Clarktor Aircraft Tugs in Britain and Australia - Page 2

Lynn Eades · #31 20-07-13, 12:02

Lang, in the same way that Kiwi C8AX's made it into Australia, after the war. Many vehicles were pulled back from the islands, into to N.Z. and Australia by those that had the resources to do so. I imagine there was at times, some fairly stiff competition.
In New Zealand, names like Gillies and Giltrap did very well.
It is possible.

Lang · #32 21-07-13, 00:02

Lyn,

That is true, Theiss is a name from Australia bringing shiploads of vehicles and machinery in from New Guinea sales.

The Clarktors we are talking about were of British origin and could not have been brought back from Pacific post war sales (unless the Australians got them in the Middle East and subsequently took them to New Guinea which is highly unlikely)

I will try to find a photo I have seen of a USMC aircraft in the Pacific being towed by a Ford/Ferguson tractor (set up for aircraft with tow bumpers etc) demonstrating even the Americans were not totally tug oriented. On rough, newly constructed strips a tractor is far more capable than a Clarktor.

Lang

motto · #33 21-07-13, 00:18

A possible explanation for the presence of these tugs in Australia is the build up of British naval forces in the Pacific that was already under way when the big bungers were dropped and the war ended.
I recall reading some time ago that British aircraft carriers were staging through or operating out of Sydney and there was a scramble to establish the required support that would enable the Royal Navy to operate effectively alongside the U.S.N.
I suspect some of the equipment was disposed of locally in the scaling down.

Just thought I'd throw that in.

David

Lang · #34 21-07-13, 01:33

David,

You might be right.

There are photos (and some recently recovered aircraft) of brand new Royal Navy Corsairs being dumped just off Caloundra near Brisbane in 1945.

I suppose there could have been Clarktors associated with some of that activity.

Lang

Lang · #35 21-07-13, 01:43

Here is a USMC aircraft in the Pacific with a tractor.

Lynn Eades · #36 21-07-13, 02:00

It's a Ford.

Mike Cecil · #37 21-07-13, 03:24

Seems the possibilities for their ending up in Australia are almost endless - RAAF, RAN, RN, ex-RAF, private import - given the absence of any evidence other than (1) supplied to British under a Brit contract and (2) now in Australia. The 'bit in the middle' between (1) and (2) is indeed intriguing!

Unlike the Army (who used almost anyone's registration numbers!) the RAAF appear to have been pretty diligent in recording a registration against an acquired equipment item, even as late as at the time of it's disposal, in order to account for it's existence. I suppose that's easier given the small fleet totals at any one time. Odd things pop up, plenty seemingly out of sequence and with the acquisition field simply listed as 'not known', but with a known disposals date.

The ones that crack me up are the 'not sighted': ie we know we had it, but now we just don't seem to be able to find it....

Mike C

Lynn Eades · #38 21-07-13, 04:07

Mike, When I was an army apprentice, the CQMS has a line of damaged tools laid out,on the floor of his store, in preparation for a "board of survey" ("writing them off").
At the end of the line were 3 cresents drawn in chalk on the floor.
While I was watching the Boarding Officer was there.
He asked the CQMS what the chalk marks were.
The CQMS said " three by eight inch Cresents Sir"
The Boarding Officer asked What is wrong with them?
The CQMS walked over, with chalk in hand, and drew a line through them, Immediately answering "they are broken Sir!"
On acceptance by the Boarding Officer, the CQMS's books were balanced, in military style.
It probably didn't always go that well.

Rod Lovell · #39 11-03-15, 12:41

Hi guys. Newbie here. I'm now the proud owner (although not home yet) of a Clarktor 46 which on the data plate states "Manufactured in Australia under licence to Clark Equipment Coy_ Michigan USA"
Serial No: O3X2184L and showing 2,353 hrs. Interestingly it has a 4 speed gearbox.
Guess who is a happy chappy?
Regards. Rod.

Keith Webb · #40 11-03-15, 21:25

I'm sure you'll be able to broaden your horizons here in MLU...

Feel free to post a pic of your vehicle too!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rod Lovell

Hi guys. Newbie here. I'm now the proud owner (although not home yet) of a Clarktor 46 which on the data plate states "Manufactured in Australia under licence to Clark Equipment Coy_ Michigan USA"
Serial No: O3X2184L and showing 2,353 hrs. Interestingly it has a 4 speed gearbox.
Guess who is a happy chappy?
Regards. Rod.

Lang · #41 11-03-15, 23:31

Rod

If you go on to the Clark Tug Yahoo Forum you will find out everything there is to know.

They have the factory build sheets for all the Hornsby built Clark tugs (plus all the USA ones also)

You will also find downloadable manuals and parts books for your tug.

Lang

Rod Lovell · #42 12-03-15, 00:02

Thanks guys. Have just joined that group.

Rod Lovell · #43 17-03-15, 08:51

I think this Clarktor gets more interesting the more I look into it.
It was manufactured in Australia and the engine was manufactured by Chrysler Australia Limited in Adelaide.
I wonder if it was ex RAAF. It was, I believe used in aviation, by the spark arrestor muffler.
On the side is painted a blue "genie's lamp". Very interesting.

Rod Lovell · #44 17-03-15, 08:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lang

If you go on to the Clark Tug Yahoo Forum you will find out everything there is to know.

They have the factory build sheets for all the Hornsby built Clark tugs (plus all the USA ones also)

You will also find downloadable manuals and parts books for your tug.

Lang

Hi Lang. Can you direct me to the Hornsby built section. Sorry I cannot find it. Thanks. rod.

Lang · #45 17-03-15, 10:12

Rod

If you just put up the details on the forum of your tug and ask for information you will have reply pretty quickly. They like photos.

I got the build sheets for both my USA and Australian tugs within 24 hours.

Lang

Rod Lovell · #46 17-03-15, 10:38

Thanks. Done.

Lang · #47 17-03-15, 12:23

Rod

Just looked at the start of this thread "Old Clark Guy" is the man you need to talk to. He has everything at his fingertips having worked for Clark for a lot of years and saved the records. The Clark forum is his baby.

Lang

Lang · #48 17-03-15, 23:18

This is my build sheet from the Clark forum.

Sam Scholz · #49 06-09-15, 10:55

Oh dear!

I think I let one of these Clarkats slip through my fingers on the way to the scrappies last year, for not knowing what it was.

It was derelict, through complete, in SE Queensland.
Hmmmmm. . . . .

Sam.

Dianaa · #50 07-09-15, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rod Lovell

I think this Clarktor gets more interesting the more I look into it.
It was manufactured in Australia and the engine was manufactured by Chrysler Australia Limited in Adelaide.
I wonder if it was ex RAAF. It was, I believe used in aviation, by the spark arrestor muffler.
On the side is painted a blue "genie's lamp". Very interesting.

We've got something like that sitting in the chook shed. Although the front armour/grill looks more like this:

Image source: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/

Missing an engine though. I believe it's a short Dodge engine.

Lang · #51 07-09-15, 11:55

I think you will find the Australian built Clarktors (Hornsby, Sydney factory) had the long engine. Mine has at least and it is the same engine number as in the factory build sheet.

The earlier American ones had short engines.

Lang

Dianaa · #52 07-09-15, 12:05

So what you're saying is that the one in the shed is an early US build. Will have to take a piccy.

Lang · #53 07-09-15, 22:30

I have a 1941 US model and a 1963 AUS model so if you want to compare differences let me know and I will check.

Lang