Clarktor Aircraft Tugs in Britain and Australia

[Ed Storey]

Is this a Clarktor Aircraft Tug? Interesting 'bomb load', this image came from "Manufacture of Clothing 1945-53" QMC Historical Studies Series II No. 1.

[Jared Archibald]

G'day again everyone,

I will now attempt to load up a couple of images of my Clarktor tug.

The first is of it on the car trailer on the way home.

The second is showing what it does best - dragging things around.

The third is a pdf of the build card. This includes details of 5 machines - the one I have is BH-184.

Hanno, the Life Magazine picture is of the same type of tug - the rear hub on mine is a different design but the rest of it is very similar.

Ed, the tug in your pic is one of the light duty types - it only has single rear wheels as you can see the lugs at the edge of the rim. A beaut pic.

David, I believe the moderator of the Clark tug group on Yahoo is the same Joe that you have corresponded with. I will continue my dialogue with him.

Snowy, I have recently made contact with a bloke in SE Queensland who is restoring a Clark. His name is Peter.

Thanks to everyone who has responded to this thread - please keep them coming.

Jared

[marco]

Hello Jared,

Attached photo is from the Clarktor-6 which resides here in the shed.
The serialnumber is CM-33-441807 and this number can be found on the chassis rails near the rear axle and also on the rear beam behind the rear wheels.

This example was pulled out from a 30-ft high pile of scrap which had to be cleared after having been there since the early 50's.
In the meantime the restauration has been finished.
Although this example is a light-duty version it pulls my Staghound through the grassfield with ease....

According to the manuals (War Department TM10-1637 and the Clarktor published "Clarktor-6 Service Manual") there are 3 models, the "light duty" , the heavy duty "Mill 44" and the heavy duty "Mill 50".
Engines used are Chrysler T105, T125, T112 or T116 models.


With best regards,

Marco Hogenkamp
Lichtenvoorde
The Netherlands

[gordon]

Gave it to Simon Bormley in Blackburn.

The engine was a 1941-45 T214 Dodge unit, three speed box ( I think standard Dodge) and Clarks made the reduction drive rear axle. Easy to identify the heavy version as the cast iron rear wings / fenders are 4" thick.

Clarks made loads of other stuff in the way of axles and transmission parts for GMC DUKW I remember.

Gordon