Recently Aquired this machine and this is what I was told or know. It has a chrome emblem for the front that says SNOW CAT...it was allegedly built in the early 1950's by some one at Hetteen Hoist and Derrick in Roseau Mn which became Polaris in 1954. It is on a 1941 Ford Running gear with drum brakes and powered by an early Wisconsin 2 cylinder engine. It has master cylinders for each brake. It has the 41 Ford transmission and rear end...I was told it was being designed to freight supplies into remote Alaskan camps before Alaska was a state and it was prototype that never went in to production. I was told the man who designed it was given the machine which had been in storage for years on his retirement... sold to a man that had it 15 years then to another who bought it at that mans auction 5 years ago. Under Snomobiles in Wikipedia in mentions a US manufacturer making something like this in the early 50's. All the welding and sheet metal work looks extremely well done and well engineered. It starts and drives and operaes well even on black top or cement..any thoughts?