The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 2 Transmissions? + odd steering wheels

I stumbled across a 46 dump that has something that looks like a second transmission about halfway back. Everything looks factory but who knows, someone might have gotten creative 50 years ago. I will say this it looks cool. Could this be an early 2 speed rear end? Speaking of cool, I saw an interesting steering wheel. It is suppose to be a factory deal. It has a dial built in the left post that you grip with one hand, works on the premise of the knob without the dangerous knuckle busting knob. How common are these things? I been to a lot of car shows, I've never seen one, this guy had five!

That second transmission is probably a Brownie, an auxilliary transmission with an under, direct and over. They were common at one time and increase the usuability of an old truck quite a bit.

I went back and looked at the tag, it said Wilson Transmission. What does this thing do for the truck in terms of lows and highs? Is this better than a two speed rear axel?

I've never heard of Wilson Transmission, which doesn't necessarily mean anything... Could the tag be from a company that serviced or installed the transmission, instead of the manufacturer?

Post some pictures; someone may recognize it.

Hard to say what it does for the truck without being sure what it is...

If it is in fact a 3-speed auxiliary transmission, which is what I expect, it means you can start out a heavier load and that the truck will run down the highway faster than the brakes make smart.

Many of the "Brownie" transmissions are Direct/Under/Under. Most of the trucks of that vintage weren't looking for faster than 45 mph speeds, but wanted to move heavier loads. The double Unders gave them incredable low end pulling power out of a 100 hp 6-cylinder.

Mike

So how would that work.. you'd have two stick shifts?

You put the "brownie" in "1st" or "under" and you'd have (in a 4 speed tranny) your first four gears, then put the "brownie" in "2nd" (direct) and have gears 5 thru 8, then put the "brownie" in "3rd" (over) and have gears 9 thru 12?

My '46 2 ton with 4 speed has a first gear that could pull the great pyramids around without breakin' a sweat.. so being able to go 3 lower than that.. that would be some wicked tourque.

Running around empty you'd probably just leave the Brownie in high and never move it.

Loaded it depends on your skill and the gear splits. There was a time when I was coordinated enough to split-shift a five and a four, working my way through the gears often moving both levers in a single shift. That was a tandem axle gas powered farm truck, hauling grain from the field to the grainery. I'd go from bouncing in the field to running down the highway, knowing I was due back for another load ASAP.

Aside from personal satisfaction, split-shifting is only necessary if the truck can't accelerate the load except when the motor is in its maximum power range. Running empty its not going to matter.

Old Sub's got it right. I learned to split-shift on a Mack B-73 with a 262 Cummins and a TriPlex. 5 speed main box, 3-speed auxiliary. (two shifters) Once the rig is moving, don't use the clutch, just synchronize the RPM. Some of the shifting is done with both hands on the shifters, none on the steering wheel.

Main box in 1st.
Brownie in 1st. Let the clutch out, and forget it's there. Shift the Brownie 1-2-3.
Put main in neutral, shift brownie to 1st. Put main in 2nd.

Shift Brownie 1-2-3. Main in neutral, Brownie to 1st, main to 3rd. etc.!

Downshifting worked just the opposite. A good driver could go up and down 15 speeds, and never use the clutch. When I got a 10-speed Roadranger with an air splitter, I was in hog heaven!
Jerry

Don't know if it was the same Wilson, but Wilson was a big name in transmissions in the 1930s with their preselector gearbox in high end foreign cars and some exotic American cars.

Are ya sure it says Wilson?? Most of the truck aux. trans. are Brownlite (brownie) or Watson..

When I learned 40 some years ago as a kid, the guy that taught me to used to thump me if I used the clutch for more than starting, stopping or backing..

I still drive for a living and just shift by the sound..

I found a 4spd overdrive with a mint shift tower and drive lines for $100 a year ago and put it in my 49 4400..its the working work in progress in the gallery..I just leave the 2 spd in high range..

Stick is correct. I went back after I met the owner and scraped the dirt off the plate. It reads, Watson Transmission - Brown Lipe Gear Division - Spicerman - Toledo Ohio USA - 45 - 03225. I see where the nick name Brownie comes from now. The fellow told me he wasn't sure how the thing worked, he always leaves it in one place. He still uses this solid unrestored truck in his tree business. What is really amazing is that he drove it to Cincinnati from St. Louis, and to St. Louis from North Dakota. He also said it got better milage in it than he does in his newer truck. Now, tell me about these cool stearing wheels I assume they are rare.

Ahh, the joys of split shifting :-) Learned how in a Mack R-700 Quadraplex. You would shift six times, look down and be going 12 miles per hour. The hard part was remembering what gear you were in. Have fun with your new Brownie!