The Salsbury Turret Truck

After developing an automatic clutch and self shifting transmission, Foster explored other possible uses for his intellectual property. With his background in trucking and freight transportation, Foster realized that his devices could be used in vehicles to move heavy object in warehouses. So he developed a version of a Turret Truck.

Rather than build Turret Trucks himself, Foster licensed the technology to The Nutting Company in the early 1940s. The Nutting Company didn't do much with technology, however, so Foster terminated the relationship with Nutting in 1946 and licensed the technology to Salsbury Motors (which was owned by Northrop). Salsbury Motors manufactured Turret Trucks in 1946 to 1947 before Salsbury Motors filed for bankruptcy. Salsbury Motors used the 6HP Salsbury 600 engine to power the turret truck.

Foster still owned the technology (or re-acquired it from Wayne Manufacturing, the successor in interest to Salsbury Motors) post bankruptcy. Foster sold the technology to Hysert in 1949.

Turret Trucks only had limited usability however. Fork Lifts are better at moving objects in a warehouse. Turret Trucks are mostly used in situations where the aisle ways are very narrow, where they can better maneuver than a fork lift.

Turret Truck Brochures

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Turret Truck Pics

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Turret Truck Patents

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    Patent US 2370866 for an Industrial Truck (Filed in July 1943)

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    Patent US 2420110 for Brake Control Mechanism (Filed in April 1943)

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    Patent US 2420111 for Throttle Control Mechanism (Filed in April 1943)

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