David EilersFebruary 16, 2019

Squirrel Cage Article and Photo

UPDATE II: Bob Westerman shared a few cage photos he's found during his research:

UPDATE: Dan tracked down this detailed explanation of the Squirrel Cage: http://weaponews.com/weapons/16209-a-system-for-increasing-the-patency-of-the-squirrel-cage-usa.html

The November 9, 1948, issue of the Evening Star ran a short article on the Squirrel Cage. A February 1949 issue of Mechanix Magazine ran the same photo (and it's more clear).

The Evening Star photo and caption:

1948-09-09-evening-star-cage-traction-jeep

The Modern Mechanix photo and caption:

7 Comments

LewFebruary 16, 2019 at 3:08 PM
Can only imagine the debris falling upon the vehicle and its occupants as driven over a muddy swamp. Without some way of shedding that I think this idea would be considered incomplete.
Joe in MesaFebruary 16, 2019 at 3:24 PM
Where we're going, we don't need roads! Congratulations for reinventing the tracked vehicle :-) Lew makes a good point about debris... what a mess.
Bob WFebruary 16, 2019 at 3:52 PM
I was wondering how do they steer this contraption?
DanFebruary 16, 2019 at 5:22 PM
This has a better picture and lengthy description of the failed idea. http://weaponews.com/weapons/16209-a-system-for-increasing-the-patency-of-the-squirrel-cage-usa.html
David EilersFebruary 16, 2019 at 6:13 PM
Maybe steering was part of the 2.0 revision?
David EilersFebruary 16, 2019 at 6:22 PM
Great find Dan!
bob in paFebruary 16, 2019 at 11:18 PM
Take it out on the golf range.