The heater model was used extensively in Willys CJ2A and CJ3s up to about the 60's. I can find a lot of pictures of Willy's jeeps with these heaters in them, and even a factory brochure with the heater installed. I have emailed quite a few people with them in Willys and have not gotten much back. They own it, and some have the parts books, but nothing outside of the Willy's world.
http://cj3apage.com/restoring_a_harrison_heater.htmAnd here is the heater in a the parts listing:
http://www.film.queensu.ca/cj3b/Photos/Parts/JeepRight.jpgThe CJ3 was a very civilian vehicle (although it did spawn the M38... which used a different add on heater - man nothing is easy
).
In 1959 GM may have done away with add-on or dealer installed heaters.. this is what I have found... up till about 1960 dealer installed heaters were common. After that, they become standard items and integrated into the car itself. I think that is what they mean when they said 'standardized tooling' vs 'dealerships making heater X work in car Y'.
I know that the mention of military use can confuse things.. but this specific heater, while used in a specific add on kit, were very civilian in origin. Just like the S series oil filters became the 'Military Senior' oil filters. Exact same item.
Most of the Harrison patents revolve around the honeycomb cell construction.
Tuesday I'm gonna call Delphi Harrison on Lockport and see if they have any kind of historian or maybe get a name of an employee that might help. Worth a try.
