Did this Truck Type See Military Service

[Rusty]

I have found this International 4 x 4 truck and wonder if they ever saw military service. You can see that the vehicle was once a bush fire truck but could it also have been a 1950s general service 4 x 4.

I am going to buy the unit because it uses the same rims as the Toy Dodge the rest is very complete so if anyone is interested let me know.

[cliff]

I would say it was just a civilian truck and not military.

[Lang]

Originally Posted by cliff

I would say it was just a civilian truck and not military.

Rusty,

The Army had lots of this series 4X2 Inters in various sizes but the only 4X4 I have ever seen was a ready response camp fire truck at Greenbank army camp in the early 60's. Even then it was not an army vehicle but a Department of Supply vehicle on Commonwealth registration plates.

The Army did have quite a number of this size civilian cab 4X4 Inter in the 1960's and 70's (with the later flat bonnet). They belonged to the Engineers and all had tipper bodies and winches. I seem to recall that the Sappers really liked their little "Teaspoon Tippers".

I can remember PMG (Telecom/Telstra) having your 50's model truck for line work and when I worked for a short time for Western Geophysical in the desert in Western Australia in the mid-60's I drove one that they had bought from a Government auction.

Others might have more info but my guess would be it was never military - but a great old truck in any case!

Lang

[Bill Murray]

Hi Mark:

I can speak with no authority about such trucks being used in Australian service as a 4X4 but they were about as 4X2 versions.

Sadly, I packed away most of my post WWII collection about 10 years ago when I decided to concentrate on the 1935-1945 period but I do recall this vehicle in 4X4 form used by other countries and maybe even Australia.

If I can find my IH postwar stuff and find further photos, I will post them here.

Bill

[Lang]

Here are a couple of photos of the Australian Army International 4X4 "Teaspoon Tipper" with civilian cab. Note they all had winches as well.

One photo from Nui Dat in Vietnam and one from Sabah in Borneo - both photos from the 60's

lang

[hrpearce]

I have one of those tipping bodies fitted to an old Chev, nothing stays in them as they tip to virtical. It came off an Inter that was used as a fire truck.

[George McKenzie]

Rusty This IHC is a 1956 three ton S series .6 cyl . I owned one .Some were made into 4x4 for doing oil exploration work in the bush country probably by Marmon and Harrington The IHC's that I saw in the army were R series .George

[Lang]

Rusty,

If you have Bart Vanderveen's book "Military Vehicles from 1945" you will find a picture of your truck in the 4X2 version in the Australian Army.

Also photos of the various subsequent IH models used by the army. This make formed the huge bulk of Australia Army vehicles from just postwar until the mid 80's ranging from their CL two wheel drive alongside the Studebaker and GMC WW2 tactical trucks until they were replaced by IH 4X4 and 6X6 ACCO series from the late 50's/early 60's.

Ford won a few army contracts with 3 ton 4X2 during the 50's and the forward control D series in the 60's but they were never as successful as the Inters. One of the reasons for IH domination is the fact they were built (and the 4X4 and 6X6 ACCO's were also designed) at the IH factory in Geelong near Melbourne using maximum local content and minimum imported parts.

In the 50's and early 60's the Australian Army and particularly the Air Force had a number of those wonderful International R190 prime movers in 4X2 and tippers 4X4 and 6X6. The R190's and the B Model Macks almost overnight destroyed British truck domination of the civilian heavy vehicle sector and within a very short space of time there was not a British truck to be seen towing a semi-trailer on Australian highways.

The smaller Inters were the dominant force in the light truck and farmers vehicle market of the 50's and 60's, battling it out with the General Motors Bedfords leaving the scraps to Ford, Dodge and several British makes. The Volvo F86 made a valiant successful attack during the early 70's but of course, once the Japanese appeared on the scene it was All over, Red Rover for everyone in the light to medium truck market.

[lynx42]

I could have sworn that the IHC factory was at Dandenong. Ford were at Geelong. I had to pick up quite a few CL's at the Dandy works and deliver them to either Kensington or Broadmeadows. The first batch of teaspoon tippers in 1966', all did their fanbelts before we were 50km up the road. There was a problem in lining up the pullies.

[Lang]

Rick,

You are absolutely right. I think IHC were at Geelong from 1921? to the late 50's or early 60's when they shifted to Dandenong. I will check on that.

Lang

[Lang]

Just did some checking. International Harvester opened for business in Melbourne in 1912 assembling farm machinery from USA and the high wheel trucks. This continued with both machinery and trucks with more and more local content until the late 30's. They built a large factory in Geelong in 1938 and a proving ground/test track at nearby Anglesea for much greater Australian content production. It was at this factory that IH assembled the first shipload of jeeps to arrive for the Australian Army in early 1942.

They shifted late 50's early 60's to Dandenong but retained the Anglesea test track for the Army ACCO series 4X4 and 6X6.