IF labeled odd, in an ugly duckling kind of way, it makes you want to stare at this wandering beast in amazement at the same time. HA. I LOVE these old and quirky machines as it gives us perspective on how the industry has grown and what it went thru to get here. People making nasty comments about this machine have no respect for inventions and taking chances on something different. You have no appreciation of what is involved being the first in coming up with a new approach. Thanks for putting this up, tournadude.
RG's machines were a head of time but then the hydraulics came in and made his machines even better I operated 4 of his machines at the railway back in the mid 80's to mid 90's. They were great machines to operate and yes picking up a container with 70,000 lbs would sure make that v-8 detroit grunt
There was a bit of a distinct electric sound as they picked up speed or used the control motors, but mostly it was the sound of the diesel, and they were loud. Speed control was with what looked like a rheostat, but wasn't. When operating you pushed the throttle of the engine all the way, like you do on a cat dozer to get all the power you need at a constant RPM, and that pretty much drowned out the electric sounds.
RAAF Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia had one very similar to this machine in the late 1960s and certainly up to and including the period immediately after Cyclone Tracy (24 Dec 1974). It had a crane on the rear as well as the blade up front. It was also capable of remote control operation. I believe its primary task was to clear the runway should an aeroplane crash and block the runway.
Did RG sell many of these things? It's kind of funny how fifty years after these things were made we're only starting to go back to diesel electric drive in dozers.
really cool wheel dozer here,It would be a rush to hear the detroit diesel wind up and dig in.Did these machines make any strange whirring or whining sound with the electric drive or was just the engine heard?
@2fast65, I'm guessing it was in prototype stage here. the area they are in is a testing ground where they worked things out. That's probably why they didn't put any glass in it. @ber26a, I don't think this one sold much. My Dad knew of it, but said it wasn't developed much. My grandfather was better at ideas than mass production. Not only diesel electric drive, but before articulated front end loaders.
The operators cab on all the equipment made by this company where in the most unusual places all the time. It was like they where an afterthought all the time. Like Oh yeah, we got to get an operator on this where do we put him.
IF labeled odd, in an ugly duckling kind of way, it makes you want to stare at this wandering beast in amazement at the same time. HA. I LOVE these old and quirky machines as it gives us perspective on how the industry has grown and what it went thru to get here. People making nasty comments about this machine have no respect for inventions and taking chances on something different. You have no appreciation of what is involved being the first in coming up with a new approach. Thanks for putting this up, tournadude.
That Hass to be a Detroit in that thing! Would love to hear it! Great videos my friend 👍
RG's machines were a head of time but then the hydraulics came in and made his machines even better I operated 4 of his machines at the railway back in the mid 80's to mid 90's.
They were great machines to operate and yes picking up a container with 70,000 lbs would sure make that v-8 detroit grunt
Many thanks! I just read yer gramps bio and I must say he had the right stuff!!! His ideas are just outrageous!!!! Forward Thinker to say the least
There was a bit of a distinct electric sound as they picked up speed or used the control motors, but mostly it was the sound of the diesel, and they were loud. Speed control was with what looked like a rheostat, but wasn't. When operating you pushed the throttle of the engine all the way, like you do on a cat dozer to get all the power you need at a constant RPM, and that pretty much drowned out the electric sounds.
RAAF Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia had one very similar to this machine in the late 1960s and certainly up to and including the period immediately after Cyclone Tracy (24 Dec 1974). It had a crane on the rear as well as the blade up front. It was also capable of remote control operation. I believe its primary task was to clear the runway should an aeroplane crash and block the runway.
super video stuff about cool machines. thanks for uploading
Did RG sell many of these things? It's kind of funny how fifty years after these things were made we're only starting to go back to diesel electric drive in dozers.
really cool wheel dozer here,It would be a rush to hear the detroit diesel wind up and dig in.Did these machines make any strange whirring or whining sound with the electric drive or was just the engine heard?
@2fast65, I'm guessing it was in prototype stage here. the area they are in is a testing ground where they worked things out. That's probably why they didn't put any glass in it.
@ber26a, I don't think this one sold much. My Dad knew of it, but said it wasn't developed much. My grandfather was better at ideas than mass production. Not only diesel electric drive, but before articulated front end loaders.
It's like....the "Lurch" of the wheeled dozers. lol What a odd machine.
The operators cab on all the equipment made by this company where in the most unusual places all the time. It was like they where an afterthought all the time. Like Oh yeah, we got to get an operator on this where do we put him.
These are all the one offs that the founder of letourneau made in the early 50's and 60's I believe...its be awhile since I watched all the vids....
so its john deeres highspeed dozer before john deeres high speed dozer
To bad you can't hear them
this is a cool video
It kind of resembles a V-Con dozer that carried a 32 foot blade.
Kool machin back in the day but what happened to all the glass or was it that old in the video just wondering.
Can anyone say why the wheel base was so long?
Rocky cut ....flat tire .slope ?
Omg gear steering
It is a Letourneau see my posting below
Ohne Ton...
What's with those twin stacks ? Great if you like driving in fumes all day......no thanks.
psshhht......a cat couldnt do this
Little late 7 years but a td24 in 1958 would have pushed that little pile of dirt like nothing