Here is a better link to a PDF file of the Peterson twin power tractor patent ...

www.petersoncat.com/sites/default/files/docs/US2678105.pdf

Interesting to see the Siamese D8 patent grant is dated May 11, 1954 - but the original application for patent grant was filed Jan 18, 1951. Wheels must have turned pretty slow in the Patents Dept in that era.
However - what is important, is that the 1951 filing date makes it clear that Buster Peterson was most certainly the originator of the twin-power idea - and not GM, with the Euclid TC12.

The first 4 completed, operating prototypes of the TC-12 appeared on Sept 15, 1954 at the GM Milford proving ground (although an incomplete, operating version had appeared in July 1954).
The design of the GM "Super-Dozer" had been initiated with the poaching of two senior Cat employees - Russ Williams and John Carroll - in 1952.
Williams and Carrolls instructions from senior GM management were to proceed rapidly with the development of a twin-power tractor - and initial design was under way by late 1952.

I have never seen any information as to where the idea of twin-power for the Euclid TC-12 came from - but it appears suspicious that Williams and Carroll arrived at GM at a period when they must have known about Petersons design and patent application for a twin-power tractor. It is therefore highly likely that Williams and Carroll merely stole a large amount of Petersons ideas for the TC-12, and this was done prior to the Peterson patent being granted.

Hey OzDozer,

It sure is good to see you share knowledge on the BB again. The wealth of knowledge is amazing on this forum. Thank you to all who share their time so we all can benefit. glen

Aloha Holy scat bat man twin hi d8 ! OK what happens to the middle final drives? Stub axle ?

Thanks, Glen - Your contributions to the forum are interesting and you sure do get right into the Cat historical stuff on the "American scale" of, "bigger is better"!

Regards, Ron.

"Deas wrote:

Hi, Glen.
Which one is it gonna be, M8.

A kew-ree-yuss mind would like to know. Maybe more'n' one.

The first 2 photos are of the Hungry Horse Dam set. The 2nd pair are of the Lawrenceburg, Ohio, set working on a coal stockpile. Note the addition of the double cab in the second photo. The rest are of the King Ranch High Clearance Funnel Dozer set. Try not to drool all over your keyboard.



Just my 0.02.

Deas,

Here is one more Siamese for you collection; its quality is very poor. But, so is the paper it’s on.
I have been under the impression that it was at the Hungry Horse Dam, but I don’t know for sure.



Kelly

How much more would a Siamese dozer push compared to a single dozer? With the Siamese you have two engines turning two tracks and a single dozer has the same two tracks. I understand on most of the 40's and 50's tractors, you usually have about one and a half track of spin before you lug down to the point of pulling a friction or hitting the master clutch before stalling the engine. Let's hear about the work outcome advantage having to provide fuel and maintenance for two units on one set of tracks.

"OzDozer" wrote:

Interesting to see the Siamese D8 patent grant is dated May 11, 1954 - but the original application for patent grant was filed Jan 18, 1951. Wheels must have turned pretty slow in the Patents Dept in that era.
However - what is important, is that the 1951 filing date makes it clear that Buster Peterson was most certainly the originator of the twin-power idea - and not GM, with the Euclid TC12.

Oz D. the video that Sas posted on the HD41 thread shows a siamese crawler several times throughout the video. The Dam was construction started in 1947 and finished 1953. Maybe AC was the first inventor of the siamese?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrison_Dam

Hi, Kelly.
Thanks for that, M8. I have another, also supposedly at the Hungry Horse Dam, of the Siamesed D8s without a blade or rake parked alongside a DW20 so it is entirely possible that they were ussed for other heavy work after the clearing was finished. They ackshully belonged to a contractor from Redding, Ca., whose name I cain't recall at the moment.

Hi, Oil Slick.
See my post in reply to Garlic Pete on the AC HD41 thread.

Just my 0.02.

Deas,

You just as well have a copy of this one as well, it a front shot of the Holt funnel dozer and it root plow. I don’t recall where I got this one but it’s been on the office wall for along, long time.



Kelly

Hey Gang,

I was headed south past Peterson Tractor this afternoon. I called Duane and he asked me to stop by for a visit. Duane gave Steve Kaehler, my master mechanic, and myself a tour of the build. Peterson is doing a great job. We are hoping by April 17th to have the hard bar installed, tracks on, and maybe hard noses on. The dozer blade has been welded up. Such good work, I'm excited. On the 17th I'll stop and get some pictures before the Peoria Event. Glen