MLU FORUM  

Go Back   MLU FORUM > GENERAL WW2 TOPICS > WW2 Military History & Equipment

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #31  
Old 20-07-13, 12:02
Lynn Eades Lynn Eades is offline
Bluebell
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Tauranga, New Zealand
Posts: 5,534
Default

Lang, in the same way that Kiwi C8AX's made it into Australia, after the war. Many vehicles were pulled back from the islands, into to N.Z. and Australia by those that had the resources to do so. I imagine there was at times, some fairly stiff competition.
In New Zealand, names like Gillies and Giltrap did very well.
It is possible.
__________________
Bluebell

Carrier Armoured O.P. No1 Mk3 W. T84991
Carrier Bren No2.Mk.I. NewZealand Railways. NZR.6.
Dodge WC55. 37mm Gun Motor Carriage M6
Jeep Mb #135668
So many questions....
Reply With Quote
  #32  
Old 21-07-13, 00:02
Lang Lang is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 1,650
Default

Lyn,

That is true, Theiss is a name from Australia bringing shiploads of vehicles and machinery in from New Guinea sales.

The Clarktors we are talking about were of British origin and could not have been brought back from Pacific post war sales (unless the Australians got them in the Middle East and subsequently took them to New Guinea which is highly unlikely)

I will try to find a photo I have seen of a USMC aircraft in the Pacific being towed by a Ford/Ferguson tractor (set up for aircraft with tow bumpers etc) demonstrating even the Americans were not totally tug oriented. On rough, newly constructed strips a tractor is far more capable than a Clarktor.

Lang
Reply With Quote
  #33  
Old 21-07-13, 00:18
motto motto is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Woodend,Victoria,Australia
Posts: 1,068
Default

A possible explanation for the presence of these tugs in Australia is the build up of British naval forces in the Pacific that was already under way when the big bungers were dropped and the war ended.
I recall reading some time ago that British aircraft carriers were staging through or operating out of Sydney and there was a scramble to establish the required support that would enable the Royal Navy to operate effectively alongside the U.S.N.
I suspect some of the equipment was disposed of locally in the scaling down.

Just thought I'd throw that in.

David
__________________
Hell no! I'm not that old!
Reply With Quote
  #34  
Old 21-07-13, 01:33
Lang Lang is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 1,650
Default

David,

You might be right.

There are photos (and some recently recovered aircraft) of brand new Royal Navy Corsairs being dumped just off Caloundra near Brisbane in 1945.

I suppose there could have been Clarktors associated with some of that activity.

Lang

Last edited by Lang; 21-07-13 at 01:42.
Reply With Quote
  #35  
Old 21-07-13, 01:43
Lang Lang is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 1,650
Default

Here is a USMC aircraft in the Pacific with a tractor.
Attached Thumbnails
TractorUSMC.jpg  
Reply With Quote
  #36  
Old 21-07-13, 02:00
Lynn Eades Lynn Eades is offline
Bluebell
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Tauranga, New Zealand
Posts: 5,534
Default

It's a Ford.
__________________
Bluebell

Carrier Armoured O.P. No1 Mk3 W. T84991
Carrier Bren No2.Mk.I. NewZealand Railways. NZR.6.
Dodge WC55. 37mm Gun Motor Carriage M6
Jeep Mb #135668
So many questions....
Reply With Quote
  #37  
Old 21-07-13, 03:24
Mike Cecil Mike Cecil is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Cody, Wyoming, USA
Posts: 2,365
Default

Seems the possibilities for their ending up in Australia are almost endless - RAAF, RAN, RN, ex-RAF, private import - given the absence of any evidence other than (1) supplied to British under a Brit contract and (2) now in Australia. The 'bit in the middle' between (1) and (2) is indeed intriguing!

Unlike the Army (who used almost anyone's registration numbers!) the RAAF appear to have been pretty diligent in recording a registration against an acquired equipment item, even as late as at the time of it's disposal, in order to account for it's existence. I suppose that's easier given the small fleet totals at any one time. Odd things pop up, plenty seemingly out of sequence and with the acquisition field simply listed as 'not known', but with a known disposals date.

The ones that crack me up are the 'not sighted': ie we know we had it, but now we just don't seem to be able to find it....

Mike C
Reply With Quote
  #38  
Old 21-07-13, 04:07
Lynn Eades Lynn Eades is offline
Bluebell
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Tauranga, New Zealand
Posts: 5,534
Default

Mike, When I was an army apprentice, the CQMS has a line of damaged tools laid out,on the floor of his store, in preparation for a "board of survey" ("writing them off").
At the end of the line were 3 cresents drawn in chalk on the floor.
While I was watching the Boarding Officer was there.
He asked the CQMS what the chalk marks were.
The CQMS said " three by eight inch Cresents Sir"
The Boarding Officer asked What is wrong with them?
The CQMS walked over, with chalk in hand, and drew a line through them, Immediately answering "they are broken Sir!"
On acceptance by the Boarding Officer, the CQMS's books were balanced, in military style.
It probably didn't always go that well.
__________________
Bluebell

Carrier Armoured O.P. No1 Mk3 W. T84991
Carrier Bren No2.Mk.I. NewZealand Railways. NZR.6.
Dodge WC55. 37mm Gun Motor Carriage M6
Jeep Mb #135668
So many questions....
Reply With Quote
  #39  
Old 11-03-15, 12:41
Rod Lovell's Avatar
Rod Lovell Rod Lovell is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Fleurieu Peninsula. South Australia
Posts: 5
Default

Hi guys. Newbie here. I'm now the proud owner (although not home yet) of a Clarktor 46 which on the data plate states "Manufactured in Australia under licence to Clark Equipment Coy_ Michigan USA"
Serial No: O3X2184L and showing 2,353 hrs. Interestingly it has a 4 speed gearbox.
Guess who is a happy chappy?
Regards. Rod.
__________________
Proud owner
1948 Massey Harris 44K
1946 Ford Semi Trailer Bus
Clarktor 46
Reply With Quote
  #40  
Old 11-03-15, 21:25
Keith Webb's Avatar
Keith Webb Keith Webb is offline
Film maker, CMP addict
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Macleod, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 8,216
Default Welcome Rod

I'm sure you'll be able to broaden your horizons here in MLU...

Feel free to post a pic of your vehicle too!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rod Lovell View Post
Hi guys. Newbie here. I'm now the proud owner (although not home yet) of a Clarktor 46 which on the data plate states "Manufactured in Australia under licence to Clark Equipment Coy_ Michigan USA"
Serial No: O3X2184L and showing 2,353 hrs. Interestingly it has a 4 speed gearbox.
Guess who is a happy chappy?
Regards. Rod.
__________________
Film maker

42 FGT No8 (Aust) remains
42 FGT No9 (Aust)
42 F15
Keith Webb
Macleod, Victoria Australia
Also Canadian Military Pattern Vehicles group on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/canadianmilitarypattern
Reply With Quote
  #41  
Old 11-03-15, 23:31
Lang Lang is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 1,650
Default Tug

Rod

If you go on to the Clark Tug Yahoo Forum you will find out everything there is to know.

They have the factory build sheets for all the Hornsby built Clark tugs (plus all the USA ones also)

You will also find downloadable manuals and parts books for your tug.

Lang
Reply With Quote
  #42  
Old 12-03-15, 00:02
Rod Lovell's Avatar
Rod Lovell Rod Lovell is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Fleurieu Peninsula. South Australia
Posts: 5
Default

Thanks guys. Have just joined that group.
__________________
Proud owner
1948 Massey Harris 44K
1946 Ford Semi Trailer Bus
Clarktor 46
Reply With Quote
  #43  
Old 17-03-15, 08:51
Rod Lovell's Avatar
Rod Lovell Rod Lovell is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Fleurieu Peninsula. South Australia
Posts: 5
Default

I think this Clarktor gets more interesting the more I look into it.
It was manufactured in Australia and the engine was manufactured by Chrysler Australia Limited in Adelaide.
I wonder if it was ex RAAF. It was, I believe used in aviation, by the spark arrestor muffler.
On the side is painted a blue "genie's lamp". Very interesting.


__________________
Proud owner
1948 Massey Harris 44K
1946 Ford Semi Trailer Bus
Clarktor 46
Reply With Quote
  #44  
Old 17-03-15, 08:55
Rod Lovell's Avatar
Rod Lovell Rod Lovell is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Fleurieu Peninsula. South Australia
Posts: 5
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lang View Post

If you go on to the Clark Tug Yahoo Forum you will find out everything there is to know.

They have the factory build sheets for all the Hornsby built Clark tugs (plus all the USA ones also)

You will also find downloadable manuals and parts books for your tug.

Lang
Hi Lang. Can you direct me to the Hornsby built section. Sorry I cannot find it. Thanks. rod.
__________________
Proud owner
1948 Massey Harris 44K
1946 Ford Semi Trailer Bus
Clarktor 46
Reply With Quote
  #45  
Old 17-03-15, 10:12
Lang Lang is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 1,650
Default

Rod

If you just put up the details on the forum of your tug and ask for information you will have reply pretty quickly. They like photos.

I got the build sheets for both my USA and Australian tugs within 24 hours.

Lang
Reply With Quote
  #46  
Old 17-03-15, 10:38
Rod Lovell's Avatar
Rod Lovell Rod Lovell is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Fleurieu Peninsula. South Australia
Posts: 5
Default

Thanks. Done.
__________________
Proud owner
1948 Massey Harris 44K
1946 Ford Semi Trailer Bus
Clarktor 46
Reply With Quote
  #47  
Old 17-03-15, 12:23
Lang Lang is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 1,650
Default

Rod

Just looked at the start of this thread "Old Clark Guy" is the man you need to talk to. He has everything at his fingertips having worked for Clark for a lot of years and saved the records. The Clark forum is his baby.

Lang
Reply With Quote
  #48  
Old 17-03-15, 23:18
Lang Lang is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 1,650
Default

This is my build sheet from the Clark forum.
Attached Thumbnails
Clark build sheet 001.jpg  
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Clarktor Model Designations.pdf (6.6 KB, 7 views)
Reply With Quote
  #49  
Old 06-09-15, 10:55
Sam Scholz Sam Scholz is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Bundaberg, Australia
Posts: 32
Default

Oh dear!

I think I let one of these Clarkats slip through my fingers on the way to the scrappies last year, for not knowing what it was.

It was derelict, through complete, in SE Queensland.
Hmmmmm. . . . .

Sam.
Reply With Quote
  #50  
Old 07-09-15, 10:56
Dianaa Dianaa is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Botany Bay
Posts: 250
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rod Lovell View Post
I think this Clarktor gets more interesting the more I look into it.
It was manufactured in Australia and the engine was manufactured by Chrysler Australia Limited in Adelaide.
I wonder if it was ex RAAF. It was, I believe used in aviation, by the spark arrestor muffler.
On the side is painted a blue "genie's lamp". Very interesting.


We've got something like that sitting in the chook shed. Although the front armour/grill looks more like this:

Image source: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/

Missing an engine though. I believe it's a short Dodge engine.
Reply With Quote
  #51  
Old 07-09-15, 11:55
Lang Lang is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 1,650
Default

I think you will find the Australian built Clarktors (Hornsby, Sydney factory) had the long engine. Mine has at least and it is the same engine number as in the factory build sheet.

The earlier American ones had short engines.

Lang
Reply With Quote
  #52  
Old 07-09-15, 12:05
Dianaa Dianaa is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Botany Bay
Posts: 250
Default

So what you're saying is that the one in the shed is an early US build. Will have to take a piccy.
Reply With Quote
  #53  
Old 07-09-15, 22:30
Lang Lang is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 1,650
Default

I have a 1941 US model and a 1963 AUS model so if you want to compare differences let me know and I will check.

Lang
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 09:23.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Maple Leaf Up, 2003-2016