Tucker gods smiled today !!!!!

[loggah]

Well after following up a northern N.H. tip, the tucker gods smiled !!!!!I found in an antique shop up North of the notch,two hand painted Tucker display signs. I'm thinking about 1951 or 1952. They mention my 2 1949 Tucker snowcats , one bought by the Cannon mountain tramway co. and one bought by waterville inn in Waterville valley, and having been used 2 seasons. The sign also makes known that a Tucker "FREIGHTER " is on display. I believe these signs were made for some large meet like the "EASTERN STATES EXPOSITION" in Springfield Mass around 1951. I'm thinking "Jinn"the tucker GURU may know when the first freighter was sent to the N.H. sno-cat corp to date the signs. Here they are another link to Tucker history !!

[trailbuilder]

You have a special talent for finding neat stuff. Keep up the good work.

[loggah]

I guess if you beat enough bushes,sometimes things fall out ! hows things on the mountain? going good i hope .

[sno-drifter]

The first Freighter to go east went to Mr. David Gregg in Nashua, N.H. The second went to Tucker Sno-Cat Corp in Plymouth. Both of these Freighters were 624's. Good find Mr. Loggah

[Pontoon Princess]

great find and fabulous piece of tucker east coast history, Tucker Sno-cat had a wonderful long history on the east coast, Gregg was very successful, the tucker sno-cat was the right machine for the conditions. mr loggah, you have a very nice collection of the early east coast tuckers. i am impressed.

[Sno-Surfer]

That is a great find!

[loggah]

Scott, Any dates when the freighters were sent East? trying to figure out when and where the machine was displayed with these signs, thanks. Don

[Track Addict]

Great addition to your collection! Maybe displayed at some
Fair up that way Lancaster grounds?

[Pontoon Princess]

Originally Posted by loggah

Scott, Any dates when the freighters were sent East? trying to figure out when and where the machine was displayed with these signs, thanks. Don

soctt is out playing with tuckers today, so, i will try to answer your question.

freighter, serial #148040, sold to David A Gregg, Nashua, N.H.

freighter, serial #148043, sold to Tucker Sno-cat Corp, Plymouth

freighter, serial #148046, sold to Tucker Sno-cat. Plymouth

all the above are 1948's, model 624

freighter, serial # 149063, sold to N.Y. State, Albany, N.Y.

freighter, serial # 149064, sold to N.Y. State, Albany, N.Y.

and these were 1949's and model 643

the 3, 1948's were the only Freighters sold to Gregg, so, think the 1948's are the ones referred to on your sign, there is no info as to who Gregg sold them to, other than serial # 148046 was originally to be purchased by Fred Pabst, he did not buy it, though he did buy several Tucker Sno-cats over the years, just not a freighter. And a total of 5 freighters were sold on the east coast through the late 50's. The military did buy, through purchasing offices on the east coast, for use in Alaska and around the world.

Does look like Gregg never bought another freighter directly, he may have brokered the sale of freighters, that is just a guess, Gregg did sell mostly models 423 and 443 by the truck load to the east coast, and almost as many sno-cat trailers. So, I think he only bought 3 Freighters...

[loggah]

Jinn, Thank you very much,that is a lot of good info!! Gregg must have still owned one of the Freighters in 1951-52 according to the sign time frame,and had it for display. Interesting history to say the least!! thanks again. Don

[Pontoon Princess]

mr loggah, David A Gregg bought his first sno-cat, May 10, 1947, it was a 420 with a Chevrolet 6 cylinder engine, ( mr, addict, that is a true torpedo unicorn ) along with 2 trailers, a 1/2 ton and the other a 1 ton.

He, Mr Gregg, was the first Tucker Sno-cat dealer in the country.

[loggah]

Jinn,5 years to the day,when i was born,May 10 1952 !!!! thats some more interesting early snowcat history . Just like going back in time.Are the 624 freighters 2 pontoon machines with the straight 8 engine? they would be quite long machines. Don

[Pontoon Princess]

yes, both the 624 and 623 are two pontoon with chrysler straight 8 engines, and the 643 also uses the straight 8 and have 4 pontoons, 1951 was the last year of freighters with straight 8 power plants, with no freighters built in 1952, then in 1953 the vastly improved 743 freighter, now powered by the famed 331 HEMI, with a automatic transmission, and finally in 1955, the automatic transmissions not longer being used and now a manual is standard

I would say May 10, in New England is and always will be a very special day...

[trailbuilder]

Loggah, I will start another thread when our less than pleasant job is closer to completion. The problem not the weather, site conditions, steepness, hikers or mechanical problems. It's with some guy that says he can drive a train, but I don't think he could. On the plus side, if there are any more delays I may be able to drive my Tucker to work.
Keep looking for the tucker with the straight eight. If it's out there, I'm sure you will find it.

[sno-drifter]

[QUOTE=Pontoon Princess;20626184]soctt is out playing with tuckers today,

Scott took a special 743 back to the Holy Land today and got to see his first snow of the season. Thanks Jinn for covering for the alligator mouth today, big job I know.

[sno-drifter]

Here is an update on our little Caty-Shack.Jinn is so good at notchoing beams that we bought her a sombrero.

With the exception of one tree that was growing too close to the sawmill, all the rest of the wood is from blow down and trees that were dying. A totally green endeavor.

[Pontoon Princess]

I have a feeling the photos, DO NOT justice to the greatness of your efforts...

[loggah]

"WOW"!!!!!!! you guys are building the TUCKER TAJ MAHAL !!!!! makes me want to go out and burn my pole barn with all the old iron in it !!! Well not really.

[Track Addict]

Any pics of these two pontoon freighters in the archives?

[Pontoon Princess]

Originally Posted by loggah

"WOW"!!!!!!! you guys are building the TUCKER TAJ MAHAL !!!!! makes me want to go out and burn my pole barn with all the old iron in it !!! Well not really.

I see a showdown of loggah vs logger, could be epic

please, please, please, do not burn down your wonderful pole building, it is not a competition, we are on the same tucker team to save and preserve these wonderful machines of winter

logger has a unfair advantage, douglas firs do grow kinda big, and frankly he has a secret minion...