The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1921-03-24
|ARMSTEAD's SNOW MOTOR is
PROVED WONDERFUL INVENTION

OUt vi lEC In66t AAtCAOcsx36 oNAOh
tific as we'll as practical engineering
achievements OF recent years is the
work of a former Butte man, Major
Harry H Armstead, who has just
perfected the Armstead snow motor,
a contrivance whose performances In
practical tests have amazed woods
men and miners of the north and
west, who are intensely interested In
its success.
Major Armstead, who Is years ago
was known in Butte for his success
as an engineer and mine operator,
built the smelter at P0larfs and was
a pioneer in projecting the Gilmore
& Pittsburg railroad, a difficult en-
cheering feat, traversing the main
range of the Rockies between Arm
stead, Mont, a town named after
him, and Salmon City, Idaho.
Major Armstead was also interest
ed in a number of mining enterprises
in Montana for many years. Later
he became heavily interested in min
ing operations in the Occur d'Alenes,
in Mexico and In British Columbia.
A few years ago he took up the study
of a snow motor machine because of
the in~accessibility Of mines In which
he was interested in the district
around Lake Pend d'OreiIIe. and the
difficulty presented by heavy snow
during the winter months Here is
situated the home office of the Arm
stead Mines Co., on a picturesque
plateau overlooking the lake.
During the war Major Armstead
was attached to the engineer corps
and was promoted for valuable ser
vice rendered in construction work
for the government
Major Armstead perfected his plan
years ago for the Armstead snow
but it was not until last win
ter that his first successful operating
model was placed before the public.
It's performance has been most as
consisting and woodsmen and mining |
men declare that 1t will make pos
,ible continued operations in the
woods and in remote mines that here
.ofore had to be abandoned because |
If deep SHOWS.
The 10y motor was demonstrated
n the timber districts of Northern
Wisconsin last month and at Iron
wood in that state it drew the atten-
ion of timber operators of Canada
S we'll as the northern section of the
States The motor has been
uccessfully operated under all kinds
f conditions Huge SNOW banks In
-hich fences are entirely lost under
ne drifts are as easily negotiated as
n automobile traverses the ordinary
ountry road. AS enc of its best
UNITS, the Armstead SNOW motor {
ulled bobsleds laden with "a tons :
f lumber from the Collins lumber
at Pine Lake, Wis, to Ironwood
roads that we're utterly impass- !
BILE, because of deep snow, for either !
orse drawn outfits, tractors or au-
mobiles. While uubroken SNOW, !
nd deep at that, is the ideal condi- !
under which the 10 motor OPP {
rates, it made its most sensational '
stunt on the broken SNOW of the 5
reefs of Ironwood when a series I
bobs were hitched to 1t and more
400 men and boys climbed on d
BARD and were hauled through the d
New Principle
An entirely new prfncipIe of trans Q
On 1aad aad snow is applied '
his invention by Major Armstead. q
MS is called the ~fIotation" method. 9
ne snow motor floats along on top K
the o crest and unlike other l
iow machines does not attempt to 8
6 or scratch its way through. Float q
G on top OF the SHOWS very much 9
the principle OF the mar keeping c
top of the STOW with his snow
oes, the motor travels on four d
eat barrel-shaped drums which q
e fitted with spiral auger-shaped q
:ates. These drums revoIve and
g auger strips upon the sides force I,
e entire machine forward or back II
ard. The power is amazing and u
entire machine is handled as cas-
7 a an automobile. 1t can back, I
IN and be steered Just IS easily as 81
touring car :"