Really Cool Fordson Snow Motor Video

[3RRL]

I saw this on another forum. You got to watch this!

Fordson Snow Motor

[quikduk]

Now THAT is AWESOME!

I think we have a new potential project...not that I couldn't use it in the deep snow of So-Cal...

It does look interesting. I wonder if there are any engineering drawings that could be had for a copy.

Hmmm...

[GuglioLS]

Way cool Rob,
Thanks for finding and sharing that!

What year was it made? circa 1910 ? I really got a kick out of the old time silent movie. Seems to me it's a lost invention, it's design is certainly more simple than any tracked vehicle of "modern times".

Larry

[GuglioLS]

I sent the video link to my computer savvy Dad via e-mail.

This is his response:

"Hi Larry, that was a cool video of that tractor and the unique traction drums.
I think I saw news reel of it in our local movie theater on a Saturday matinee
when I was 6 or 7 years old. that would make it about 1933 or 1934. The car, a Chevrolet looked like vintage late 1920s or early 30s touring car.
Thanks for sending that to me. Both me and mom watched it several times. We did feel sorry for the horse.

Don't know why it didn't catch on though.

Love,

Dad"

I was amazed he remembered seeing this when it first came out . Who would have thought. Another thing of note, everyone including the tractor operator are wearing white shirts and black ties.


Larry

[linus69]

Great video, this is what I was able to find out about it.

In the 1920s the Armstead Snow Motor was developed. When this was used to convert a Fordson tractor into a screw propelled vehicle with a single pair of cylinders; the combination became known as the Fordson Snow Devil. A film was made to show the capabilities of the vehicle as well as a Chevrolet car fitted with an Armstead Snow Motor. The film clearly shows that the vehicle copes well in snow. Steering was effected by having each cylinder receive power from a separate clutch which, depending on the position of the steering gear, engages and disengages; this results a vehicle that is relatively maneuverable. The promotional film shows the Armstead snow motor hauling 20 tons of logs.

In January 1926, Time magazine reported:
"Having used the motor car for almost every other conceivable purpose, leading Detroit automobile makers have now organized a company entitled "Snow Motors Inc.," to put out a machine which will negotiate the deepest snowdrifts at six to eight miles an hour. The new car will consist of a Ford tractor power-plant mounted on two revolving cylinders instead of wheels—something on the order of a steam roller. The machine has already proved its usefulness in deep snow previously unnavigable. One such machine has done the work which formerly required three teams. In Oregon a stage line uses a snow motor in its two daily round trips over the Mackenzie Pass between Eugene and Bend. Orders are already in hand from Canada, Norway, Sweden, Alaska. The Hudson Bay Co. has ordered a supply to maintain communications with its most northern fur-trading stations. The Royal Northwest Mounted Police have also gone into the market for snow motors, and may cease to be horsemen and become chauffeurs, to the deep regret of cinema people. A number of prominent motor makers have also been interested in the proposition from the angle of adapting the snow motors equipment to their ordinary models. Hudson, Dodge and Chevrolet are mentioned especially as interested in practical possibilities along this line."

An an extant example is in the collection of the Heidrick Ag History Center in Woodland, California. This particular vehicle is said to have been used to haul mail from Truckee to North Lake Tahoe.

Despite this interest, the Armstead Snow Motor was not a long-term commercial success.

members.dslextreme.com/users/rustyfender28/images/snowmotor.jpg

www.freepatentsonline.com/1431440.html

Paul

[bradblazer]

I like Google patent search:

www.google.com/patents?id=_oJZAAAAEBAJ&dq=1431440

www.google.com/patents?hl=en

It is very cool. So simple.

I guess tracks won out. It's hard to imagine one of those with the climbing ability of a snow cat or the speed of a snowmobile. Then again who would have predicted snowmobiles that do 150mph out of the box?

[3RRL]

Well, I sure found that video interesting and figured you guys would like it too.
Thanks for posting all that additional information about it. Woodland can't be that far away from me? Perhaps I will make a trip up there someday and take some photos. I think Richard might be closer than I am?
Rob-

[stumppuller]

Rob..Thanks for sending this info. I was in the process of "reinventing the wheel" with a similar concept, but applied to a skateboard platform. Now I will abandon this and move on to other ideas. But, it is hard to see why this is not currently being made. Another potential benefit of the Snow Motor is that it should be able to float and navigate on water, and perhaps sand too. It's pretty hard to come up with natively clean ideas that haven't been thought of before. Too many smart people out there.

Bruce