Print Page - Japanese copies of Cletracs?

Title: Japanese copies of Cletracs?
Post by: David Parfitt on February 23, 2010, 07:57:04 PM

Does anyone have any information about copies of Cletrac crawlers built by the Kato company in Japan?

Many thanks

David

Title: Re: Japanese copies of Cletracs?
Post by: Bob on February 24, 2010, 04:16:23 AM

I'm at a loss, sounds interesting anyway...

Bob

Title: Re: Japanese copies of Cletracs?
Post by: Blake Malkamaki on February 24, 2010, 04:28:39 AM

I don't know of any, but there was a copy of a 20K made in France, and I believe a W made by LIMO in Sweden. See http://cletrac.org/pages/model/pic-LIMO.html (http://cletrac.org/pages/model/pic-LIMO.html)

I don't know any details, but I assume they were licensed by Cletrac to be built in Europe.

Blake

Title: Re: Japanese copies of Cletracs?
Post by: David Parfitt on February 24, 2010, 12:23:14 PM

Thanks Blake. I knew about the LIMO, but not the copy made in France. Do you have any more details on this? Was it built from scratch or just assembled there, or could it perhaps have been a regular Cletrac sold under a different name? A lot of American tractors seem to have been sold under different names in France, e.g. Hart-Parr 15-30 -> "Amanco", Allis-Chalmers 10-18 -> "Globe", etc.

Here is a picture of the possible Japanese Cletrac copy - it may have been just a prototype:

//http://www.interq.or.jp/sun/mm-kas/ichgon/hoku3l.jpg

At least one genuine Cletrac does survive in Japan too - a narrow version of a Model H from around 1917 as far as I can tell.

All the best

David

Title: Re: Japanese copies of Cletracs?
Post by: Blake Malkamaki on February 24, 2010, 10:59:53 PM

Read more information about the 20K in France here:
http://cletrac.org/pages/contributor/pic-joiris.html (http://cletrac.org/pages/contributor/pic-joiris.html)

Title: Re: Japanese copies of Cletracs?
Post by: David Parfitt on February 25, 2010, 03:34:42 PM

Thanks Blake, very interesting indeed - I checked in my French tractor encyclopaedia and ALMACOA = ALlied MAchinery COmpany.

All the best

David

Title: Re: Japanese copies of Cletracs?
Post by: David Parfitt on March 02, 2010, 08:20:29 AM

Here are some photos of a genuine Cletrac in a museum in Japan:

(//http://www.interq.or.jp/sun/mm-kas/ichgon/cletrac1.jpg)
(//http://www.interq.or.jp/sun/mm-kas/ichgon/cletrac2.jpg)

I understand it is a Model H, serial no. 1076, with Weidely M engine #30141, which I guess would make it around 1917? However, I have not seen tracks like this on an H before, and they look more like those on the R, with the four-spoke front sprocket and top roller. Was a narrow version of the H offered with the same tracks as the R?

Many thanks

David

Title: Re: Japanese copies of Cletracs?
Post by: Blake Malkamaki on March 02, 2010, 11:55:41 PM

I believe the early H used the same tracks as the R. That radiator looks rounded on the top. Any ideas?

Blake

Title: Re: Japanese copies of Cletracs?
Post by: David Parfitt on March 03, 2010, 11:54:49 AM

Thanks Blake, I hadn't realised that about the tracks. I expect the sheet metal on the radiator is just a replacement as the old one probably rusted away.

All the best

David

Cletrac.org

Cletrac Tractor Discussion => All Models Except HG, OC-3, OC-4 & General => Topic started by: David Parfitt on February 23, 2010, 07:57:04 PM