Have Any Militor 4x4 Trucks Survived?

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Jim Allen
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Have Any Militor 4x4 Trucks Survived?

Post by Jim Allen »

The Militor was produced in small numbers right at the end of WWI. It was one of the earliest attempts a a standardized military 4x4 (not a civvy design) built to military specs. In many ways, so was the Nash Quad, but that's another story. The Militor was based a great deal on the Renault artillery tractor but used U.S. made components, including the same Wisconsin engine used in the FWD Model B and a chassis and axles similar to the the Nash Quad and Walter including the M&S locking diffs. A winch-equipped Militor tractor was used on the 1919 Transcontinental Expedition, along with a few FWD Model Bs and a bunch of 4x2 Liberties. The FWDs made the entire trip but the Militor broke near the end and, after repair, never caught up to finish under its own power and was shipped by rail.

Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone knows if a Militor has survived somewhere? Never heard of one and I've been looking a while. Iinfo on this truck in general is very scarce. Some sources list that some 150 were built but there are a lot of reasons to doubt that number.
Militor
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Re: Have Any Militor 4x4 Trucks Survived?

Post by Militor »

Hello, I have invested some time studying the 4x4 Militor.
It has a interesting past. Three main factions were involved. Mr. Nash who was supplying Nash Quads. And two Army offices fighting over jurisdiction regarding truck procurement. A few prototypes were built by Militor in New
Jersey. About 75 plus were built by Walter in Wisconsin. Mr. Nash tried to kill or stall the effort at every turn. When the Militor was taken out of service
less than 100 miles from the end of the cross U.S. trip. It was for a clogged carburetor. The solder that was involved was enticed to lie about it. When
Eisenhower, who coordinated the trip found out. He was furious. He liked the Militor. So did the artillery people. They wanted a tractor to pull the 155 gun.
The Nash would not do it. The opposing faction suggested using horses to
pull the gun when it incurred a problem. The artillery people wanted their guns where they had the best view. On a hill. This required winching. The Militor had a large rope winch on the rear just for this. The Militor had a lot in common with the Nash, the Liberty, and FWD s. The later models had larger wheels. The French were already involved with a shop in New Jersey
building a type of heavy motorcycle. In World war 1 we really respected the French for fighting so well. They sent over some people to help us
design the Militor . Later a all American effort. In 1916 the Militor was the most advanced truck in the World. In 1919. It was obsolete. Nash was successful in his efforts to manipulate the Army to buy his trucks. Nash trucks were rated 1.5 tons. Militors 3 tons. They were designed to be a tractor. Then a ammunition hauler. 150 were built. I presume all were destroyed. The Militor was a symbol of the will of the Army. Versus the will of a selfish corporate ex GM profiteer. By the way. Mr. Jeffery who
was the inventor owner of Jeffery Quad. Was killed while on vacation.
Mr. Nash later pressured the Nash Family to sell out to him. At the time, the Jeffery Quad was the best selling truck in the World. But ww1 was looming. Nash was fired from GM. He needed a opportunity. He made one.
I have a company named Militor Truck Co. I have studied this subject.
Please feel free to ask questions. A interesting series of Congressional meeting followed ww1. Militor was a contested subject.
Steve K. CALIF
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Re: Have Any Militor 4x4 Trucks Survived?

Post by Steve K. CALIF »

Anyone have pictures of Militors and can post??
caddy
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Re: Have Any Militor 4x4 Trucks Survived?

Post by caddy »

Scroll down for picture of Militor.

http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/Unit ... onnel.html
brian
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Re: Have Any Militor 4x4 Trucks Survived?

Post by brian »

I love that web site, but thay dont seem interested in answering there e-mail.
BB
if you cant afford the manual, you cant afford the truck!
wc-4
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Re: Have Any Militor 4x4 Trucks Survived?

Post by Militor »

If you google Militor Truck? You should get a few links to Field Artillery Journal. They have a few photos, and words on the Militor truck. Testing etc.
Bart Vanderveens Military 1920's books have a few photos.
The Militor is as follows. Model B Standard cab. Steering box, and other misc. Liberty parts. Bigger Wisconsin 4 Cly. engine. Improved "Militor designed transfer case". Stronger "Militor" axles. The later versions had larger wheels. The hood was similar to the French Latil. The trucks were designed to tow 155mm guns. A few were built to haul the ammo for the 155mm guns. Holt Tractor and GM were against the Militor. They tried to kill the design or stall it at every turn. All the way to the end of the War. And even after the war. The French sent some people over to the USA, New Jersey. To help get the project going. Some of the brightest engineers in the USA at the time. Contributed to the Militor. The Name Sinclair was added later. The Banker who financed the little Motorcycle/delivery vehicle and truck Company was Named Mr. Sinclair. He added his name around 1916-1917. Militor had nothing in Common with Sinclair truck co. Or the Oil company. The Artillery people in the Army loved the Militor. The Calvary people hated vehicles at first. This did not help at the time. Later they used army trucks to haul horses and feed.
But the Militor had to contend with this anti vehicle thinking in the Army during ww1. The dept. of war suggested taking the 155 apart to move it.
The Artillery people used maneuver and speed to move their big guns around to surprise and check the Germans. Militors traveled at 12 miles per hour. The Holt tractors at 4 to 5 mph. Holt was so influential. They had the spare parts for Holts destroyed after ww1. And had given all the Tractors away at the end of the war. This caused a big investigation. Then, their was a tractor shortage in the USA. Tractor prices soared. Also. GM and others, got the Army to give all the trucks to the French too. WW 1 had it's Halbertons too.
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