ID required on this Chev

[Ken Smith]

May be to rare, I have heard of the crane part at Charters Towers, but no proof that it exists.

I did find a Beebee hand winch for the crane at the local truck wrecker.

I will put some photos up when I get organised, which could be months at the rate I am going.
Ken

[aj.lec]

Keep chasing the leads Ken
Occasionally they pay off
Always good to have unique items in the collection

[aj.lec]

Spoke to owners brother and he allowed a better look at it today
Could not spot a chassis number or any other data plates though
Does a engine number help in identification ?

[aj.lec]

couple more
Looks like roof was grafted off something else just above bottom of window pillar, guessing pommy by the shape and construction
Apparently it was bought from an airport where they were using it as a rescue/fire truck

[motto (RIP)]

The mystery deepens. I have never seen anything like the PTO mounted above the transfer case. Is it secured to the TC and driven from it somehow? That would be a complete novelty. Or is it a separate unit that just happens to be mounted there?
The rest seems to be standard Yankee Joe cargo truck configuration except for the strange bodywork. The windscreen surround is standard inside and out up to just above the hinge mounting.
The truck is definitely not an earth borer, pole setter or M6 bomb handler and I don't believe it was a tractor unit. That still leaves quite a number of possibilities as these trucks were used for all sorts of odd tasks.
Nomenclature, data and shift plates would have been mounted on the header board above the windscreen. I think you can see where some have been removed.
All in all an intriguing vehicle. If the PTO is an original factory fitting that may be the vital clue. If it just happens to be sitting there, my guess would be cargo truck with post war body grafted on. The pintle hook and bumperettes point in that direction.

David

[aj.lec]

PTO appeared to be part of the box but didn't get that far in
Guessing the top pto may have driven the pump for the fire tender
There are 3 levers in relation to the PTO setup in the cab

[motto (RIP)]

OK Andrew, it seems that everything points to the truck having been an airfield fire tender/rescue vehicle. What is unknown is where and by whom was the construction carried out and when? Was it purpose built for this role or is it a conversion?
The joint at the bottom of the windscreen pillar is a standard production feature. On the inside there should be a cover plate in the door jamb under which is a socket type joint secured with countersunk screws.
I had assumed that the aluminium gutter above the windscreen indicated where the graft of conversion sheet metal to original sheet metal took place but if there is no join there and the roof is one piece to the bottom of the pillars then that to me would indicate factory build.
Whatever its provenance it is certainly a unique vehicle.
As the fellow in Laugh In would say, 'veeery interesting!'

David

The 3 levers in the photo are standard Yankee Joe items. The two that are in the same slot are transfer case control, the forward one is front axle in/out and the rear one hi/lo range. The third one to their left is hand brake.