Restored M1917 Tank at CWM

[45jim]

The Hull was recovered from the Stan Reynolds collection in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, not the Reynolds-Alberta Museum which is just up the road. The tank was recovered in the 70's by Reynolds, from Ontario where it was working in a saw mill. Parts like the turret and armour were lost long before the recovery. When I found it going through his yard (in the mid-90's) it was just the lower hull and tracks with a Buick dashboard and modified controls to allow the vehicle to be driven from a much higher position than normal. The tracks also had squares cut from them to fit a grouser-type spud to give it traction on ice.

Having just examined the CWM example, the first thing that stuck out was the distinctive flame cut holes in the tracks. I understand the CWM traded a Sherman project from the Jack Guthrie collection for it.

While not a runner, it sure looks great. Having driven the Renault in Samur, I can say that they were not a pleasant vehicle to crew at all.