 Towmotor Forklifts Corporation Ohio USA |
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page III TOWMOTOR III Welcome to the TOWMOTOR fansite ! This is page III On this page are pictures and 'history part 2" of this unique real American forklift. Most pictures can be enlarged by clicking on it. We hope you like it! On my website: - Towmotor homepage - Towmotor page II - Towmotor page III |
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- TOWMOTOR PARTS - TOWMOTOR ARTIFACTS - Allis-Chalmers forklifts - Allis-Chalmers parts |
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 My brother and I with my brothers antique Towmotor. |
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WW II Towmotor Hi! I am writing a book on a company that assembled military vehicles for the British during World War 2. They put together from crated components these Towmotors... do you know which model it is please or anyone that might know? It would be from around 1943. David Southampton, England gmhistorian+btinternet.com (replace the '+' for a '@') |
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(advertisement)  TOWMOTOR PICTURES Page II |
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forklift from Arizona. (Daytemperature between 110F and 119F ! perfect dry heat ... humidity avg here is only 12%) "Hello again Geert, a year ago I was telling you we had an very old Tow Motor Forklift Model 302SLP2524 . We have had it worked on and it is now being used daily but being treated kindly since it is in it's senior years since we think it is about a 1964 model - but not sure! Still runs great. " Regards, Gordon Stone Nova Digital, LLC 505 W 8th Ave #15 Mesa, AZ 85210 |
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Mr Watson wrote to me: My name is Randy Watson and I have come across a very unusual forklift. It is a towmotor forklift. The model # 601PG5024 & the serial # 601P670006. It stills runs. I am doing some minor repairs for a charity group. They own the lift. It's got a flathead 4 cylinder in it, power steering and a clutch. I have approximately 80 forklifts that I have purchased for the company that I work for. I have never seen such a vintage forklift. I thought some of the old Yale forklifts that I used to have were dinosaurs! This one must have came over during the Boston Tea Party era. Please advise. Thanks, RW |
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Towmotor
from Finland. This is my forklift! Towmotor LT 40 model - serial no 405081 thank you, Ralf Björklund, Kirkkonummi Finland |
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Concentration in Almere (Holland) This is the antique Towmotor from Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift Europe BV . In the pic it is used for a forkliftdrivers game celebrating the 100,000 forklift built in Almere ! |
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18 tons Heavy machine ! Equipped with container forks |
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Towmotor in Holland Rien en Marleen Spek Zwanenburg. |
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Same model in the United Kingdom.
Photo send by Sue from Finning Caterpillar Forklifts. |
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Towmotor in the USA | ||||||
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US army Towmotor Fully overhauled - can be seen in the Dutch General George C. Marshall museum (Zwijndrecht) More info: Marshallmuseum |
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Blue Towmotor Owned by mr Gallion, living on a Washinton state island at the Pacific coast. Old machine - but in very good running condition. |
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Oldie with solid tires | ||||||
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Mexican Towmotor Mr Graham Warner, THE forklift specialist from Australia writes that this model Towmotor might be a 10.000 LBS machine since it has a serial no. starting with B10 |
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HISTORY PART II |
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 Picture was e-mailed to me by Mr Richard Bailey who wrote to me: Hi Geert, I saw your web site - it's great! Mr. Lester Sears founded Towmotor in 1919, with the help of his father (for a little money). Mr. Sears was the one who required the red colored wheels (and many other things). The company made factory Tow Tractors until 1933 when Mr. Sears designed the first cantilevered fork lift and sold many to the Stevedore companies in the U.S. I went to work for Towmotor in the 50's - after many of the trucks in your pictures were built, and stayed with them, and CAT, and now work part time for Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift, in Houston Texas. It would be interesting if you could turn up a photo of the model 590 - an forklift with an articulated front end - it swiveled around so it could operate in narrow aisles. Very unique. They were great trucks. Richard Bailey |
TOWMOTOR LT-40
In the lobby of MCFA -- Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America. It was built in the U.S. in 1947. |
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Towmotor model 590
Also called 'the snake' or 'the sidewinder' as mr Scott Morford told me. I am from Corning, New
York, USA and I will send you some pictures of my Towmotor
590. I just purchased this unit. I don’t have a lot of history on
it. The previous owner was a FORD Automotive Dealership in a near by town.
They have used the machine for several years to unload and load auto
parts. I plan to use it for my equine feed and bedding business. Any
information that anyone is willing to share about this model will be
appreciated.
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Towmotor model 590 !! An forklift with an articulated front end - it swiveled around so it could operate in narrow aisles. Very unique. |
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Still going strong in Scotland |
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Towmotor from Iceland !
These pics
where sended by mr Atli Stefansson from Iceland.
The history of this forklift is known
after it came to west part of Iceland. It was imported used as a part
of US army or navy when they came to Icland in 1944 to take over from
British troops guarding the country in WW2. In 1949 the US did start
to sell surpus all types of stuff including 3 of this type of
forklifts. These machines are for sure the first forklifts in the
country and did see use in Reykjavik harbor for the forces. One stayed
in Reykjavik harbor and was used until ca 1965 on the harbor. The
owner was then the town of Reykjavik. The other two did go to west
fjords: One to The CO:OP in Thingeyri and the other to EG company in
Bolungarvik. Both places are near Isafjord where I have been for the
last 13 years. The one that went to Thingeyri in 1949 was put into the
hands of a young man (in those days...) and was in his care until the
CO:OP closed in 2001. It has allways been stored inside and used
properly all years. When the CO:OP folded he got permission to keep it
and try to get someone to save it from skrap. Well, there I came in
the pic. To stupid to say no I guess. The care taker is not so young
any more, getting close to 80 years old but still fit and with sound
mind. He did tell my that in 1951 the engine in the forklift was
getting difficult to start and when inspected it came apparent that it
was very mutch used and in needed an overhaul. They did send the
engine to a then new company in Reykjavik. (and for the record this
was the first complete overhaul for this company. I did get copy of
the original work order and the company is willing to
put some money to preserve this piece of history when a new home is
found.) The other forklifts did go to the scrap before 1970 and the
old guy did try a few times to locate spare parts from the other two,
but did not succeed. The Towmotor is fully usable and orginal
excluding the safety cage. That was put on in 1977 together with a 12
volt dynamo. No serial number found so far but on the mast is plate
with markings of the Towmotor Comp Mill specifications: rated 4000 Lb.
Best reg Atli stefansson |
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Heavy machine in the Australia.
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For sale in Denmark |
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Towmotor model 502 Fitted with an exclusive Towmotor QUADmast - lifting height 20 feet / 600 cm. |
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Look at the special hydrolic cilinder: Full free lift ! 40 years ago ! |
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The New York Bronx This Towmotor is for sale in the Bronx. I think the pic is just like in the movie's playing in this neighbourhood. |
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Perfect paintjob |
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Mini Towmotor Mr Weldon, Florida USA
Hello, I saw your website and wanted to share a few photos of a scale
replica Towmotor Forklift That I have. This was my Grandfather's and he got it when he worked for
Sharon Steel in Pennsylvania. I believe he received it from a sales representitive of the Tomotor
Company. This has real rubber tires and the forks raise and tilt. I have included a few pictures of
the box it came in as well. I Must tell you that this is not for sale as it was given to me by my
Father and has sentimental value. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Ken Weldon
Cocoa, Florida
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look at the wheels! |
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For sale in Holland |
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One of the first ! Very old towmotor from the '40ties - still in use in Florida (USA) Steer axle has leaf spring suspension.....was still in use approx. 3 mos. ago.....runs well.....Mod. 27B525A, S/N F229 Salutations from Lakeland, Florida. Current Temp: 82F |
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Canadian Towmotor This towmotor was spotted by myself in Golden (Alberta-Canada) I wish I could take it home.... |
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Overhauling project
Triple Mast and Added
Counter Weight.
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Towmotor toy Runs on 110 volt power. 50 years old - but in working condition. (Pennsylvania USA) I'm sorry, but the owner did not want to sell it... Click here for more Towmotor artifacts |
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Forklift of the century election Magazine article concerning my brother winning the the election 'forklift of the century' in Dutch language. ( the past century :-) |
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Same model - but a little rusty |
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To bad... |
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Canadian Towmotor This TOWMOTOR was spotted by myself in Lilooet (BC Canada) |
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My brother, His Towmotor before restauration and his 1962 DEUTZ tracktor. | ||||||
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Same model, but in the US. |
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I like the contra weight with the TOWMOTOR letters on it |
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Tomotor with a DETROIT 2 stoke diesel engine mmm I like that sound ! |
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For sale in the US. | ||||||
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Very strange 9 tons machine Remark: the shape of most parts is the same as equipped on the smaller Towmotor models. By the way: it's a Towmotor, the owner is named 'Clark' . |
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Towmotor in Norwegian harbour museum |
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