Gauge
Aluminum
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2005
- Location
- Philadelphia
I am hoping someone out there might have knowledge of old Towmotor forklifts.
When I was a teenager, (20+ years ago...) I used to work for a produce broker who had a small Towmotor forklift. I think it was an LT35. I remember it was very unique in that the engine was placed next to the driver on the left. I drove that forklift every day in the summer for several years and I grew attached to it. I stopped working there in the mid 1980's and the produce broker died in the late 1990's. By this time I had gone to college and moved away. I later learned that his (only) son had no interest in the produce business, closed up the shop and sent the forklift and all the produce equipment to a scrap yard - which was a shame since his father was meticulous about maintenance and kept all his machinery in good shape. The old man even had a spare Continental engine for the forklift shrink wrapped in his garage. That too was sent to the scrap yard.
Anyway, I was thinking of buying an old Towmotor as a keepsake for sentimental reasons, not because I need one or even use one, (I'm now an accountant). I found someone locally that has an LT40. It looks to be about the same size as the LT35, (at least in pictures) except the engine is not on the left, it's under the seat and the driver can access the machine from either side. The LT35 had a lifting capacity of around 2,000 pounds as I recall. I assume the LT40 is the same.
Is anyone familiar with the LT35 or the LT40? Can anyone tell me specifications for either machine - especially the differences between the LT35, (which I am familiar with) and the LT40, (which I am not). I assume the LT35 is the smallest forklift that Towmotor made with a gas / propane motor. I don't see how a forklift with a gasoline engine could be made any smaller.
As always, I appreciate the response. This site is a treasure trove of information!
When I was a teenager, (20+ years ago...) I used to work for a produce broker who had a small Towmotor forklift. I think it was an LT35. I remember it was very unique in that the engine was placed next to the driver on the left. I drove that forklift every day in the summer for several years and I grew attached to it. I stopped working there in the mid 1980's and the produce broker died in the late 1990's. By this time I had gone to college and moved away. I later learned that his (only) son had no interest in the produce business, closed up the shop and sent the forklift and all the produce equipment to a scrap yard - which was a shame since his father was meticulous about maintenance and kept all his machinery in good shape. The old man even had a spare Continental engine for the forklift shrink wrapped in his garage. That too was sent to the scrap yard.
Anyway, I was thinking of buying an old Towmotor as a keepsake for sentimental reasons, not because I need one or even use one, (I'm now an accountant). I found someone locally that has an LT40. It looks to be about the same size as the LT35, (at least in pictures) except the engine is not on the left, it's under the seat and the driver can access the machine from either side. The LT35 had a lifting capacity of around 2,000 pounds as I recall. I assume the LT40 is the same.
Is anyone familiar with the LT35 or the LT40? Can anyone tell me specifications for either machine - especially the differences between the LT35, (which I am familiar with) and the LT40, (which I am not). I assume the LT35 is the smallest forklift that Towmotor made with a gas / propane motor. I don't see how a forklift with a gasoline engine could be made any smaller.
As always, I appreciate the response. This site is a treasure trove of information!
