Liberty truck
Encyclopedia
History
The liberty truck was designed by the Motor Transport section of the Quartermaster Corps in cooperation with the members of the Society of Automotive Engineers.Production of the 3–5 ton truck began in 1917, and the first models appeared ten weeks after the design was standardized. Of the almost 9,500 produced by 15 manufacturers, more than 7.500 were sent overseas. The Liberty's four-speed transmission
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
coupled with its 52-hp engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
gave the truck a top speed
Top Speed
Top Speed is a 1930 American musical comedy film released by First National Pictures, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers.-Production:The film was completed as a full musical...
of about 15 miles per hour (6.7 m/s).
Variants
- Series I
-
- Battery, generator and distributor with electrical lighting system, in addition to the independent magneto ignition
- Ball and coil spring device to hold starter crank up in front
- Primarily wooden spoke wheels vs. more robust steel wheels but Steel wheels were issued on 1st variant in later production (reference photo of Indiana manufacturing plant storage lot)
- Single clamp hold-down radiator cap threaded in the center into the radiator
- DistributorDistributorA distributor is a device in the ignition system of an internal combustion engine that routes high voltage from the ignition coil to the spark plugs in the correct firing order. The first reliable battery operated ignition was developed by Dayton Engineering Laboratories Co. and introduced in the...
AND MagnetoMagnetoA magneto is a type of electrical generator.Magneto may also refer to:* Magneto , permanent magnetic alternating current rotary generator* ignition magneto, magnetos on internal combustion engines...
systems with independent sparkplugs and wires (two per cylinder) - Electric side lights
- Electric Guide lights up front on the frame horn members inside wheel area
- Electric tail lamp
- Electrical troubleshooting lamp plug in dash
- Dual ignition switch on dash for battery or magneto ignition
- Ammeter in dash switch cluster (lights/battery/mag, the gauge and a plug socket for a trouble light)
- Single dash-mounted fuel tank which gravity fed the carburetor
- Series II
-
- Magneto only, (distributor, battery, generator and electrical light systems removed)
- Pressed steel spring clip to hold starting crank, vs. ball under spring clamp
- Acetylene Gas illuminated spot/driving light in the center of the dashboard
- Acetylene Gas illuminated side lights (possible transition from electric as they dropped the battery system)
- Oil wick rear taillamp
- Spring-mounted oil fill caps raised to vertical level for easier filling on suspension
- Oil filler for engine moved to rear of block
- Radiator uses flip-type cap with hinge to rear and lock bolts on the sides
- Second fuel tank under passenger seat
- Fuel tank hand pump on extreme right of cab for transferring fuel from the underseat mounted rear tank to primary dash mounted tank (co-driver job)
Surviving examples
- There is one at the Fort BlissFort BlissFort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...
museum, - One at the Fort Eustis, U.S. Army Transportation MuseumU.S. Army Transportation MuseumThe U.S. Army Transportation Museum is a United States Army museum of vehicles and other transportation-related equipment and memorabilia. It is located on the grounds of Fort Eustis, Virginia, in Newport News, on the Virginia Peninsula.-History:...
- One at the National Museum of the United States Air ForceNational Museum of the United States Air ForceThe National Museum of the United States Air Force is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is the world's largest and oldest military aviation museum with more than 360 aircraft and missiles on display...
- One at the First Division Museum
- One with Virginia Military Preservation Association http://www.VMPA.US (W. Winget owner) in Virginia
- One at the National Infantry MuseumNational Infantry MuseumThe National Infantry Museum is a museum located in South Columbus, Georgia, just outside Fort Benning, the home of the Infantry. The museum honors the history of infantry forces in the United States Army.The museum is in size and cost $107 million to build...
http://www.nationalinfantrymuseum.com/, Columbus, Georgia - One at the Oregon Military Museum.
- One at the Iowa Military museum. http://www.iowanationalguard.com/museum/Museum.htm
- One at the Allen County MuseumAllen county museumThe Allen County Museum is located in the city of Lima, the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. Occupying a half city block, the museum campus includes the main museum building, a log house, the MacDonell House , a Shay Locomotive display, Military/Transportation building, the...
, Lima, OhioLima, OhioLima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
. http://www.allencountymuseum.org/Home.html - One at the Camp Creek showgrounds near WaverlyWaverly, NebraskaWaverly is a city in Lancaster County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Lincoln, Nebraska Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,448 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Waverly is located at ....
, NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River.... - One at the National Marine Corps Museum at Quantico. Triangle, VirginiaTriangle, VirginiaTriangle is a census-designated place in Prince William County, Virginia, United States. The population was 5,500 at the 2000 census. It is bounded to the south by the Quantico Marine Corps Base, which surrounds the town of Quantico. It is bounded to the north and west by the town of Dumfries...
- One at the Texas Military Forces Museum at Camp Mabry Austin, TexasAustin, TexasAustin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
See also
- M1918 light repair truckM1918 light repair truckThe Dodge M1918 light repair truck was an open cab pickup used to carry tools for emergency repair of vehicles. It was used by the U.S. Army during and after World War I.-Specifications:...
- Four Wheel DriveFour Wheel DriveThe Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, more often known as Four Wheel Drive or just FWD, was founded in 1909 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, as the Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company by Otto Zachow and William Besserdich.-History:...
Co. - Republic Motor Truck CompanyRepublic Motor Truck CompanyRepublic Motor Truck Company was a manufacturer of commercial trucks circa 1913 - 1929, in Alma, Michigan. By 1918, it was recognized as the largest exclusive truck manufacturer in the world, and the maker of one out of every nine trucks on the roads in the United States. It was one of the major...
- Thomas B. Jeffery CompanyThomas B. Jeffery CompanyThe Thomas B. Jeffery Company was an American automobile manufacturer in Kenosha, Wisconsin from 1902 until 1916. The company manufactured the Rambler and Jeffery brand motorcars. It was preceded by the Gormully & Jeffery Manufacturing Company and it was the parent company to Nash Motors, thus one...
(Nash Quad) - Motor Transport Corps (United States Army) (World War One)Motor Transport Corps (United States Army) (World War One)The Motor Transport Corps was formed out of the Quartermaster Corps on 15 August 1918, by General Order No. 75. Men needed to staff this new corps were recruited from the skilled tradesmen working for automotive manufacturers in the U.S....
- U.S. Army Transportation Corps
External links
- http://www.transchool.eustis.army.mil/Museum/museum.html
- http://www.archive.org/details/americasmunitio01deptgoog (page 496)
- http://books.google.com/books?id=UrtBAAAAIAAJ&printsec=titlepage
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B0DE7DA113BE03ABC4153DFB667838C609EDE
- http://vmpa.ordnancereproductions.com/