When I first started working on new pipeline job over fifty years ago I routinely heard the older operators refer to a road grader as a motor patrol. I knew what a road grader, blade and road maintainer was. I finally researched road graders and found out the reason. I thought the younger operators would find this interesting.
If you haven't seen it yet, see if you can track down a copy of Cat's coffee table book "All in a Day's Work". https://www.amazon.com/All-Days-Work-Seventy-Five-Caterpillar/dp/1572433744
Never heard of graders in general called a motor patrol. I remember seeing ancient graders with "patrol" on the nameplate under the brand but I've only been on equipment since 1979
Some old graders set up in a roadside museum 20 miles east of Longreach Qld Australia. A few had "patrol" on them
bigrus, they have an Auto Patrol there under the shed in the background. If I recall correctly, it dates back to the mid thirties, survived the bombing of Darwin during WW2 and was later purchased by a local council.
Allis built 'Speed Patrol' graders based on the Farm tractors of the Day.
Apparently this is where the motor patrol reference started in 1919. I have never seen an operator dressed like the man in the image !
Quite likely a British Gent.
I've watched several old farm tractor advertising videos. Very common to see the operators wearing dress clothes. I suppose that was supposed to give the impression that the new machinery was so effective you could wear your Sunday best and run it??
Probably never seen one in dressed to go out on a date either, fresh hair, nails, little dumb top, slacks and heels but it happen one friday night in Bremerton and ended up in SeaTac when I had to road a 140 one summer Friday evening for a Saturday morning job that could not wait... did start some interesting conversations at stop lights though while tooling through Fife.
When I fitted my "red dot" A/c to my Dresser A450E after a couple years running just an enclosed cab. After the first few weeks of running the A/c, my wife asked "was I going to work" as my clothes were very clean compared to previously. Still get a chuckle when I think of that.
I wondered of the significance why one machine had its own enclosure. Didn't get time to look thoroughly through the lineup as we were on a time frame to be back in Barcaldine.
Galion was another company incorporating the Motor Patrol name into theirs. Russel should have copyrighted it.
And a few graders and a really old Galion mule drawn I took these photos last year.
And one more. And a first year Pete for good measure.
Left one photo out.
Oooooohhh that blade is cool! It will give me something to lust after in my imagination.
Here's AC's contribution, to the patrol legacy, the W speed patrol...
A guy here has one and is a regular at the regional HECA shows. He makes a good showing with it.