Solved: Wendax 1700 - Butenuth Dampfauto

[Wendax]

Not a turbine, but a steam engine.

[Bill Murray]

Henschel-Doble conversion?

[Wendax]

No

[4popoid]

Following up on Bill's question: Was the steam engine manufacturer also a manufacturer of steam locomotives like O&K (Orenstein & Koppel)?

[Wendax]

No

[4popoid]

Was this truck mechanically driven by steam, or was it powered by steam generated electricity?

[Wendax]

No electric propulsion

[Bill Murray]

I realize you are supposed to only ask one question/give one answer at a time, however.....

The only other German manufacturer that I have found that was still around in 1945/6 that once did steam powered trucks was Hanomag.  Assuming the manufacturer/maker was German would that be Hanomag?

[Wendax]

No

[Bill Murray]

I think Spence and I need some guidance.

The manufacturer of the propulsion system was not involved in steam railroad engines and was not one of the two companies I could find in germany that made steam lorries.

So, for a possible new direction, was the manufacturer of the propulsion system German??

[Bill Murray]

While waiting for an answer to my last question, I found that Vomag made wood-gas engined lorries from 1940 and the round tube under the radiator looks exactly the same as in the puzzle Ford.

Could Vomag be involved in this vehicle?

[Wendax]

Yes, the builder of the propulsion system was German and is not unknown at AP, but not in connection with steam engines. Vomag was not involved.

[4popoid]

Was the manufacturer of this propulsion system known for the manufacture of non-steam powered commercial vehicles?

[Wendax]

Yes, also.

[4popoid]

Econom (Helmut Butenuth)?

[Wendax]

Yes, although it was not called Econom, but Butenuth _________. Locked for you to find the (quite generic German) name.

[4popoid]

Thanks for the lock Gerd.  I hope I can solve the last part of the name, given my extremely limited command of the German language.

You say the missing part of the name is a generic German word.  I'm guessing this would be something like "steam truck/lorry" or "steam powered truck/lorry".  Playing around with the Google translator I came up with a German word(s) which seems to fit the generic requirement.  So, is the name you are seeking: Butenuth Dampflastwagen, Butenuth Dampfkraftwagen, or Butenuth Dampflastkraftwagen (Butenuth Dampf-LKW)?

[Wendax]

Very close, it is Butenuth Dampfxxxx. Still locked.

[4popoid]

Perhaps I'm thinking too big.  Maybe not steam truck, but only steam engine.  How about: Butenuth Dampfmotor?

[Wendax]

Yes, you were thinking too big, but it is more than just the engine. We are looking for a four-letter word.

[4popoid]

Hmmm, more than just an "steam engine".  Perhaps a "steam system".  Butenuth Dampfnetz?     

[Wendax]

Even more, the whole vehicle! 

[4popoid]

Aaargh, I've come full circle (back to steam truck).  Unfortunately my translator only gives me words with more than nine letters (DampfXXXX) for steam truck, steam lorry, steam transporter, etc.  I did find one four letter word for truck, wagon, dumper, but my translator doesn't want to mate it with dampf.  I'll have to give it a try, as I don't know where else to look.  Butenuth Dampflore? 

[Wendax]

Well, we Germans are quite creative in forming word compositions, and I doubt that your translator knows all of them.  But the solution is easier than you might think. At first, forget about the composed word. Just look for a four-letter word describing road vehicles in a more general sense than truck. Then you put Dampf in front of it and the point will be finally yours. Last round of torture, I promise. 

[4popoid]

The only other four letter German word I can come up with, that describes "road vehicles in a more general sense", is: "auto".  To me this doesn't really describe the puzzle vehicle, but then I am thinking in English, and there is the word Autobahn which applies to all types of vehicles.  So I'll try: Dampfauto.