Thread: Dodge Defender Jeep ??

Hello All,

More about IHC from the Museums Victoria collection Accessed 18th January 2020 from, International Harvester (IH) Collection

In response to restrictive Commonwealth import tariffs, International Harvester established its own Australian manufacturing operations, opening factories at Geelong in 1937, to produce agricultural equipment (and later tractors), at Dandenong in 1952, to produce motor trucks, and at Port Melbourne in 1958, to produce earthmoving and construction equipment. To assist in the development of products specifically for Australian markets a truck proving ground was established at Anglesea in 1961 and a Product Engineering Centre at Geelong in 1962.


By the late 1970s, the International Harvester Company was suffering from declining sales and rising costs prompting a drastic rationalisation of its worldwide operations, which included the closure of the Geelong and Port Melbourne factories by the mid 1980s. International Trucks Australia Ltd which operated the Dandenong factory was acquired in 1992 by IVECO, part of the Italian-based Fiat Group, and is still in production.

The description relates to how the ... "collection comprises a large number of glass plate and film negatives, transparencies, photo albums, product catalogues, videos, motion picture films, company journals, advertisements and newspaper cuttings relating to the Australian operations of the International Harvester Company."

The proper citation for the article is: Churchward, M. (2010) International Harvester (IH) Collection in Museums Victoria Collections International Harvester (IH) Collection Accessed 18 January 2020

Visiting the collection would be a good way to spend the day.

Kind regards
Lionel

Originally Posted by 4bee

GMH Plant Birkenhead SA



General Motors Holden GMH - Birkenhead Plant ( Port Adelai… | Flickr

ah yes , thats the place......

for some reason I was thinking it was the Chrysler/Dodge place.

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

ah yes , thats the place......

for some reason I was thinking it was the Chrysler/Dodge place.

That is pretty much the same, a bit like GMH, looking a bit sorry for itself.
Not sure what is there now though could still be a block of land covered in rubble. There is a lot of small "Apartment" type boxes being built all around that area so I doubt you'd even recognise the joint these days. A couple of large Opening & Closing Cantilever Road & Rail Bridges were built a few years ago to open up that side of the peninsular a lot of earthworks that you knew so well so anyone dropping in from Mars might have a better recollection of the parish than what you can remember.

Not even sure if the old RAN depot buildings HMAS Torrens (latterly HMAS Encounter) is still there.

Last time I was down there the big Gun from HMCS Protector was still in the Park. Now? Who knows?


Don't even mention the large SA Harbours Board Dockyards with the magnificent Floating Crane towards the sea end of that precinct. I suspect last time I googled it that also appeared to be rubble.

Sad I know but that is the way the world seems to be going.

Actually on reflection I think I'd enjoy living there now, right on the river/reach. You may be interested to know the Jervois Bridge compressed air bull horn of a siren still operates for vessels wanting passage through & the mechanics/hydraulics of the bridge driving open & closing still sounds the same.

Hello All,

After doing some study tonight I was winding down by doing the occasional internet search for information about one of my trucks. A 1934-35 REO Speed Wagon. Most of the time these searches bring up the same old photographs of trucks that show me nothing new.

Today I found one for sale in the US of A and I sent a message to the owner. I let them know that I am restoring one of these trucks and I requested some photographs be taken of the truck so I can use them for a reference.

I hope that the message is not simply ignored. I can fully understand if it is - the point of the advertisement is to sell the truck not have people from the other side of the world to hassle them.

I really hope that the message gets through and is responded to favourably. Fingers crossed and wish me luck.

The photograph is of the USA truck - it is in so much better condition than mine is. The second photo is my truck - there is just a wee bit of difference in the condition between the two trucks!

Oh the Tyranny of Distance ....

Kind regards
Lionel

I note that there are definite differences in the cab. This is to be expected, as there was a blanket ban imposed on the import of complete vehicles during WW1, which remained in place until after WW2, although loopholes existed. The cab was almost certainly locally made, and built onto an imported rolling chassis with mudguards, scuttle, bonnet and radiator shell. The tray was almost always locally built.

(This ban on vehicle import was to save on shipping space when introduced, but was kept in place after WW1 to protect the burgeoning local industry.)

I searched REO Speedwagon and got directed to the bands songs on youtube .

YouTube

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I note that there are definite differences in the cab. This is to be expected, as there was a blanket ban imposed on the import of complete vehicles during WW1, which remained in place until after WW2, although loopholes existed. The cab was almost certainly locally made, and built onto an imported rolling chassis with mudguards, scuttle, bonnet and radiator shell. The tray was almost always locally built.

(This ban on vehicle import was to save on shipping space when introduced, but was kept in place after WW1 to protect the burgeoning local industry.)

Interesting . I have found not many parts on my Canadian built CKD / Australian assembled 1949 Dodge are the same as a USA 1949 Dodge , Though they look the same . Australian version is a Ute as we know them and USA version is a step side tub with seperate cab. My 218cu in Flathead has a 25" long head and the USA 218cu in Flathed is 23" , so the commonly avaliable USA head gasket does not fit mine, Ditto different bore and stroke , different crankshaft and different journal sizes , so I had a hell of a time finding .020 undersize bearings and .020 over rings . Luckily the cam bearings , timing chain, oil pump and distributor are all interchangeable, though the US model has a Delco distributor and Australian has a made in Australia Lucas distributor. Likewise USA uses a Carter carby and AU has a local Stromberg carby. Diff and transmission are US built , the starter motor is foot pedal operated but the pedal is on the left side as it pushes on the bendix lever on the starter motor on left side of engine, I don't think its reachable from the drivers seat !!