Spent a miserable night with fleas. Can’t get rid of the pests.

A vital feature of the Model T Ford's planetary gear transmission was the woven cotton bands necessary for motion and braking. (The Model T used a braking gear; there were no wheel brakes as in modern cars.) The bands were lubricated with oil, and, depending on how much braking and shifting was done, would wear out and break and need to be replaced. Grant spent a good deal of time "replacing bands."

Click here for a full explanation of the complicated Model T transmission.

Saturday, September 7, 1918:

Still operations for an advance in the sector continue. I guess there’s going to be something doing before long alright, but I’ll win my first bet anyway.

Spent the day in the shop working on camionette, Putnam’s car and Bashore’s. The boys are burning out an awful lot of clutch bands on these hills around here. Wish we were driving gear shift cars. This evening Bert and I played three rubbers with Tischner and Astlett and we lost by 400 odd points. Spent a miserable night with fleas. Can’t get rid of the pests.

Sunday, September 8:

Severe thunder shower last night. This is the first real hard thunder storm I have ever seen in France. They are very rare in this country. Spent A.M. in shop on Bashore’s car. This P.M. we played 325 Ambulance Co. a game of baseball and won 18-8. Good game up to 5th inning when we both went up in the air and the scoring began. If we could beat them with the scrub bunch that we had what couldn’t we have done to them with Swain, Signor, Dunlap and Astlett!

Lt. Smith came back yesterday. He and Jack Kendrick are going to work splendidly together. Jack is wild about him.

Advance operations still in progress. 1st American army corps reported to be in this sector. Weather rainy and windy. English advance still in full swing. Splendid!

Monday, September 9:

Nothing unusual. Went to Belleville this A.M. with Woodie and Horn for rations. Ran the Packard and had one H___ of a time with traffic. The traffic now is terrible. M.P.s on every corner. But I’ll take my hat off now to any Q.M. Sergeant or officer. They have a man’s sized job in furnishing the American army with food, clothing, gasoline and horse-fuel. Marion, the sergeant at Belleville, is a prince. He likes us and favors us. Woodie is a clever diplomat and knows how to handle men. When we show up we get good service and the best of rations. We drew bread, bacon, fresh meat, vegetables, soap, candles, jam, butter, molasses and wood--the regular 5 day draw except that we got fresh meat whereas other organizations less popular got none.

At Belleville I was called down by a colonel for carrying more than one man on the front seat with me. 

Spent the P.M. in the shop on Bullock’s and Astlett’s car. At 4 P.M. Andie, Astlett, Johnnie and I went swimming. Water cold and so was the air.

This evening Eric and I played Pop and Boatman in bridge and after playing four rubbers lost by a score of 147.