1955 LTH , The adventurous sister .

[1961H67]

Yes the transmission and rear ends are original, 10 speed Duplex with a divorced 3 speed Brown Lipe auxiliary transmission, lol , direct and overdrive . When I was talking to Wayne Hyatt about it, he asked if it still had the “ Brownie Box “ the way his Dad ordered it. And it would have had a drive shaft emergency brake, with a lever between the seats and a drum on the back of the transmission. I have no clue if that spring brake system was a aftermarket truck item or something from a off road vehicle,, it’s worked well for probably 60 years,, They had no worries about DOT or weight scales up there,, I think they had my drivers license number memorized at the westbound scale on I85 coming out of Charlotte with my Western Star! 

 

 

 

[Geoff Weeks]

I think spring brake was the only requirement that was made "retro-active" meaning any tractor had to be fit with them even if they didn't have them at the time it was built. Most requirements allow for "grandfathering" so if the vehicle was built to the regulations at the time of mfg, it didn't have to conform to newer regulation. AFAIK Spring brakes are the only exception to that.

Again, from what I remember reading, the Tru-stop driveshaft disk brake met the stopping distance requirement but not the self applying requirement of the spring brake law.

I can't remember if the spring brake law only applied to tractors or if it included straight trucks over a set GVW. 

I know I have seen plenty of straight trucks with a mechanical driveshaft brake over the years, but more recent ones used a hyd over mechanical on the front of the diff for lighter trucks without air brakes. 

[1961H67]

Good thoughts, I’m not sure when that became law, My 61 H Model had a driveline brake when I got it in 1995 , and they used it to move a 175 IHC loader for years before I got it ,,,but here in NC they were just state inspections , the federal inspection did not have to be done until about 1990 because I let my NC certificate go dead after that . Our 65 C Mack has a setup like the LTH but uses long rods instead of cables,,, Probably like you said,when they passed the law in the 60s there were several aftermarket companies making spring brake conversions. 

[1961H67]

I’m about halfway through this story so I will continue before I forget something, The last time I talked with Joe Janes , John C Millers nephew he told me all he knew about the truck and some of the details. John & Mary Miller were big into Tennessee Walking Horses, sometime around 1970 he sent the LTH back down to middle Tennessee where he had a farm, Joe said he was unsure who did the restoration & custom painting and chrome work . He said there were once some pictures of it when it was finished but he had no clue where they ended up. The old Mack had helped make John C Miller millions of dollars , and  for a truck in the early 70s he wanted it to look like a million bucks. It was painted yellow, added roof a/c , lots of Chrome! Axles , glove box, heater cover, dash, twin exhaust and aluminum tanks ( personally i like the box/steps on a LTH , but this is the way he did it ) . It has a clock in the glove box cover, and a 8 track tape player ( I found a Jonny Horton “ North to Alaska “ tape that I keep in it ) . All the tires were branded with their names on them. A long way from working hard logging in Northern California &  hauling equipment in Alaska. This Sister started wearing a lot of “ BLING” ! 

[cruiseliner64]

Outstanding truck and what a history behind it.It deserves to be in a hall of fame for trucks....

Paul

[mechohaulic]

13 hours ago, 1961H67 said:

Good thoughts, I’m not sure when that became law, My 61 H Model had a driveline brake when I got it in 1995 , and they used it to move a 175 IHC loader for years before I got it ,,,but here in NC they were just state inspections , the federal inspection did not have to be done until about 1990 because I let my NC certificate go dead after that . Our 65 C Mack has a setup like the LTH but uses long rods instead of cables,,, Probably like you said,when they passed the law in the 60s there were several aftermarket companies making spring brake conversions. 

most long (1/2in) rods on spring brake set up were replaced with cables due to long rods had a tendency to snap from vibration and stress .

[mowerman]

I looked at a B model. I almost bought back in 83 it had chains connecting them big heavy tow  chains. First and last time I’ve ever seen anything like that… bob

[1961H67]

I’ve got some more interesting things,( the most important as the history of the truck as it looks today) I’ll try to get some more pictures to go with it before the weekend is over. For those of us who were around in 1973 ,,, think of some famous things that happened. If you weren’t you have probably heard about them. 

[Brocky]

I will let you tell about its horse van escapades..

[mowerman]

That was almost my first trucking job hauling race horses.. all very interesting dean … thank you for  all that… 

[Mark T]

I saw and read about the yellow and white one in Wheels Of Time. This truck has way more history to go along with it. 

[skydawg]

Watergate?

[1961H67]

This old Mack has been around way more than its younger Sister,, but I love that one also, it’s like a time capsule because it was never modified. Watergate was raging I was 14 years old, Reading back on 1973 the Nation needed a hero, And it got one!  In the spring Secretariat one the Triple Crown, with records that still haven’t been broken ( I’m not really a Horse person, but I love the Secretariat story, ) I have a picture hanging in my office signed by jockey Ron Turcotte , the famous “ Looking Back “ Shot to see what 22 lengths looked like! We have all heard that story,, But not many of us in the truck world have heard of the other famous Horse in the fall of 1973 ,,,The World Grand Champion “ Delight Bumin Around “ Tennessee Walking Horse,, Owned by John C & Mary Miller of 10 Tucky Stables, I got most of these photos from a magazine I got while researching the truck and a few that people posted on facebook,,, there’s still more! 

[1961H67]

10Tucky name, according to Joe Jaines  his nephew, the Millers had a Walking horse farm in Tennessee and a Mule farm in Kentucky, Therefore a play on words 10 For Tennessee and Tucky for Kentucky!  Anyone remember the old Western “ Tales of Wells Fargo “ with Dale Robertson ?  I’ve never been able to find out if they were business partners or just friends but they hung around together, her is Dale Robertson with them at the 1973 Walking Horse Celebration in Shelbyville Tennessee. 

[mowerman]

Wow, that’s way. Cool that’s very interesting about the name. Thanks for all that. Horses are very interesting to me. I have never really been around them at all. That show is on grit  TV. I watch it every day. Unless I happen to be outside.

[mowerman]

It’s on regular TV … most everyone these  days has some sort of pay TV 

[mrsmackpaul]

Dunno much about these Tennesse Walking Horses, have read a story about a lady from Maine that was gifted one on her ride across the U.S. 

I do a bit of horse riding, certainly no expert, was out a week ago in the central NSW highlands riding around on a station (ranch for you lot) rounding up cattle ans basically having fun

Amazing story about these trucks

 

Paul

[1961H67]

I really knew nothing of the Tennessee Walking Horse until I started researching this truck but it looks like they have a pretty big following. But that’s what the LTH was transformed from a work truck to a show truck to haul the Millers Show Horses , they had a trailer all dolled up that the LTH pulled. Unfortunately I haven’t found any pictures of them hooked together the only picture of the trailer is in a Walking Horse magazine from back in the 70s, and haven’t found any clue about it’s whereabouts. Here’s a picture of a flyer from the early 70s , it even has the Millers names still listed from Fairbanks Alaska , Later it was listed they were from Lewisburg Tennessee. In the picture of the magazine you can only see the rear tire of the truck hooked to the trailer. I would love to find a picture of it all together, and that annual Celebration in Shelbyville TN is a very big event,, I’m sure it was there many times throughout the 70s . Maybe one day a picture will pop up. 

[mowerman]

Wow thanks for that way cool … I also thought a time or two how is a heavy haul truck living in Alaska not beat to death and full of holes?????that explains it … bob

[67RModel]

8 hours ago, mrsmackpaul said:

Dunno much about these Tennesse Walking Horses, have read a story about a lady from Maine that was gifted one on her ride across the U.S. 

They are a gaited breed developed in the Confederate Southern US back in the days of slavery. They were developed for plantation owners to be able to cover long distances, relatively quickly, with a very smooth ride. They have a unique 4 beat "running walk" that is very smooth and easy to sit. It actually looks funny they way they move.

[mowerman]

Thanks for that same here ,,, who ever heard of walking horses ??????? Bob

[Freightrain]

I watch Tales of Wells Fargo a lot after I get home from work and relaxing.