[mike mckinley]

hi keith

with the cmp series i have always said that they are so ugly they're beautiful. in the case of this crane you're right...just plain ugly. having said that, i have always liked the look of the wartime trucks like coleman, walter, oshkosh, and the sterling dds series, with their engines ahead of the axel...sounds twisted i know. attached are two pics of coleman trucks. the first is a 1948 4x4 tipper and the second is a restored 1929 with buda engine. the overall style didn't change that much over the years.

below specifications on the crane taken from historic military vehicles directory by Bart Vanderveen.

coleman g55a/ quick-way e55 (g684)

engine: buda 6cyl, 125hp, model lo 525, 522cid

transmission: 5 spd

transfer: 2spd

wheelbase: 147"

weight: 25,200lbs

used as a crane, shovel, dragline, ect, and produced from 1941-44

was equipped with a 6ton front mounted winch

crane engine: ihc model u9, 4cyl, 35hp, mounted in turn table.

equipment for this vehicle carried in a special 4ton, single axel trailer.