A Russian truck mystery from 1916 (update: Laurin & Klement or Benz-Gaggenau?)

For Igor Roumyantsev: so you can't say when and where this photo was made!? And when the chassis #238 was made!?

Ещё уважаемый: капот другой,длинее и на низ уходит.
С уважением Игорь Румянцев.

For Igor Roumjantsev: it's the same Russo-Baltique K 12/24 as Ilya Muromets in Jablonna in 1916! For information The Squadron leave Jablonna on July 1915 and to January 1916 it was located near Pskov. So the signs in the books and magazines are wrong. It's a real historical joke about 1916 and Ilya Muromets in Jablonna!

As for Russo Baltique K 12/24 Truck chassis #238 it was really made in 1914 but its photos nowadays is unknown. The assertion that the truck on photo is Russo-Baltique is founded only on documents of The Squadron. But it could be mistaken! During 1915 The Squadron moved from Jablonna to Belostok, than to Lida and after that in Pskov. In evacuation the airplanes flew faster than the property of the Squadron moved by overdriven railways. So another trucks was used for repair works during this time.

So the best way to identify this unknown truck is the comparison with the european models.

I suppose (only suppose) that it could be a Benz-Gaggenau like this:
http://zumann.com/data_images/main/benz-gaggenau/benz-gaggenau-06.jpg

May be somebody of PreWarCar readers have Benz-Gaggenau brochure of that time and can look at?

For Jiri Schwarz: Thank you for your version. Have you any photos of Typ O, RK and LOKb?

[quote name="John Kent"]The persons in the photo seem to be involved in either removing or installing an engine into the aircraft which can be seen in the background.[/quote]
PLEASE! The plural of 'person' is 'people' NOT 'persons' !

Editor: thanks for your help, but keep in mind this is not an 'English' website. To most visitors 'english is not their mother language. So what you read in general is Euro-lingo or flyers-english based on English words.

This truck car is Laurin & Klement chassis typ LOKb with kombination body cabine typ O ,made by the firm Laurin & Klement for the Austria Army ministerium in time first world war.

This truck is Laurin & Klement chassis type LOKb and kombination vith body type O what make firma for Austria Krieg ministerium in the time first worldwarm.

This russo-balt k12/24 N238 sereis XI.1500kg.Only one.1916 town Yablonevay.
PS: The plane are Ilya Muromets 4 engine.

This truck is Laurin & Klement typ LOKb.

This truck is Laurin & Klement typ LOKb

Doplnuji.Podle vzpěry od zadní nápravy je to s definitivní platností Laurin & Klement typ LOKb. Jiří Schwarz

This russo-balt k12/24 N238 series 11,load capacity 1500kg,wheels from an oak.Only one truck! The Plane Ilya Muromets 4 engine.

and still plane Ilya resident of Murom... :)

vanya(ivan) don't deceive people... :) This russo-balt K12/24 - only truck of this plant.

The airplane on background is the large four-engine heavy bomber Ilya Muromets designed by Igor Sikorsky:

http://www.bradfordcamps.com/069_s22ilya_in_flight.jpg

http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/files/images/archive-photos-album-1/screensize/037-russian-bomber.screensize.jpg

As for truck I incline to 1912-1914 Benz Gaggenau like this:

http://zumann.com/data_images/main/benz-gaggenau/benz-gaggenau-06.jpg

ща course more powerful model.

The radiator and the front wings looks like simular also the wheels has 10 bolts.

May be somebody have Benz-Gaggenau brochure of that time and can look at?

But it`s only my supposition.

Zadní kolo není dvojmontáž,má jednoduchou pneumatiku. Kola,acetylenová světla a vyvíječ jsou identické které montovala firma Laurin & Klement,stejná je kabina řidiče s dveřmi,chladič a kola. Domnívám se,že se jedná o ukořistěný vúz Laurin & Klement typ O nebo RK, které měla rakouská armáda na východní frontě.

This car have identisch karbid lamp and acetylen generator,cycles,chauffeur cabine and door and radiator vith Laurin & Klement typ O and RK,what go to russian Warmfront.

The persons in the photo seem to be involved in either removing or installing an engine into the aircraft which can be seen in the background.

The stronger rear wheels with twin massive or cushion tires make it look like a purpose built truck chassis. Though it may not be a Russo-Baltique, the low radiator, sloping hood and position of hoodlouvres bear simmilarity to that make.

If the logo is oval, cud it be a DIXI Truck
from Eisenach.
The exported Trucks all aound the Woerld.

Siegfried Otto Hepp

look along the lines of TATRA.send your photo the the transportation museum in slovakia. there is a man at the museum who speaks english. i don't remember his name but he owns the bomerland motorcycles.his input on this web site would be a great bonus...rob
http://www.muzeumdopravy.com/