Puzzle #1123 - Caldwell Vale 4WD Truck

[Otto Puzzell]

Know what it is?

Please, respond below and let us know the make and model designation of the car truck posted here.

If you haven't registered yet, you need to do so in order to reply with your answer.  You can do so by clicking here.

Also, please be sure to check out our other puzzles, and, please post a puzzle of your own if you'd like - the more, the merrier.

Thanks!

[Otto Puzzell]

Not one guess?

[Ultra]

Italian?

[Otto Puzzell]

No. This vehicle was built far from Italy.

[Otto Puzzell]

The truck pictured has some features that were rare in its time.

[Otto Puzzell]

Free-for-all

[guido66]

Australia?

[Otto Puzzell]

Yes!

[neilshouse]

1910 Caldwell Vale tipper truck?

[Otto Puzzell]

Why are you asking, as if you don't know? 

This Caldwell Vale truck from the Waikerie settlement was working as a tipper for the South Australian Roads and Bridges Department in 1914. In 1913, the Caldwell Vale company had lost a court case over the performance guarantee of its trucks and was subsequently taken over by another firm

[Craig Gillingham]

For a point, just tell me the make, an approximate year and where it was made.

[Craig Gillingham]

Up to Expert level. I've found out that this is actually a re-post, but no one has picked it up, hopefully it can run its course.

[Manuel]

I have not seen that picture before Craig.
You seen to have an endless supply of really good Aussie pics.

Manuel in Oz

[Craig Gillingham]

Manuel, the truth is I waste far too much time looking at old photos of cars on the internet, I can't help it.

[Manuel]

Apart from museums and state libraries. Where can u find good Aussie pics?

What about a Caldwell Vale?

[Craig Gillingham]

What about a Caldwell Vale?

It is a Caldwell Vale. LOCKED for you to tell me roughly when they were made and where.

Apart from museums and state libraries. Where can u find good Aussie pics?

The state museums and libraries have good photos, but also the smaller regional ones also have good collections. That's where I normally look for photos. I chose this photo because I liked the man in the pith helmet, his long beard and the fact he was pushing a pram

[Manuel]

The pic begs more questions than it answers. I sure would like to know what the old bloke is doing and where they are/were located.
The Co started about 1907 and had the pants sued off them and ran out of steam around about WW1.
I believe the tractor they made had 4WD & 4WS and power steering.
They could have gone on to build some wonderful machinery.

Manuel in Oz

[Craig Gillingham]

That's a good enough answer for me. The Caldwell Vale 4WD were built between 1910-1913. Caldwell Vales were built in Auburn, Sydney. There is a restored one in Queensland, and another recently restored one in Booleroo, South Australia. I've recently heard there are another 2 or 3 in Victoria. There were the remains of one discovered at the Northern tip of the Cape York Peninsula many years ago (Google maps that area). I think it's still there, consisted of the axles and the engine. The total Caldwell Vale production was around 40 machines. Like you say, 4wd and 4 wheel steering, far ahead of anything else of the period.

[Otto Puzzell]

merged

[Manuel]

Where do I google to see the one in Cape York?

[Manuel]

Also, I just remembered there is a bloke in Syd writing a book on Caldwell-Vale/Purcell Engineering. Looking for relatives and ex-staff [they must be 100 by now].
He put an ad in the paper.

Manuel in Oz

[Craig Gillingham]

Also, I just remembered there is a bloke in Syd writing a book on Caldwell-Vale/Purcell Engineering. Looking for relatives and ex-staff [they must be 100 by now].
He put an ad in the paper.

I wasn't aware of a book being written, that would be interesting. A story they could have in there would be about the Caldwell Vale that was restored in Queensland, it was missing the radiator, or wasn't repairable, I can't remember which. The owner heard a rumour that in the original factory (which was still there), there were a heap of unused parts that had been there ever since the company folded. I think story goes that the factory was now a timber yard. The Caldwell Vale owner went to the factory, and started looking around, after moving however many tons of lumber to get to the area where the parts were thought to be, he found a new old stock radiator, still in a wooden crate.

The Caldwell Vale above was from a photo set from Western Queensland at Warbreccan and Currawilla Stations.

Where do I google to see the one in Cape York?

Sorry, I didn't mean that you could see the wreck on the Cape York on Google. I was trying to describe how remote and inaccessible some of that part of the country is, for people who aren't familiar with that area. I do think I have, or can find photos of the wreck, just have to find them.

[Craig Gillingham]

Manuel, here's the article about the Caldwell Vale remains in Cape York. I don't know if they are still there, as they are in a very remote an inaccessible area. Next to these remains is the chassis of a 6 cylinder, t-head engined truck. I don't think it's ever been positively identified, although I heard that it maybe German made, and would have to date from before WW1. There was a short article about this truck in Classic & Sports Car in the early 80's, except I can't put my hands on that particular issue at the moment.

[Manuel]

Very interesting. Thanks.
Its a shame there are not more pics of the German truck. Someone could post them here on AutoPuzzles or some of the old trucking forums. Maybe someone somewhere could ID it then.

Regards,

Manuel in Oz