WW-I Era Holt 5 ton Artillery Tractor

This the smaller of 2 models of WW-I Holt Artillery Tractor, the other being the 10 ton. It was used to tow large artillery pieces, and could take them off the road to their positions. It is the predecessor of the several versions of WW-II US Army High Speed Tractors. Some of these WW-I tractors were armored with a flat sided steel box.

It is working here in 2nd gear. Top speed is 15 mph, which is pretty fast for off-roading 100 years ago.

Note the flexible track suspension, similar in concept to the WW-II Grant and Sherman tanks, and the high speed tractors. After the Holt-Best merger, the resulting Caterpillar crawlers went to a rigid track frame, which lasted until the limited suspension of the D10.

Here is some information from the owner:
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Holt 5 Ton (model T-11) working with Galion Pull grader is a 1924, and at times we were working in 2nd gear, of which it has a total of 3 speeds and 15 MPH.

Second Holt 5 Ton is a 1922.

Third 5 Ton is a 1917 military tractor, missing armor plate (at this time) and made by Maxwell Motor Car Co.

All three have remnants of dark green paint on inter undercarriage parts.
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This is the newer of the 3, built post-WW-I. It was purchased as a parts machine, but was too good to scrap, although it was missing the clutch and several other key components. Instead, the parts from an older one were used as patterns for a machinist to make the missing parts.

Old Construction & Surface Mining Equipment show,
in conjunction with the Stumptown Steam Show, New Athens, OH
September 2015

#514
150913d Stumptown Holt 5 ton

Видео WW-I Era Holt 5 ton Artillery Tractor канала SteamCrane