diesel lombard tractor

[shinnlinger]

What was the relationship between Linn and Lombard????

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Don't let Slider see these trucks.  ;D

[loggah]

Ah, Joey Barnes Linn Logger,and  a Linn c-5 Cattruck !!!! Not sure of the Cattruck owner ,but i know Rene  Elliott used to have one for sale !!!!
Harry.H.Linn used to  have a traveling dog show and traveled around New England in the early 1900's He lived in Maine and had heard about lombards steam haulers and he was looking for a better method to pull his trailers around the state on Maines dirt roads in all types of weather. Lombard built 2 vehicles for Linn,one a traveling house trailer, dual wheels in the front and tracks in the rear ,and a single track machine with two wheels in front and a single wide track in the rear. That machine also had a portable generator built in to power the lighting for Linns show. Linn was very happy with the machines as they worked well,so he became lombards first traveling salesman.
Linn worked for lombard for quite a few years, and later he decided to move to Morris New York and manufacture his own machines,he started making them in his factory in 1916 in Morris. The Linn machines had a few modifications that actually made them a better machine for contractor purposes. they had a 4 speed transmission with reverser so they had 4 gears in reverse,they had final drives off the differential so they had more ground clearance,also dual sprockets to drive the tracks better. Lombard actually took Linn to court over patent infringment !!!!! because linn was claiming he invented the crawler tread, that soon got dropped when Linn took back his claim. Linn actually made around 2500 trucks and tractors total ,compared to lombards couple hundred . I could go into a lot more detail but my 1 typing finger is getting a cramp !!!!! ;D Heres a picture of my Linn truck ,i will be getting a cab rebuilt this coming summer ,i think !!

[loggah]

Heres a few pictures of the Lombards that were made for Linn !!

[shinnlinger]

Right before he "invented" the caterpillar track?   This single units are neat.   Do you have one of those?

[loggah]

lombard only made a few of the single track machines, seems they tipped over easily! ;D As far as anyone knows theres none left. The house wagon used a set of steamer tracks on the rear.

[shinnlinger]

What do you suppose the belt driven gizmo is off the side in that middle pic?   A generator?   Did all these have proprietary gas motors?

[loggah]

It was a  generator for his tent shows, There was a Brennen engine in the house wagon, not sure on the single track machine.Lombard made his own engines for a short while but evetually bought from several engine manufacturers,   Brennen, Lombard, Van Blearke, Wisconsin,Sterling,Hercules and  1 Fairbanks Morse Diesel

[loggah]

Well i finally got my skis all welded up and slid on the axle. I been slacking off because my glasses kept fogging up under my helmet !! >:( so i ordered a 2x diopter for my helmet off e-bay and it came the other day,no more glasses while welding . ;D heres the pictures.I'm not stoned in the first picture,my wife had me staring into the sun !!!! ;D ;D

[WmFritz]

Your ski's turned out great.

I have the opposite welding issue with my eyes. Being nearsighted, I have to remove my glasses now when reading or welding.

[whitepine2]

 Those skids look cocker,good job,nice work. Wished you was closer
would love to work with ya,one could learn a lot from ya.

      Whitepine2

[shinnlinger]

Those skis are great!   Are you happy with them?

[shinnlinger]

Have you run it around the yard yet???

[Peter Drouin]

Nice Job, I thought The skeags would be bigger.

[47sawdust]

Don,
Have you priced those Ranger boots lately?Last time I checked they were over $200.00.Crazy?
Lotta guys over here look like their staring into the sun, but there not.

[loggah]

The engine was a good runner when i took it out of the international TD-18A tractor. I had to cut the old dash out of the frame it had so many holes in it ,it looked like swiss cheese. I welded in a new dash out of 1/8" thick steel and i have not done anything with engine controls,i was waiting for warmer weather to do any of that . I have to make the starting mechanism,and a new throttle quadrant assembly.I also have to cut the holes for the gauges and engine starter switch.I made the skis look like the factory originals,im happy they wont rot out !!!!! ;D the skeags on the original ones were about 5/8" thick,i made these out of 1/2" its hard moving these things on and off trailers and i didnt want the skis digging in real bad. I haven't priced any lately ,there good boots,but i have punched thru them before with frozen hemlock stubs. I guess i better be carefull with these at $200 a pop!! . I still plan on putting a radiator louver on today,mostly for protection of the core.I have to make make the keepers to hold the skis on the axle ,front tow hitch,radiator cap and rear tow hitch this winter. I might even build the cab but not assembly it on the tractor,not sure on that tho.

[Magicman]

This is a totally fascinating project.  Something that I had no idea ever existed so I am enjoying watching.

[loggah]

Lynn, Lombard was the man who made the first practical crawler tread, all crawler machines originated from his work !! There never were to many sent down south, The army quartermaster  corp. had one for hauling supplies when they were chasing Pancho Villa. Well I got a set of radiator louvers out of the junkyard a while back. I cut them down and fitted them to the radiator today.I wanted them on there to help protect the core from being damaged.I installed it after i put a new battery in Cheryls car, a new fuel filter in one of my pickups,and a new filter on my gas pump. It was 8 degrees this morning and all my stuff informed me they wanted attention !!! >:(  ;D Heres a few pictures of the shutter in place..

[Dave Shepard]

Looks factory original. That should help keep that big engine warm. Does the Lombard cab have a heater? If not, I would hide a bus heater under the seat. :D

[loggah]

Dave, The engine will throw plenty of heat back into the cab. The wooden seat sits basically on the deck theres no room under it for anything! In most of the photos i have of the machines running in winter,the operator has the upper door open. ;D

[sandhills]

Sounds like my old JD combine  :D.  The louvers look as good as the skids!

[petefrom bearswamp]

Great thread.
When I was a young buck in 62 and 63 or so I worked some in as Bargemonkey calls it Scary county NY.
There was a semi abandoned Linn beside one of the roads near Blenheim that i was told they used in severe snow conditions.
Those old machines are fascinating and your work is first rate!
Cant wait to see the finished product.

[loggah]

Pete, Theres a pretty nice restored Linn log hauler in the Blue Mt. Lake museum in the Adirondack park.Theres also a bunch in private hands. Gould paper co.used to have a bunch of them. If you get a chance the video "CABIN COUNTRY" taken by Rev.Frank Reed has some pretty nice logging  and Linn tractor  shots.

[petefrom bearswamp]

Loggah,I have seen the one at the museum.
I pass by there on my way to my camp 10 or 15 times a year and visit the museum about every 5 yrs.
Frank Reed the loggers preacher gave us a talk when I was at The Ranger School in Wanakena in 1958.
I have read his book, I think it is called Adirondack Sky Pilot, several yrs ago but need to re read it.
I think I remember watching the video , but will try to find it again.
Keep up the great restoration work.
If i ever shut my mill down I may try to get to your place.

[loggah]

Today i got the Keepers for the skis built and on the axle,and also made up the front drawbar and bolted that on,tomorrow i plan on making the radiator cap ,its a big oval shaped piece . If its not raining to hard tomorrow i'll try and con my wife into taking a few pictures. ;D