Saturday, December 13, 2014

wow, Model T Snowmobile discovered that had been left in the remote forest of Labrador since 1928



It was brought up to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1927 by Donald B. MacMillan, an American explorer, to gather firewood; to travel to towns in the region and occasionally to give a lift to the Inuit and Innu people whom MacMillan wrote about in his journal.

MacMillan was interested in the newest technologies, and brought cameras to document and study the use of the automobile and the cultures of the Inuit and Innu people in the area.

It was local knowledge that the Ford was there, and pieces had been removed over the years until Nunatsiavut authorities decided to step in and retrieve the vehicle.

The chassis and body had been flipped upside down, presumably by scavengers seeking parts. The two doors, which were rather beaten up, and two tracks lay on the ground on either side, as if they had fallen off. The engine and manifold lay near the front end, and parts of the carburetor were several meters way. The dual-wheel fenders that came with the snowmobile kit were still attached to the body.

Some instruments from the dashboard are gone, as are the steering wheel, the wheels, the windshield, the radiator and one of the most important features: the skis, made of wood and metal in New Hampshire by the Snowmobile Company. http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-model-t-ford-snowmobile-club.html for more about the Model T Snowmobile





photos from http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/automobiles/labradors-first-snowmobile-heads-down-the-comeback-trail.html?ref=automobiles&_r=0#  via  http://theoldmotor.com/?p=134471

2 comments:

  1. I bet you've already seen this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBjlSJf4274 , but if you haven't, it would make a great post.

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    1. posted about those years ago.. thanks though! Incredible concept machine, and well worth our time to double check on! I avoid repeat posting, as I've got it somewhere, and have entirely too much new stuff to get posted...

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