Interesting carrier conversion ??

ron · #1 20-02-11, 10:24

One of my more interesting trips. hope you like the pics
Regards Ron

Keith Webb · #2 20-02-11, 20:18

Converted to what use though?

Was there enough left to find a hull number?

maple_leaf_eh · #3 21-02-11, 03:37

Not converted to what, but why? Two sets of roadwheels and no idler.

RichardT10829 · #4 21-02-11, 10:38

may sound stupid but in this config would the carrier rock less when coming on and off power..if so this may have a bearing on why they have done what they have done ?

ron · #5 22-02-11, 01:17

Seems by the number of PM messages there is quite a lot of interest in this machine firstly it was converted by two brothers just after the war to use in a saw mill, to haul logs, the standard carrier would not do the job that they wanted to do, it was converted to a skid steer machine by using the drive line from a Marmon Herringto two man tank, as we all know this drive line is about as scarce as rocking horse s..t this information was told to me by a son of one of the brothers, I am still trying to track down the rest of the tank, who knows it may still be out there in the bush,its very thick in this area, anyway here are a few pics for anyones interest, No Keith there were no numbers on this machine as you can see the rear end was removed to fit the Marmon conversion,also the wheels are the narrow pattern, well I hope this is of some interest, Regards Ron, PS it was fitted with British track.

ron · #6 22-02-11, 01:20

Been having a bit of trouble uploading the pics will have to post them at a later date.

maybe it will work this time ?

Regards Ron

ron · #7 22-02-11, 02:41

more pics of the carrier

ron · #8 22-02-11, 09:19

Sorry guys, I have had a hell of a time with this computer today, these pics are supposed to be on the thread Interesting carrier conversion, all the same I hope that you find them of some interest Regards Ron

Keith Webb · #9 22-02-11, 10:52

What sort of a carrier is this one Ron?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron

Sorry guys, I have had a hell of a time with this computer today, these pics are supposed to be on the thread Interesting carrier conversion, all the same I hope that you find them of some interest Regards Ron

Hanno Spoelstra · #10 22-02-11, 16:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron

Sorry guys, I have had a hell of a time with this computer today, these pics are supposed to be on the thread Interesting carrier conversion, all the same I hope that you find them of some interest Regards Ron

Ron,

I've put your pictures in the right thread, this is the same carrier conversion we saw before isn't it?

Hanno

George McKenzie · #11 22-02-11, 22:36

keith, THAT'S a FLEA carrier !! Don't mess with him .Lot's of heavey armor and a mean bite

Keith Webb · #12 23-02-11, 06:16

I should have recognised this instantly. Hope it's not a rabies carrier too.

(incidentally it's "e" before "i" in Keith).

Quote:

Originally Posted by George McKenzie

Kieth, THAT'S a FLEA carrier !! Don't mess with him .Lost of heavey armor and a mean bite

George McKenzie · #13 23-02-11, 21:52

I was lookin at a driver carrier that was a MK1 .It was painted black .Not repainted. What made it interesting was that it had the Loyd steering system in it ,Two leavers in the center . It could have been a proto type ..Lower hull 12670,center# CB12669 , I'll have to go back and do more research on it as it is in storage now .George

ron · #14 24-02-11, 02:43

Thanks Hanno, for sorting the pics out for me, yes it is the same carrier, thanks again Regards Ron

motto · #15 28-02-11, 12:24

I don't know if this has any relevance Ron but the three replica Japanese tanks that were built for use in filming The Pacific TV series ended up being fitted with Marmon Herrington transmissions after the original set up using a Jaguar diff/rear axle turned out a failure.
I have no knowledge of where they were procured but was told that they had come from a batch of light tanks that were on their way to the Dutch East Indies when war broke out and the ship was redirected to Australia. For some reason these tanks were not put into service but broken up. I seem to remember being told that this was done by Ford in Geelong.
John Belfield seemed to be quite familiar with the story and it may well be that this is common knowledge amongst the armour enthusiasts but I'd never previously heard of it. It struck me as strange that these vehicles would have been broken up at such a desperate time. It also seems strange that there are any remnants still about.
I would be curious to know more. Corowa is almost here I might ask around.
David

Jared Archibald · #16 28-02-11, 14:25

G'day Motto, and everyone,

the armour historian at Puckapunyal, Major Paul Handel, has done research on these very interesting small tanks in Australia and wrote an article about them. It even has a number of photos. See link below:-

http://anzacsteel.hobbyvista.com/Arm...ingtinph_1.htm

I have heard a number of times that there are NOS transmissions and final drives extant in Victoria, and the ones used in the replica Japanese tanks could have came from the same source.

Looking at the images, I would not like to have been going to battle in one. Something bigger, heavier and faster would be preferable.

Jared

Jared Archibald · #17 28-02-11, 14:30

Whoops!, I'll take back one of my statements in the last post.

I didn't re-read the article before posting:- 30mph is fast for any early armour,

Jared

ron · #18 01-03-11, 06:49

Hi Jared & Motto,
John Belfield was here a few months back and I showed him the Marmon Herrington parts that I have, and he said the ones used in the movie that was made here were not the same as the two man type that I have, I dont know what they were but they are not the same, he said that these were the first of there type that he had seen,and according to the son of the man who built the conversion,he was told by his father and uncle that they were from a two man tank that came back from
the Dutch east indies, Regards Ron