Captain Crank Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Hi, My name is John and I have the OD disease. Been hunting and gathering for about 25+ years. A friend directed me here, what a great site! My main interests are the US heavy trucks. I see others here have the big stuff also, that's good. I have 3) 7144's, 2) 8144's, 1) 444 (and just found another.) WLF M1A1 Heavy Wrecker Also have 2) IH Half Tracks and a AFKX-352 shop van 4 or 5 G506 Chevy's plus some trailers to pull around. Volvo BV202 and a C303 round it all out. Some are restored, 2/3 of the stuff runs, some are for spares and parts. I have researched most of what I own, so if someone has a question regarding these, feel free to ask. I know I will be asking questions... especially about parts I have been looking for. Hope to add something to the mix. Cheers and Beers, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil munga Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Hi john, quite a collection you got there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Welcome Captian Crank Yes lots to read and see here . Once you get settled in We would all enjoy seeing a few photo's of your Collection . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 "All hail Captain Crank" :bow::banana: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazhunter44 Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Welcome Captain Crank, Sounds like you have a very nice collection. Hope to see a few photos of your collection. Which Hamburg are you from in USA? Williamsport, PA here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Mmm - that avatar is going to do Jack's blood pressure no good at all :shocked: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Crank Posted January 26, 2010 Author Share Posted January 26, 2010 Welcome Captain Crank, Sounds like you have a very nice collection. Hope to see a few photos of your collection. Which Hamburg are you from in USA? Williamsport, PA here. Thanks guys. I'm in Hamburg, Minnesota. Is this the proper spot to post some pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Welcome to the world's best green disiease treatment centre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lssah2025 Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Welcome aboard... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Crank Posted January 27, 2010 Author Share Posted January 27, 2010 The Binder....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
private mw Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 hi and welcome to the forum :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Crank Posted January 28, 2010 Author Share Posted January 28, 2010 U-7144T Closed Cab with Garwood Swing Boom Crane So, it would fit under the bridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 That's a rare beasty, Captain C.! Careful you don't shove the boom through the Billiard Room window when parking at the Clubhouse :stop: Looks vaguely like a smaller version of the two 8144T crane units for the U.S. Navy? Can you tell us anything about this model - how many, where used, etc.? What is the Autocar population in the States like? Can you give us an idea of how many might be preserved? In Europe 444, 4144 are very scarce, we think there could be possibly 16 - 20 x 7144Ts and some 8144Ts. Thanks Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Crank Posted January 28, 2010 Author Share Posted January 28, 2010 (edited) That's a rare beasty, Captain C.! Careful you don't shove the boom through the Billiard Room window when parking at the Clubhouse :stop: That can pose a problem :shocked: .... I have an M1A1 WLF and in the shed, I have to move the booms up and around to save space when parking, risky business. Looks vaguely like a smaller version of the two 8144T crane units for the U.S. Navy? Can you tell us anything about this model - how many, where used, etc.? You are correct. Same set up, just a smaller version, of both both truck and crane. This one came out of a big aircraft museum in Ohio. I know very little of it's past. I have not seen another like it anywhere. Books or real life. [Edit, I do have one pic of an early CC 7144 with a heavier Garwood crane on I think Tarawa] It's constructed very well and the techniques used to assemble it seem accurate for a less modern time. Since so few of the 8144 versions were built I have to suspect they were not a line production vehicle. This one seems of that same type. It's difficult to to know just by looking at the way it was built. But it gives clues. Did the Army Air Corp or Navy build it? I think yes, but can't say positively. The data plates on truck are for a U-7144T and a 3620PT on the crane. Nothing more. I am still attempting to track down it's true pedigree. What is the Autocar population in the States like? Can you give us an idea of how many might be preserved? In Europe 444, 4144 are very scarce, we think there could be possibly 16 - 20 x 7144Ts and some 8144Ts. There are "some." Like in Europe, many were used commercially after the war and had a hard life. Most are long gone. Some served on with the military. I think we had more, unused ones after WWII/Korea and may have more candidates lurking. The 8144 I have was used by the Air Force as a runway sanding truck in the Pacific Northwest. My parts 8144 had a big crane on it and the owner tipped it over. He walked away and never looked back. Wanted nothing to do with it, a brush with death will do that. The White 444 I just discovered 10 miles from my house was set up as a drift busting plow truck for rural county roads. The other 444 came from the desert southwest. Very clean. One of my (unrestored) 7144's was used as a rail yard car pusher for a Minnesota beer brewer and the other was used by a towing company. I also recently discovered about 12 7144's and 8144's that are lined up in a salvage yard. Unfortunately very inaccessible, sorry location secret for now. Owner is very difficult to deal with too. Not sure of accurate restored numbers but would venture a guess from what I know at about 10-20 of that type including Federals and IH. I don't know of any 444's. That's my next big project. BTW, I am looking for an 8144 ponton storage box if you have one laying about.:-D Cheers, John Thanks Tony ..... Edited January 28, 2010 by Captain Crank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Crank Posted January 29, 2010 Author Share Posted January 29, 2010 AFKX 352 Small Arms Repair Van Anyone here have one? Would like to compare notes. Got this one from a friend who acquired the restored one from the Budge collection. Rare as a Blue Rose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
private mw Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 nice :shocked: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
42 chevy Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Captian; check your email , I sent you some pictures Johhny G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reo24 Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Hi , The crane looks familiar! I have just bought this GMC from Airborne Garage in Arnhem, Holland. I know nothing of its history & there are no records of a GMC being built with such a crane - but then there are quite a few oddities about! It could have been a post war modification of course, but where did the crane come from originally? Any insight would be great!. have you discovered any history behind yours? Cheers, U-7144T Closed Cab with Garwood Swing Boom Crane So, it would fit under the bridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Well spotted, Reo!! There are too many similarities for them not to be one and the same crane type. :thumbsup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 (edited) Not only that - check out Goncalo's pic here: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?38334-Sterling-DDS150-Torpedo-Crane-US-Navy-WW2 Not exactly the same crane tower construction, but the installation is similar - also stabiliser legs look same as on the GMC rear. Still wondering if the 7144 and 352 might be a post WW2 conversion? Edited December 13, 2014 by N.O.S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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