Reader shares snowbug history We just received another great submission to the Old Sled Zone from Delmer Phinney, of Quesnel, BC. Delmer writes via e-mail, “Hello this a Snowbug made by Snowbug. I not sure what year it is, I traded a car for this machine. I have many antique snowmobiles and lots of parts for machines at my home.” Here’s a little history on the Canadian-made Snowbug. The machine was the invention of Howard Schroeder, who was born in Spanish Mills, a small town in northwestern Ontario. The region had poor roads and heavy snowfall, so Howard’s interest in snow transportation was natural. He tinkered with snow vehicles during the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, testing various ideas. He built his first complete snow machine in 1958. Schroeder amalgamated with Norant Steel Construction Co. in 1959. The Snowbug offered a somewhat different performance than most of its competitors in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Body lean was not as effective as with other snowmobiles since the driver sat with his feet over the front seat rather than on each side of the seat. Consequently the rider could not apply force to one side of vehicle. The wide track of the Snowbug and its wide front single ski, made the machine inherently more stable and provided a level ride in most snow conditions. Although the Snowbug had a lower top speed than its competitors, the greater drive reduction gave it superior load-pulling ability. Total production figures cannot be established but Howard Schroeder believes that only about 100 machines were ever produced. The last Snowbug sales occurred in the mid-1970’s. So Delmer Phinney of Quesnel hang on to your Snowbug, its one of the rarest of Canadian snow machines. And thanks for let us at the Old Sled Zone know about it. Source: Background info on the Snowbug from the book, As the Snow Flies, by Allister Ingham. (see related story about this great book) Tell us about your old sled. Please send a clear colour photo of your antique sled plus any pertinent information about it to: E-mail: info@kpimed.com or regular mail: The Antique Sled Corner c/o SnoRiders West, 200 - 1510 2nd St. N. Cranbrook, B.C. V1C 3L2.