Citroman Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 (edited) This 4x4 tractor was in use in the south of our country before 1940. Anyone has an idea about the make? Yes it is written on the radiator but the resolution of the pic is to low to read it. A Latil was aready ruled out by a french truck forum. So what could it be? Ex- military? In the Netherlands there were a lot of US vehicles in use but it might also be a french or belgian make as the border is very close. It was used for towing heavy loads. Edited January 28, 2020 by Citroman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super6 Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 It looks like it says Unic but a google search doesn't bring up anything that looks like it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 3 hours ago, Citroman said: This 4x4 tractor was in use in the south of our country before 1940. Anyone has an idea about the make? Yes it is written on the radiator but the resolution of the pic is to low to read it. A Latil was aready ruled out by a french truck forum. So what could it be? Ex- military? In the Netherlands there were a lot of US vehicles in use but it might also be a french or belgian make as the border is very close. It was used for towing heavy loads. Looking at the front axle, it does not appear to be driven so possibly not a 4x4? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Johns Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, Richard Farrant said: Looking at the front axle, it does not appear to be driven so possibly not a 4x4? I expanded the photo and as Richard observed the truck only has a beam front axle Edited January 28, 2020 by Nick Johns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citroman Posted January 28, 2020 Author Share Posted January 28, 2020 Isn't this the driveshaft? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8_10 Brass Cleaner Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 I was about to offer the two gents above a £10 wager. Of course it is. Given its 4 wheel drive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oats and barley Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Thats a tall truck with a narrow track and where the lights are mounted looks like a snow plough the wheels look like Saurer type C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie Lissie Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Is it a drive shaft to a geared hub or a perrot shaft for front wheel brakes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citroman Posted January 29, 2020 Author Share Posted January 29, 2020 (edited) Did find two more pictures of the vehicle. It's repainted on the last one. But rather small pictures too. Edited January 29, 2020 by Citroman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tankdiver Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 It Looks like beam axle to me if there is a diff its not clear in the photo the highlighted part is the rear diff. If lt was a 4x4 and a heavy hauler the diff banjo would be a large round casing at the front. This vehicle appears not to have one Laurence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 The last photo shows a similar beam to the front axle without a diff at conventional half shaft level which suggests a high level hub drive similar to those used by Latil. Not Latil but gives an idea of the concept: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citroman Posted January 29, 2020 Author Share Posted January 29, 2020 It's a DIFFicult one this ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tankdiver Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 Until we see the actual axle it is a pointless debate. the diff mounted on the axle is in fact a rear axle.and the spring mounted this way is to allow heavy loads to be carried without the axle being to high . Its an interesting layout not one I have seen Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Herbert Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 I would very strongly suggest that this truck has the same style of drive line as a Latil, ie the diffs are mounted onto the chassis and the drive (half) shafts have a UJ at both ends and a sliding joint to take up suspension movement. There is then a gear set in each hub to give a reduction and to lower the wheel centre relative to the drive shaft. This truck clearly has a straight beam axle with very prominent U bolts both front and back. This is well below wheel centre height so there is no question of a diff that is out of sight in that beam. Could this be a Latil made under licence by another company ? It certainly looks like a Latil to me. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 4 minutes ago, David Herbert said: I would very strongly suggest that this truck has the same style of drive line as a Latil, ie the diffs are mounted onto the chassis and the drive (half) shafts have a UJ at both ends and a sliding joint to take up suspension movement. There is then a gear set in each hub to give a reduction and to lower the wheel centre relative to the drive shaft. This truck clearly has a straight beam axle with very prominent U bolts both front and back. This is well below wheel centre height so there is no question of a diff that is out of sight in that beam. Could this be a Latil made under licence by another company ? It certainly looks like a Latil to me. David Agreed David, looking at the huge front overhang could it have had a nose job to fit a larger engine rather like the Scammell 100 tonners? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citroman Posted January 30, 2020 Author Share Posted January 30, 2020 (edited) The truck was owned by a scrapdealer, so maybe there was something bolted together. Normally the shape of hubs and wheels are good indication for a maker, but i didn't find anything similar yet. Edited January 30, 2020 by Citroman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citroman Posted January 30, 2020 Author Share Posted January 30, 2020 (edited) Did find something very similar, long nose, four wheel drive with the same type of axles, headlamps on the cab...an american Walter truck. Only this is a bit older with massive tires. And a more recent one with the same shape of radiator and rounded chassis underside, what do you think of this Edited January 30, 2020 by Citroman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 Citroman, You have probable nailed it! Walter, see this web page link and scroll down to the pictures of the transmission layout; http://forum.aths.org/PrintTopic151923.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatchFuzee Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 Another Walter, even has the open flap in the bonnet. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citroman Posted January 31, 2020 Author Share Posted January 31, 2020 Must very rare to have one in the netherlands. Interesting machines. Don't know what happend to it, maybe it dissapeared in the war. All pictures were from 1938/39. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Johns Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 (edited) From Richards link above, the unusual Walter 4x4 transmission, using a gearbox transaxle unit, and locking differentials..at least 50 years before Audi perfected the same idea for the Quattro Edited January 31, 2020 by Nick Johns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tankdiver Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 33 minutes ago, Nick Johns said: From Richards link above, the unusual Walter 4x4 transmission, using a gearbox transaxle unit, and locking differentials..at least 50 years before Audi perfected the same idea for the Quattro Until we see the actual axle it is a pointless debate. the diff mounted on the axle is in fact a rear axle.and the spring mounted this way is to allow heavy loads to be carried without the axle being to high . Its an interesting layout not one I have seen Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tankdiver Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 Weird and wonderful contraption .Its good to see how engineers in the past came up with solutions. well found Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 1 hour ago, Nick Johns said: From Richards link above, the unusual Walter 4x4 transmission, using a gearbox transaxle unit, and locking differentials..at least 50 years before Audi perfected the same idea for the Quattro Also explains the ungainly set back front axle. To be totally correct it was the VW Iltis that used the system first, 2 years ahead of Quattro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citroman Posted February 2, 2020 Author Share Posted February 2, 2020 Did find this video 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.