Hus-ski
A Snow Traveller is born
Barrie Graham tells the tale of Hus-Ski's first production model
Having completed several years of prototype testing, the McOuats, manufacturers of Hus—Ski snowmobiles, were ready to start production of their snowmachine. They set up a production facility in Hespler, Ontario, with Bob Anderson as production manager. It was in this facility that they produced their first Snow Travellers.
Intrepid Traveller: Vintage snowmobile enthusiast Barrie Graham is proud to own one of the original Snow Travellers produced by Hus—Ski.—photo by Barrie Graham
The Snow Traveller was powered by a West Bend motor. Engine models 82004 and 82012 were both used. This engine had a horsepower rating of eight horsepower but had to rev at 6,000 RPM to maintain the horsepower. The clutch on the engine was not a variable speed expanding clutch. It was similar to that of a chainsaw, whereby centrifugal forces caused four pads inside the clutch to contact the drive surface. With lower RPM, the clutch would slip to provide slower speeds. The combination of a noisy engine and a clutch that caused the machine to underperform, resulted in the use of the JLO engine in all the subsequent years of production. The secondary clutch was not variable but was a pulley usually found on water pumps of that era.
Track belting on the Snow Traveller was four inches wide while the cleats were 1" x 1" x 10". There was no headlight or braking system. The ski seater had a straight pipe design whereby the familiar bend under the seat was not there. The skiis measured 60” x 6” x 5/8”. The skis were made by a waterski manufacturer in Quebec. The aluminum drive cogs and other cast aluminum parts were sand cast in St. Eustache, Quebec.
Dealer signs were made by Barker. These signs were made of tin and had the raised lettering “HUS—SKI SNOW TRAVELLER” in black print on a white background. None of these signs are ever discovered outside on sign posts or buildings. Although I don't know it for a fact, it is a sound presumption because Polaris was already using the Snow Traveller name; Hus—Ski had to drop the name and become known simply as “Hus—Ski”. The signs remained unused.
Identification of an original Hus—Ski Snow Traveller can be accomplished by looking for the following main features:
- West Bend engine.
- A track belting width of four inches.
- Straight handlebars.
- No brake or headlight.
- A ball hitch on the sleigh.