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The winter hobby that suits them to a 'T': Model T snowmobiling

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Milton Selectman and Model T enthusiast Ryan Thibeault prepares to give members of the public a ride in his Model T snowmobile Saturday afternoon at Milton Town Beach. (Rochester Voice photos)

MILTON - Tim Snow may be one of the newest members of the Model T Ford Snowmobile Club of America.

Snow, of Plympton, Mass., who was at the club's annual meet at Milton Town Beach on Saturday with his first Model T, said he was introduced to his newest passion at an annual meet last year in Tamworth.

"I'd seen a video on the Model T snowmobiles and decided to take a look," he said laughing as he hunched over a ski of his Model T Depot Hack preparing to switch it back to wheels mode. Looking up from his task, he said, "I fell in love right away."

Tim Snow, of Plympton, Mass., works to remove a ski from his Model T as Jack Higgins, of Pembroke, Mass., looks on.

He said soon afterward, he began building his own Depot Hack using Model T parts cobbled together from all over the country.

His buddy, Jack Higgins, of Pembroke, Mass., quipped, "He did it by engineering out of his head."

First, he found a one-ton Model T truck frame, then went to an annual antique car show and flea market in Hershey, Pa., where he picked up more original parts. Others parts were ordered from Colorado, he said, but they're all original, except the snowmobile attachments and the wooden frame.

"Got that at Lowe's," he chuckled.

The first Model T snowmobile was built and patented by Ossipee Ford dealer Virgil D. White, who was also granted a copyright for the "snowmobile" name.

The only attachments necessary to convert from road to snow were rear-mounted tracks and wood and metal skis up front.

The first snowmobiles became an indispensable convenience for those requiring rapid, dependable transport in all kinds of weather, according to the modeltfordsnowmobile.com website.

Eventgoers enjoy a brisk afternoon browsing more than 20 antique Model T snowmobiles at Milton Town Beach on Saturday.

Snow, who finished building his Model T just six months ago, explained that back in their heyday depot hacks were used to deliver people and their luggage to and from train stations and hotels as well as other light freight transport.

Brian Moriarty of Ashland, the president of the national club, said Milton Town Beach proved to be a great venue and came in handy after a Rochester venue didn't work out due to lack of snow.

Moriarty estimated between four and five hundred visitors showed up at the beach to admire the machines, buy Model T Snowmobile souvenirs and make a donation for a delicious lunch that was provided inside a heated tent.

He said 24 Model T snowmobiles built between 1912 and 1930 were on hand for the event, which wraps up today around 11 a.m.

Many of the Model T snowmobile owners are happy to give the public a ride out on the lake.

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