I don't utube on dialup, but years ago we found an ancient Skidoo snowmobile abandoned along an old mining road. Still had the motor and looked like most of the parts. Heck, it's probably still there! Road's blocked to motor traffic now, only hiking and horseback. I shot a color slide of it, it would be easier to get a new pic than to find that old slide...
-Ed

Ed:
Not a snowmobile as we know them today.

Basically this one is a Fordson tractor mounted on a frame with two counter rotating finned "pontoons" driven by the same type of transmission used in tracked vehicles. The floating action of the pontoons allowed it to traverse soft, powdery, unpacked snow without sinking in.

I'd put it around late 40s timeframe.

The Armstead Snow Motor company made this out of a Fordson tractor. This promotional film is from 1929. The two pontoons were driven through independent clutches actuated by the steering wheel. I believe at least one still exists in a museum in California.

Darryl

The original Snow Mobile Company made conversions for the Model T (and later Model A0 ford cars, as early as 1916.

Tracks in back and skis in front, just like a modern unit. Some later conversions retained the wheels to allow the machine to run over dry roads (or dry spots) when necessary.

Model A and Model T snowmobiles in New Hampshire:

http://youtu.be/-9CgOhj0HP0

Thanks! That clears the time frame although the hood line reminded me more of a 40s Ford or Ferguson tractor. The Fordsons I remember seemed larger than that.