VISIT OF THE MAURICE DUFRESNE MUSEUM IN TOURAINE

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	1 - Overview of an outside alley. During 2008, the vehicles on display outside were sold.
	2 - Inside hall of the museum.
	3 - Latil TAR tractor built in 1912 was the first real 4x4, used extensively during WWI. It is based on a patent of Geoges Latil in 1898 making the front wheel steer and drive. This was modified after the war for forestry work.
	4 - FWD model B truck built in 1917 in Clintonville, Wisconsin (USA), based on a front wheel drive and steering axle patent dating from 1915.
	5 - Steam Case Locomobile of 1917 that belonged to the Army during WWI. It was then sold to a farmer before ending up with a contractor in the South of France towards Marseille.
	6 - Very rare Titan tractor (USA) in 1906 was found near Calvi, Corsica. He served in agriculture but also in public works. It has a flat 2-cylinder.
	7 - American Titan Tractor 4,5 tons fitted with a petrol engine 30 hp, flat 4 cylinder. Purchased by France for the war of 1914-18, it's the only model found in France.
	8 - Laffly steamroller of 12 tons dating from 1928, with Bouillotte German motor and found in Germany. He served after the WWII to build roads.
	9 - Lanz Bulldog D 1550 is born in the 20s. Its engine 'hot bulb' allowed him to work with anything that burns, including discharge oil. His strength was legendary.
	10 - Bates Steel Mule tractor was originally conceived by the Joliet Tractor Co, Illinois (USA) in 1915. This half-track was used in agriculture and in the woods. Its production ceased in 1937.
	11 - Renault HI 40 ch tractor manufactured from a Renault tank of WW I. The main improvement lies in the caterpillar frames of articulated connection.
	12 - National Brakes & Electric Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA) produced this 'Model 25' in the 1920s. He had a 38 hp Continental gasoline engine
	13 - PO 40 ch Renault Tractor in 1927 is equipped with coil springs. Found in Normandy near Arromanches, he was buried under the ground to escape conscription in 1940.
	14 - This venerable steam crane built in 1900 by Leroy Settlements of Azay-le-Rideau is one of the two copies made. It weighs 34 tons. The other copy was given to the steam train of Richelieu in Indre et Loire.
	15 and 16 - Fountain turbine manufactured in Chartres in 1877 involved the gear of the paddle wheel of this old mill that became pulp paper manufacture in which is now installed the museum. Some gears are boxwood.
	15 and 16 - Fountain turbine manufactured in Chartres in 1877 involved the gear of the paddle wheel of this old mill that became pulp paper manufacture in which is installed in the museum. Some gears are boxwood.
	17 - Caterpillar, merging of Best and Holt in 1925, left the Fifteen 15 hp in 1930. 4-cylinder mono-bloc petrol engine, side valve.

Maurice Dufresne museum is located 4 km from the castle of Azay-le-Rideau, Touraine, in an old mill surrounded by a magnificent park of 67,000 m2. The forty rooms of 10000 m2, very well restored, present a collection of 3,000 machines of 6 last centuries, including 600 vehicles in areas as varied as agricultural machinery, tractors, trucks, rollers and even weapons and mechanisms.

The layout and lighting of objects are treated. Maurice Dufresne, farrier training, employs 27 people in a small demolition and salvage enterprise what he can get a lot of objects of all kinds and restore them. It took a lot of passion and insight to create such a museum, opened in 1992.

Among the vehicles, there are many construction equipment such as cranes, rollers, tractors or trucks. Here is a glimpse.

Pictures were taken by J M M.