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William Walter, a Swiss immigrant, came to the U.S.A. in 1883 and
established himself as a manufacturer of candy and confectionery machinery.
He built himself a passenger car in 1898 and from 1904 to 1909 made highquality cars, at first in New York City and later at Trenton, N.J. Truck
production began in 1909 a t the New York factory on West 66th Street, and
in 1911 the first 4-wheeldrive trucks appeared, which were to become the
staple product of the company. Based on the French Latil and of similar
appearance with radiator behind engine, they were made in sizes from 1 ½ to
7 tons. Conventional rear wheel drive and also front wheel drive trucks were
also made, all with internal gear drive to the wheels. Engines were Walter's
own make up to 1920, then mainly Waukesha during the 1920s. Gradually the
rear-wheel-drive models were phased out, although a 15/25-ton rwd tractor
with 5speed gearbox was made as late as 1924. By the mid-1920s Walters had
assumed their characteristic appearance with engine projecting ahead of the
front axle; in 1929 the first Walter Snow Fighter appeared, and this was a
field in which the company later became well-known, as well as for highway
maintenance work and carrying cement mixers. During the 1930's Walter
supplied a number of fire engines to New York City. Articulated dump trucks
were used in open-cast coal mining, and Walters were also seen in the
logging industry. By 1940 there were six models, all with 4-wheel-drive, of
3 to 12 tons capacity. Engines were 6-cylinder units by Waukesha, Hercules
and Cummins, the latter a diesel.
During World War II Walter supplied 4 X 4 artillery tractors with 672ci
6-cylinder Hercules engines to the U.S. Army, and also snow removal trucks
with Waukesha engines to both U.S. and Canadian forces. After the war the
4-wheel-drive trucks were continued, and Walter entered a new field with the
building of airfield crash tenders. These were developed in conjunction
with the Federal Government, the Port of New York Authority and the National
Fire Protection Association. Current production includes crash tenders with
single and twin engines, refuse collection trucks and the familiar
4-wheel-drive trucks and snowplows. LA
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