It’s Just Cool: Bombardier Ice-Fishing Vehicle
By Sean O'Hara
My love obsession of anything with tracks led me straight to the “Our Lives: Contemporary Life and Identities” exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. Why? I saw the picture of this Bombardier ice-fishing vehicle in the brochure at the front desk.
This rig (pictured) was donated to the museum by the St. Laurent Métis community of Manitoba, Canada. What makes it so cool — besides the tracks, of course — is the way its previous owners modified it with household items to provide utilitarian function, like the hose reel mounted on the side to hold fishing nets while not in use or the auger rack attached near the door.
This is a vehicle modified and used to help feed the village. There’s nothing sporty or unnecessary about it; all the mods were put there because they made someone’s day-to-day life a bit easier. That’s cool.
National Museum of the American Indian [Official Website]
July 24th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
[...] As you may have noticed, I did some museum hopping last week. Thankfully I got a chance to cruise through the National Air and Space museum with a Toolmonger’s eye and caught a glimpse of this display of a German aircraft factory, circa 1918. The tools you see on the table are actually from the original factory. [...]
July 25th, 2007 at 8:36 am
A cool after effect of the building of a vehicle for straight utility purpose is the fun and sporty off-shoots. For example, the snowmobile is what has resulted from the vehicle above.
July 26th, 2007 at 10:20 am
If you like tracked vehicles
Ford model t snowmobile
http://www.modeltfordsnowmobile.com/
Cabover FTV
http://www.torvec.com/products_ftv.html
Ripsaw
http://www.howeandhowe.com/