The Mack is hauling a trailer loaded with what appears to be the so-called "Donut," made from a D6 Caterpillar. It went to RAS, which donated it to CWM. The circus Donut idea came from seeing similar machines operating in the cane fields. Someone thought that it would make the perfect tractor for train yard duty, navigating obstacles. The center of gravity was too high and combined with the pneumatic tires it was rather "bouncy."
Chic, Right you are! In the 40's there were still some of the old chain-drive Macks hauling coal in Chicago. I always liked the older ones, although the newer ones probably had more power and speed. Also most of the older Macks on the Ringling show had the maximum speed painted on the side. Bob Kitto
Chic; You are speaking of the AC Model. The one pictured here is an LJ Model. There is ,at least, one AC chain drive Mack in Baraboo, but sorry to say none of the LJ Models survived, to my knowledge.
Cole Bros. had two chain drive Mack trucks up to 49 under trans. boss Ace Donavan. Imagine how many miles and seasons the hadbeen going. Hard rubber and all. Hard rubber was great. No flats or blowouts and for poling on the train they would not bounce like bloons, lots of polers got hurt getting jumped of sideways. Guess those wheels went out of style and were hard to get. Too bad.
We had the donut in Baraboo and used it for Milwaukee train load and unload. Deacon said it was a problem with tire blowouts on the show, so wasn't very practical. Turning between railroad ties was bad. Flats, bearings, etc.
10 comments:
In my opinion, this is the BEST LOOKING truck, Mack ever produced.
The Mack is hauling a trailer loaded with what appears to be the so-called "Donut," made from a D6 Caterpillar. It went to RAS, which donated it to CWM. The circus Donut idea came from seeing similar machines operating in the cane fields. Someone thought that it would make the perfect tractor for train yard duty, navigating obstacles. The center of gravity was too high and combined with the pneumatic tires it was rather "bouncy."
I've always been partial to the '58-'59 B models
The much older open cab boxy front
from the late 20s is my favorite
I believe they have a few (or 1)
in Baraboo (JG please correct)
Seems in my vague memory that
it may have been a chain drive
Chic,
Right you are! In the 40's there were still some of the old chain-drive Macks hauling coal in Chicago. I always liked the older ones, although the newer ones probably had more power and speed. Also most of the older Macks on the Ringling show had the maximum speed painted on the side.
Bob Kitto
Chic;
You are speaking of the AC Model. The one pictured here is an LJ Model. There is ,at least, one AC chain drive Mack in Baraboo, but sorry to say none of the LJ Models survived, to my knowledge.
Chic, I think you and I have a strong liking for the same truck, chain drive, solid tires.
Paul Gutheil
Cole Bros. had two chain drive Mack trucks up to 49 under trans. boss Ace Donavan. Imagine how many miles and seasons the hadbeen going. Hard rubber and all. Hard rubber was great. No flats or blowouts and for poling on the train they would not bounce like bloons, lots of polers got hurt getting jumped of sideways. Guess those wheels went out of style and were hard to get. Too bad.
We had the donut in Baraboo and used it for Milwaukee train load and unload. Deacon said it was a problem with tire blowouts on the show, so wasn't very practical. Turning between railroad ties was bad. Flats, bearings, etc.
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