Somewhere in Nevada in early 1990s (not sure when or where, but based on other pictures on the roll, I know which client).
It appears that I was setup on a BLM Section Corner (no clue which one), but that rules out MOST of the projects for that client. Probably somewhere West of Winnemucca, out near the Black Rock Desert.
The [1953] M-37 in the photo was my field rig (and home away from home) for over a decade. I only used the power take-off winch once (to pull someone else out), and spent several hundred nights (at least) sleeping in the back of that rig (Winter & Summer).
I still have that M-37, and the GTS-3b in the photo (and both still work as well as the day they were built). The "laptop" that I had then is long gone now though (it ran on 'D-cell' batteries in DOS, and had two 3.5 in. "floppy" drives).
Man..., thought I was pretty high tech, and walking in tall cotton in those days.
Loyal
edit: BTW, that's a Motorola walkie talkie on the tipod, I NEVER had a data collector UNTIL I bought GPS in the mid-late 90s.
I see it has "255" (or is that "355") air conditioning!
> The [1953] M-37 in the photo was my field rig
I owned one of those -- also a 1953 -- for about 10 years, but it was a "project vehicle" that I never actually got running. I had already revived several 2WD Dodge trucks of the same vintage when I bought it, but I finally realized that the M-37 was going to require more time and money than I wanted to spend. I sold it to a guy who wanted to turn it into a demolition derby vehicle; I don't know if he ever succeeded.
Dutch Hill tripod? My experience with those in the late 80's and early 1990's wasn't good, lots of thermal expansion, very hard to keep an instrument level.
SHG
Shelby
As I recal (possibly incorrectly), that tripod was sold as a "Carhart" back in the mid 1980s, and the Dutch Hill design came along later (although VERY similar). I know that that that tripod is at least TWICE the weight of the Dutch Hill tripods that I bought later (1990s), and made of very different materials.
I always had good luck with that tripod, even in the 120° Nevada desert (and/or -20° Nevada Mountains). It's still my favorite tripod, so long as I don't have to carry it very far.
🙂
Loyal
Shelby
I think you are correct on the name! The only time I thought these were worth anything was in coastal conditions in the NW in the winter, in the sun and wind I thought they were horrible, YMMV 🙂
We had one of the even earlier styles at a place I worked around 1984-85, I finally bought my 1st WILD / Leica product a GST20 wood tripod (and never took the plastic legs out again), found they were far better tripods AND have never really looked elsewhere for my tripods. Another place I worked after that had a set as in your photo from around 1990, like I said, good in the wet, BUT I still didn't like them for any other work.
SHG
M-37 Road Test...
Having used just about EVERY possible 4x4 as a survey field vehicle over the last 44 years, I don't hesitate a second to say that the M-37 is by far and away my FIRST choice as soon as ya “hit the dirt.”
It is also my LAST choice to make the 300-500 mile trip from here to there!
It does get about 16mpg out on the Freeway (25-55mph depending on the grade), but it would run away from “modern” 4x4s on the dirt. For whatever reason, it seemed to be immune to washboard roads, and 45mph where everyone else was vibrating along at 25mph, wouldn't even slosh your beer!
The “kick-out” windshield that Dave mentioned was surprising good air-conditioning (as he suggested), and also handy for shooting at jackrabbits with a .22 pistol while cruising along the jeep trails late at night (although I never managed to actually hit one).
It has 48 zerk fittings on it, so if you keep it greased, nothing ever wears out. You can carry EVERY tool that you are likely to ever need in a Lunch Box, and EVERY spare part in another one. It will also "run" just dandy on about anything resembling gasoline. I once drove about 80 miles back to Winnemucca on a mixture of gasoline, 2 cycle motorcycle gas, Coleman fluid, and Vodka (a long story).
Hearing protection is probably in order on the Freeway though, which may account for the ringing in my ears later in life (I didn't use any).
Loyal
M-37 Road Test...
I hope when you got back to town you were able to obtain critical supplies
VODKA
That's a rad setup loyal.
Loyal,
If you ever want to get rid of that truck let me know, I am keeping my eye open for either an M-37 or the civilian style Power Wagon from that time frame.
Rick
M-37 Road Test...
The M-37 used the same flathead 6 that my other '50s-era Dodge pickups did. I quickly discovered that the same powerplant was still in production (this was in the mid-70s) for use in industrial trucks (e.g. forklifts), so parts were readily available. I wonder if they're still making that same motor.
Flathead 230 cu. in.
I dunno Jim... could be.
I dropped the pan once (don't remember why), and the pistons seemed the be size of tomato paste cans, in cylinders that went FOREVER (long stoke sucker).
The M-Series engines had hardened value seats so that they could run on just ANY gasoline found anywhere on earth (no ethyl lead required), I dunno about the civilian models.
They built about a bizillion M37s (~116,000) between ~1951 and 1968, so there are plenty of parts around.
Loyal
MIL spec is the bomb for real off road access. I would go with the Daimler-Benz 404 Uni Mog, NATO spec. Nice ones for $10k or less. But that M-37 looks like similarily useful when going far beyond the last road. Bullet proof tires make sence when you are out in the sage brush and watermelon sizes rocks and bolders. Pull 20% grades in granny gear all day long.
Did power trans line surveying throughout the west and just regular Ford and Chevy 4x4 can't hold a candle to the MIL spec goods.
Where's the picnic basket?
Flathead 230 cu. in.
That's a inline six cylinder, right? My dad installed one of those in a tractor many years ago...
Very cool survey chariot.
M-37 Road Test...
my 2001 Ford Windstar van does better on washboard roads than my F250 work truck. The secret is don't go too slow, pick it up a little and it'll be a smoother ride.
My F250 is just so stiff, though, it'll beat the hell out of you whatever you do.
Flathead 230 cu. in.
> That's a inline six cylinder, right?
Yes. They came in two displacements in that era, 218 and 230 ci, as I recall. Not much horsepower, but loads of torque.
Yogi and BooBoo must of taken it.
Worlds worst beer leg...
...if you've gotta check something behind you.....:-P
Worlds worst beer leg...
The Arctic Top (insulated canvas “camper”) had a plexiglass window that was ~coincident with the sliding glass rear window of the hardtop. I was able to take out the plexiglass window in the canvas top, and mount the canvas directly to the back of the Hardtop. Thus I could reach the “cooler” from the drivers seat, and also “kick” the windshield UP, open the sliding window, and backsight THROUGH the camper/Cab (assuming the back door was open, as it was in that shot).
🙂
Loyal
