Snowmobile fun, 1926 style

[dirt bike dave]

Thought some of you gearheads might get a kick out of this.

This is a very cool device and video. Can't believe I've never heard of this before. High cost must have kept sales down.

But it sure looks like a lot of fun!

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=568_1233111054

 

[schmanman]

wow! it looks a little like a tractor!!! I bet it floats too, because of the pontoon-like screws on the bottom!

 

[2strokesrock]

That is so cool! :) It looks really simple, yet affective.

 

[JD_MXRacer]

How do they get the turning to work? when you turn the wheel one of them starts spinning slower and the other faster. I doubt the had any electronics doing it back then.

 

[RYDMOTO]

I hear Pred rides with a suit and tie and a top hat.Times have not changed :ride:

 

[stumanarama]

A few years back on junkyard wars, they had a team of guys that were building a vehicle to drive across the berring strait outside of show. I distinctly remember the vehicle having the same corkscrew drive concept, and it could float and drive on water and ice. It was sweet, but not as sweet as that snow tractor towing 20 tons of lumber

 

[Papakeith]

sweet!

 

[whenfoxforks-ruled]

Patented in 1907. The same Peavy of guitars? Lost technology to the tank? That set up is pretty sweet! First I recall of this, even a video game used its idea? Nice find, and its on dang near every mechanical forum on the net! Why did it get shelved?

 

[RM_guy]

How do they get the turning to work? when you turn the wheel one of them starts spinning slower and the other faster. I doubt the had any electronics doing it back then.

About half way through the video it shows how the steering works. The steer wheel is hooked up with linkages to a gear box that drives the drums.

No they didn't have electronics but remember the first computer was mechanical. ;)

 

[High Lord Gomer]

Very cool!

 

[XRpredator]

I hear Pred rides with a suit and tie and a top hat.

what of it? Best protective equipment money can buy

 

[allthingsdirt]

Where's the helmet? :|

 

[whenfoxforks-ruled]

Where's the helmet? :|

He is an engineer, come on! He is way to smart for protective gear.

 

[dirt bike dave]

It was 1926.

Not very many Shoei or Arai dealers in the Midwest back then.

 

[whenfoxforks-ruled]

Wasn't this the leather helmet and aviator goggle days? It must have been pricey, and close to the great 1st depression?

 

[RYDMOTO]

what of it? Best protective equipment money can buy

You got style Pred :nener:

 

[RYDMOTO]

He is an engineer, come on! He is way to smart for protective gear.

Does anybody know what the difference is between engineer boots and cowboy boots?

 

[whenfoxforks-ruled]

Does anybody know what the difference is between engineer boots and cowboy boots?

Cowboy boots have poop on the outside, engineers have poop on the inside?

 

[holeshot]

Seems pretty cool on snow .... but if you'd hit a bare patch, it wouldn't do well (imagine grinding over hard ground, rocks or pavement with those screws).

Tracks are a lot more versatile ....

 

[whenfoxforks-ruled]

One of the references I was reading said this design lost to what we know as the tank? Still puzzled as to why these were seemingly not everywhere for use in the snow for work or pleasure?

 

[XRpredator]

One of the references I was reading said this design lost to what we know as the tank? Still puzzled as to why these were seemingly not everywhere for use in the snow for work or pleasure?

Tracks were probably cheaper to build, and they're definitely easier to repair. Had those "pontoon screws" been invented today, maybe out of lighter and stronger materials, things may have been different.

 

[MOgle80]

dont you think the chain drive on the rear would be fragile and dangerous and the front did not look like it would handle an obstacle with out getting tore up, it is cool but not practical :ride:

 

[XRpredator]

dont you think the chain drive on the rear would be fragile and dangerous and the front did not look like it would handle an obstacle with out getting tore up, it is cool but not practical :ride:

looked to handle snow-type obstacles fine to me.

and there was no such thing as "dangerous" in 1926, unless you counted EVERYTHING