Above is a Snow Traveller from Barrie G in Arundel, Quebec. This was the first model produced by Hus Ski from their original plant in Hespler, Ontario. This machine was the 34th produced in 1962. Below is an article Barrie wrote for Snowriderswest.com.
Hus-Ski Snow Traveller
Having completed several years of prototype testing, the McOuats were ready to start production of their snow machine. 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.
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 8 hp but had to rev at 6000 rpm to maintain the hp. 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 which 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 and was a pulley usually found on water pumps of that era
Track belting on the Snow Traveller was 4″ 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 skiis were made by a water ski manufacturer in Quebec. The aluminum drive cogs and other cast aluminum parts were sand cast in Ste. 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 signposts or buildings. Although I don’t know it for fact, it is a sound presumption that 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:
1- West Bend engine
2- track belting width of 4 inches
3- straight handlebars
4- no brake or headlight
5- ball hitch is on the sleigh
Written by Barrie Graham