FWD General Service Truck, IWM Duxford.
Part I :-
The American World War One FWD Model B Four-Wheel Drive Truck was produced by the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company that saw widespread service both with the American and British Forces.
The FWD Model B was a cab over engine truck with permanent four wheel drive powered by a 389 cubic inch straight-four Wisconsin T-head engine that produced 36bhp at 1,800rpm, the chassis was constructed with a double ladder frame, with a short inner frame carrying the engine and driveline mounted within an outer frame that mounted the suspension and carried the cab and body. The drive was transmitted to each axle via a Cotta three-speed constant mesh gearbox through a single speed silent chain transfer case with a lockable center differential. Braking was provided through all four wheels by an external contracting band operating on a flywheel on the back of the transmission. The transfer case was equipped with two differential locks to allow the vehicle to be driven in either front or rear drive mode in the event of a driveshaft failure.
Power was distributed by shafts to front and rear live axles, steering was accomplished using FWD's patented double-Y constant velocity joints. The front wheels were mounted with significant camber to bring the tire contact patches as close as possible under the steering knuckle pivot point to reduce steering effort, resulting in a distinctive "pigeon toe" appearance. Another identifying feature was the two radius rods running from each differential to brackets on the frame near the transfer case to help keep the axles aligned. The Model B was originally provided with solid tyres on spoked or disk wheels. Many were converted to pneumatic tyres in the 1930's. Most were equipped with either a steel ammunition body or a wooden supply body, though some were fitted with a variety of specialty bodies including Air Compressor, Artillery Repair, Artillery Supply, Baggage Repair, Spare Parts, Mobile Office, Power Saw, Balloon Winch, Water Bowser, several types of Machine Shops and a Searchlight.
The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company of Clintonville, Wisconsin launched the Model B in 1912, initial production was very slow with only 18 units produced in 1913. The U.S was the first nation to show interest in the Military potential of the vehicle, with the U.S Army testing one of the earliest production vehicles. The British Army became the first Military customer on March 23rd 1915, ordering 50 units to be delivered in only 40 days. An American export agency was set up with a reception base in Liverpool and a repair depot in Islington to check and service incoming vehicles before handing them over to the Ministry of Munitions. A total of 2,925 Model B's were purchased by the British Army, 1,599 of these were used in France on the Western Front, predominantly for Heavy Haulage of Artillery, Ammunition, and Pontoon Bridge supplies.
The U.S Army first ordered the Model B in 1916, ordering 147 units for the Pancho Villa Expedition into Mexico under the command of General John Pershing. Upon entry into World War One in 1917, America ordered 30,000 Model B's as the ''Truck, Three to Five Ton, M1917'' 12,498 were delivered by the time of the Armistice, of which 9,420 went to France with the American Expeditionary Forces. Demand for the Model B was too great for the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company to meet, so the Peerless Motor Company, Kissel Motor Car Company, Premier Motor Corporation and Mitchell Motor Car Company were also engaged to build Model B's. One Model B was assembled by Premier in Indianapolis using parts from all four manufacturers to demonstrate that all parts were truly interchangeable.
Part II :- www.flickr.com/photos/139375961@N08/shares/169ceW
Taken from Wikipedia en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FWD_Model_B
FWD General Service Truck, IWM Duxford.
Part I :-
The American World War One FWD Model B Four-Wheel Drive Truck was produced by the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company that saw widespread service both with the American and British Forces.
The FWD Model B was a cab over engine truck with permanent four wheel drive powered by a 389 cubic inch straight-four Wisconsin T-head engine that produced 36bhp at 1,800rpm, the chassis was constructed with a double ladder frame, with a short inner frame carrying the engine and driveline mounted within an outer frame that mounted the suspension and carried the cab and body. The drive was transmitted to each axle via a Cotta three-speed constant mesh gearbox through a single speed silent chain transfer case with a lockable center differential. Braking was provided through all four wheels by an external contracting band operating on a flywheel on the back of the transmission. The transfer case was equipped with two differential locks to allow the vehicle to be driven in either front or rear drive mode in the event of a driveshaft failure.
Power was distributed by shafts to front and rear live axles, steering was accomplished using FWD's patented double-Y constant velocity joints. The front wheels were mounted with significant camber to bring the tire contact patches as close as possible under the steering knuckle pivot point to reduce steering effort, resulting in a distinctive "pigeon toe" appearance. Another identifying feature was the two radius rods running from each differential to brackets on the frame near the transfer case to help keep the axles aligned. The Model B was originally provided with solid tyres on spoked or disk wheels. Many were converted to pneumatic tyres in the 1930's. Most were equipped with either a steel ammunition body or a wooden supply body, though some were fitted with a variety of specialty bodies including Air Compressor, Artillery Repair, Artillery Supply, Baggage Repair, Spare Parts, Mobile Office, Power Saw, Balloon Winch, Water Bowser, several types of Machine Shops and a Searchlight.
The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company of Clintonville, Wisconsin launched the Model B in 1912, initial production was very slow with only 18 units produced in 1913. The U.S was the first nation to show interest in the Military potential of the vehicle, with the U.S Army testing one of the earliest production vehicles. The British Army became the first Military customer on March 23rd 1915, ordering 50 units to be delivered in only 40 days. An American export agency was set up with a reception base in Liverpool and a repair depot in Islington to check and service incoming vehicles before handing them over to the Ministry of Munitions. A total of 2,925 Model B's were purchased by the British Army, 1,599 of these were used in France on the Western Front, predominantly for Heavy Haulage of Artillery, Ammunition, and Pontoon Bridge supplies.
The U.S Army first ordered the Model B in 1916, ordering 147 units for the Pancho Villa Expedition into Mexico under the command of General John Pershing. Upon entry into World War One in 1917, America ordered 30,000 Model B's as the ''Truck, Three to Five Ton, M1917'' 12,498 were delivered by the time of the Armistice, of which 9,420 went to France with the American Expeditionary Forces. Demand for the Model B was too great for the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company to meet, so the Peerless Motor Company, Kissel Motor Car Company, Premier Motor Corporation and Mitchell Motor Car Company were also engaged to build Model B's. One Model B was assembled by Premier in Indianapolis using parts from all four manufacturers to demonstrate that all parts were truly interchangeable.
Part II :- www.flickr.com/photos/139375961@N08/shares/169ceW
Taken from Wikipedia en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FWD_Model_B