Divco-Wayne is indeed the same Divco company that used to 
make every last milk truck in existence. I'll admit it's been a while 
since the milk man pulled in the driveway to drop off a few bottles in 
the milk box on the door step. Divco-Wayne industries was organized out 
of a merger that took place in 1957. Unless the data I found is wrong 
(pretty good chance ...) the company that actually made the URM-32A did 
not even exist in 1956 when the contract was issued.

In the mid 1950's Gruen was located in Cincinnati, and Divco was 
hopping around Detroit and Richmond Indiana. At least both companies 
were close enough geographically that one could have taken over the 
operations of the other.

This probably would be easier to track down if my membership in the 
Cincinnati Historical Society was still current ....

So here's the next question: other than URM-32's does Divco-Wayne 
Electronics show up on any other military gear ? I have found what look 
like references to civilian counterparts to the URM-32 from Divco-Wayne 
but not much else.

There also seems to be an order number  50820-P-57 to Divco Wayne for 
URM-32A's. There are examples on the web of URM-32 not an A labeled 
Gruen Industries. So are there any examples of 32A's with Gruen tags on 
the meter it's self (and not just the case) or 32's with Divco labels 
on the meters. Divco and Gruen may have just been two sources for the 
same part ...

	Take Care!

		Bob Camp
		KB8TQ