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Landships II -> Landships WW1 Forum -> Artillery -> Holt 75 Artillery Tractor
Post Info TOPIC: Holt 75 Artillery Tractor
GaryM


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Holt 75 Artillery Tractor
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I am trying to find detailed drawings of this American tractor, can anyone help or suggest a possible source?
The intention is to build a 1/32 scale model with either the 60lb BL MK 1 gun or the 8inch MK 5 Howitzer. Any help would be most appreciated.

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Great War Truck


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Hi Gary

I can help you a little bit. I have an operators manual for one which has some drawings in it which might be a start. I also have a few photos of the Harris 75 taken during its rebuild and at its outing at Bovington. I will post them on here later. The photos were not taken however with a modellers perspective so they might not suit your requirements. However, if things work out i might see it again later on this year, so send me a list of what you want photos of and i will do what i can for you.

A couple of years ago i saw a wonderful model (1/35th?) in one of the military modelling magazines. Does anybody know who owns that?

Tim (too)

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GaryM


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Hi Tim, That would be great, as I have only just started my research on the tractor I basically have nothing at this time.

Cheers Gary

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Great War Truck


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Here are some photos of the Holt at Bovington last year. This one was built for the US Military although it had a long life in civilian ownership after the war with various modifications such as the additional seats.







It is a common misconeption that the large drum at the back contains a winch. This is not the case. The engine causes a giant fly wheel (or drive wheel) at the back of the Holt to turn at a constant speed. A clutch and gearbox are connected to this which allows the tracks to be engaged at different speeds. It goes to show the design heritage of Holt in its relationship to steam traction engines. These plans will explain it better than I can. Sorry if the scans are not very good, but it is the best that i can do.









Tim (too)

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James H


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The Holt model is the work of Stuart McPherson. It won Best In Show at Euromilitaire in 1999. The feature on it is in Military Modelling Vol. 29, No. 13, Oct-Nov 1999. It's absolutely brilliant.

He also won Gold in 2001 for a scratch-build that he called the Mk IV Holt Gas-Electric Tractor and gun 'Benjamin', which I take to be the American copy of the St. Chamond 280mm SPG. Pic of that is in Military Modelling Vol. 31, No. 14, Nov-Dec 2001.

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Great War Truck


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Ten years ago!. Crikey, you are making me feel old.

Anyway, here are some more photos of the Harris Holt. Sorry if i have not got a very good camera angle, but the shed was rather restrictive.

Friction drive with the cover removed.



From in and around the drivers position:







Crank case with the covers and the head removed:



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Great War Truck


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More of the same:



Top of rad:



Front wheel:



Looking back along the dismantled engine:






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Great War Truck


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Water tank, removed to allow access to engine:







Crank case cover:



Crank case:



Rad again:



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GaryM


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Hi Tim,
Thank you, that's a wonderful start to my research, up till now I haven't found anything like your photographs so they will be excellent to work from.
I am searching various outlets in the USA to see if I can obtain a full set of scale drawings which would certainly make things a little easier. I will let you know the outcome. Thanks again for all your help, I will see if I can find that Military Modelling Issue.
Cheers Gary

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James H


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Gary - I'll scan the pics and email them if you wish.

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Great War Truck


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I took some video footage of the Holt while it was at Bovington. This wont be much help, it is not very exciting, the movement of the camera will probably make you feel ill, but it's a laugh isnt it?

They were originally started by swinging the fly wheel by hand. They did not have electric starters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIukYME5SPs

that this one thankfully did:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKsmDF3xnSE

The rant in the background was someone trying to get me off the Holt for health and Safety reasons.

Luckily i had taken the precaution of tracking down and signing their health and Safety exclusion form before i got on. I then declined to get off. Sorry if i spoiled anybodys photos that day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXCJnvlTbgQ

And boy, do i love vehicles with no suspension:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN6c5szlMcc

Here is some more footage of the Holt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDVZWU5ZnWQ

Haha, i laugh in the face of the Health and safety representative.

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James H


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A little off-topic, but when I was at Uni my regular holiday job was working for a big landscaping firm. While we were doing the grounds of a new hospital, the foreman told me to get on a 7-ton dumper, an articulated thing that, I think, was so big that there were a couple of steps up to the driving seat. A JCB filled it with topsoil, then I had to drive it over a spoil-heap so steep that the dumper could only climb it in reverse, do a seven-point-turn at the top, then drive it down a long ramp with a drop on either side. I was 18/19, and had only just learnt to drive a Mini. Never been on a dumper in my life. No training, no Health and Safety - nothing.

Then there was the time I fell under a rotovator . . .

But I'm still here, and the HB MGC had to put up with a lot worse.

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GaryM


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Hi Tim,
Be great if you can Email the pics, I can't locate that issue of Military Modelling locally at this time. Loved the Utube videos. Cheers Gary

My Email dengar@xtra.co.nz

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jagjetta


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I am not sure if this is the same model, but "HOLT" is visible below the cover on this vehicle.  Original image is a real photo postcard with no inscription on back.

John A-G


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John A-G.
Hudson, WI USA
GaryM


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Hi John,
Does appear to be the same model, thank you.
Cheers Gary

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Great War Truck


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That is the bigger 6 cylinder Holt 120. You can see the engine has an extra crank case cover. Also it is slightly longer, but very similar to the 75.

Tim



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Eric


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Hello,

Very nice pictures and video, thank you.
I have one kit of this vehicle and I would like to represent it as a military vehicle. Which colour should I use ?

Thank you in advance

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Eric

On going : Obice da 305/17 su affusto de Stefano, Mark 1 female ...

Finished : Dennis 3 tons lorry, Jeffery Poplavko, Renault EG, Renault FT
jagjetta


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jagjetta wrote:

Original image is a real photo postcard with no inscription on back.

John A-G



I have to correct myself...when I pulled the original to add Tim's information, I realized that this is a taken-in-France "carte postale" with the ink inscription, "One of our tractors."

Sorry about that!

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John A-G.
Hudson, WI USA
James H


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There's nothing new under the sun. Noticed this in Airfix Magazine, September 1977. The awards for the MAFVA Annual National Competition. 'Best In Show' went to - a 1/32 Holt 75HP Tractor.

The creator was a Mr. Jeff Dorman. Don't know anything about him except that he will now be 32 years older and seems to have written about WWI matters for Airfix Magazine on occasion.

As for colour - some show the Holt in olive, others in khaki/brown. Don't know for sure.



-- Edited by James H on Monday 29th of June 2009 04:50:53 PM

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GaryM


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I found this illustration but it is rather small, if anyone has a larger scanned image I would be very grateful.
Regards  Gary



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Anonymous

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that is a holt 120 see the 3 crank case covers the 120 is the only one with 3 its a 6 banger. ive never seen tis photo of one befor i have a buddy that has every ting to put one together but the engen what a shame theres only 1 in operation its at the hidrick musem in woodland ca



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