Marmon Herrington since 1851: 4 wheel drive and beyond, makers of busses, tanks, and the Rhino... never heard of the Rhino?

For the best write up and photo gallery see the Popular Science October 1954 pages 125, 126 and 127 ... Since none of us have that issue, go right here for Google (thanks Google!) who has a library scanning project underway: http://books.google.com/books?id=GCEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA2-PA26&lpg=RA2-PA26&dq=Marmon-Herrington+rhino&source=bl&ots=cPP0J40U4f&sig=PhUp8XzQuE3aQ0Rg6AKZX9FcKs0&hl=en&ei=27UWS8qDLM7jnAfKovHOBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CCgQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Marmon-Herrington%20rhino&f=false

Images via: http://www.amphibiousvehicle.net/amphi/R/rhinospecial/rhino.html

Better and different footage was filmed by Movietone, and can be seen here: http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist//BHC_FoxMovietone/2009/11/03/X03110902/

The Rhino was invented by E. Aghnides, naturalized American frem Greece, and he made a lot of money by his inventions and had Marmon Harrington build the Rhino... it took them 5 years. The front wheels weigh 1500 pounds each and are 6 feet tall, and are hollow rubber clad in aluminum. The hemisherical shape of the tires has a fascinating integral property... the deeper they sink into sand or mud, the more weight bearing surface they provide in contact, and the more traction they then have.

The Rhino could barely be tipped over as the side angle it would remain stable at went to 75 degrees, and could assail a 65 percent grade... it had 12 mpg, was watertight, and was propelled in water by a directional nozzel, was made of Aluminum, and was rear wheel steered

It was featured in issue #16 of Wheels and Tracks, and that can be ordered from Capricorn books at http://www.antiqbook.com/books/bookinfo.phtml?nr=1204493643&Language=en for about 10 dollars

For all about the tank part of MH: http://www.overvalwagen.com/tanks.html

Via: http://www.afrikakorps.org/marmonherrington.htm

Marmon might be a familiar name, I just recently posted about the Marmon Wasp, 1st winner of the Indy 500 http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/08/winner-of-first-indianapolis-500-race.html

A leader and innovator in design, engineering, and manufacturing since 1851, Marmon Herrington made a variety of 4 x 4 and 6 x 6 vehicles for the US and Persian armies used as general load carriers, mobile machine shops, wreckers and balloon winch trucks. Reconaissance, scout and armored cars were also made, some with 4-wheel-steering as well as 4­wheel-drive.

In 1932 Marmon-Herrington built the first all-wheel-drive truck and trailer combination for oil pipe construction in Iraq. Also in 1932 there was a very special project, a 40-passenger articulated coach ordered by the Nairn Brothers for the Damascus to Baghdad desert run. The 6 x 6 tractor was powered by a 90 hp 6-cylinder diesel engine and fitted with a sleeper cab. This was coupled to a luxurious tandem-axle coach 66 feet long, the combination weight being 30 tons. Air springs were added to the tractor's front. semi-elliptic springs. This freighter-bus was still in service during World War II, now operated by the Royal Air Force.

http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/m/marmon_herrington/marmon_herrington.htm

The tractor trailers they made are prized by truckers, and were made from 1969 to 1988 in Garland Texas... for a great article read: http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=60955 the 2nd story

Found via Stipistop, http://gazmegfek.blog.hu/2009/11/30/ufo_technika_egy_terepjaroban

For more rail cars http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/11/inspection-cars-for-railroad-inspectors.html

Marmon Wasp indy 500 replica

For pictures of the original: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/08/winner-of-first-indianapolis-500-race.html

Winner of first Indianapolis 500 Race, it was lighter, more reliable than the competition... and had one thing they didn't. Rear view mirror.

For a 2009 replica of the Wasp; http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/11/marmon-wasp-indy-500-replica.html

This Marmon Wasp won the first Indianapolis 500 Race in 1911... at that time, all race cars held two men, a driver and a co-driver/mechanic.

The Marmon was a single seater, unlike every other car on the track which had a seat for a driver and riding mechanic.

Marmon figured that shaving the weight of the mechanic from the car reduced the weight making it faster around the track and streamlined the car. It was widely speculated the car won because of its lighter weight.

Officials wanted drivers to have a riding mechanic so they could have an extra set of eyes on the track to avoid collisions. To skirt this rule, a mirror was hastily fixed to the hood and track officials were told that the driver could now see behind him, negating the need for a co-driver with a second set of eyes.

But the mirror vibrated so much, it was useless

This was the first rear view mirror ever used on a race car (or a passenger car as well). The driver, Harroun, was an Indiana native and still holds one Indy 500 record. No one has ever come from the 28th (or worse) starting position to end up winning the race.

Between the years of 1903 and 1933 Marmon Motor Cars, made approximately 250,000 cars. Fewer than 350 exist today.

If you’d like to help support the ongoing preservation of automotive history like Ray Harroun’s Marmon “Wasp” and many others like it, contact Greta Allen at the Museum at (317) 492-6779 to reserve your Hall of Fame Museum license plate, or check out this link for more information: IMS Hall of Fame Museum License Plate

For a couple interesting websites about Indy: http://thisthatotherthing-mary.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-05-22T08%3A01%3A00-05%3A00 and http://andthingsthatgo.blogspot.com/ for period photos and posters http://www.rumbledrome.com/10stats.html