Early use of lorries, tractors etc.

Stefan Tetzlaff · 25th July 2010, 05:40

Hello BHP-Members,

related to my other thread on 'Early 20th century road infrastructure/bus transport services/automobile traffic' under Pre-1950 Vintage Cars & Classics is my interest in the developing use of lorries, tractors and other machinery in the commercial and agricultural sector in India during and after the late 1920s.

Lorry transport was important, it emerged especially where railway connections did not exist and seems to have helped in the commercialisation of agriculture as well as in the building of industrial sites in the countryside. The first experiments with tractors, on the other hand, started in the mid-1930s, when Burmah-Shell in conjunction with the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research and other local governing bodies started experimenting with mechanical cultivation in India.

I would appreciate any comments or information from your side on these issues. Would you agree on and do you have evidence that supports above mentioned developments, or would you say that these issues became important only in a later period? Are there possible written or other sources that I could look at?

Best,
Stefan

Stefan Tetzlaff · 28th July 2010, 12:13

This is a 1940 ad for Chevrolet trucks testifying that something must have been going on in those days in the commercial sector. It seems these trucks were also assembled in India, at least the producing company is General Motors India Ltd. Am I correct that their works were situated in Bombay? Did any other company assemble trucks in India, or were those all imported?

Does any one know what kind of commercial enterprises would use such a truck? The capital outlay was probably very high so not everybody was able to afford it. One example might be the business operations of the Dalmia family, who started the cement industry in India. They also owned a motor car company, Allen Berry & Co. Ltd., and seem to have purchased some 50,000 Amercian vehicles at one point after WWII. Or were there also cooperative farming associations of peasants or in villages, who would come together and invest in such a truck?

I hope somebody knows about this...
Stefan

25th July 2010, 05:40	#1
Stefan Tetzlaff Newbie Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Göttingen, Germany Posts: 17 Thanked: 13 Times	Early use of lorries, tractors etc. Hello BHP-Members, related to my other thread on 'Early 20th century road infrastructure/bus transport services/automobile traffic' under Pre-1950 Vintage Cars & Classics is my interest in the developing use of lorries, tractors and other machinery in the commercial and agricultural sector in India during and after the late 1920s. Lorry transport was important, it emerged especially where railway connections did not exist and seems to have helped in the commercialisation of agriculture as well as in the building of industrial sites in the countryside. The first experiments with tractors, on the other hand, started in the mid-1930s, when Burmah-Shell in conjunction with the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research and other local governing bodies started experimenting with mechanical cultivation in India. I would appreciate any comments or information from your side on these issues. Would you agree on and do you have evidence that supports above mentioned developments, or would you say that these issues became important only in a later period? Are there possible written or other sources that I could look at? Best, Stefan Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

28th July 2010, 12:13	#2
Stefan Tetzlaff Newbie Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Göttingen, Germany Posts: 17 Thanked: 13 Times	This is a 1940 ad for Chevrolet trucks testifying that something must have been going on in those days in the commercial sector. It seems these trucks were also assembled in India, at least the producing company is General Motors India Ltd. Am I correct that their works were situated in Bombay? Did any other company assemble trucks in India, or were those all imported? Does any one know what kind of commercial enterprises would use such a truck? The capital outlay was probably very high so not everybody was able to afford it. One example might be the business operations of the Dalmia family, who started the cement industry in India. They also owned a motor car company, Allen Berry & Co. Ltd., and seem to have purchased some 50,000 Amercian vehicles at one point after WWII. Or were there also cooperative farming associations of peasants or in villages, who would come together and invest in such a truck? I hope somebody knows about this... Stefan Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks