In 1926, with the help of his father and family, Joseph-Armand Bombardier opened his garage. He quickly became the best mechanic in the area, and customers poured in from all over.
However, he had another idea in mind....
Overcoming winter. Passing through.
Flying over snow? Gliding? Floating?
Armand, stop daydreaming!
We’ll have to find work for the winter....
Léopold, do you remember the propeller machine I made? We’re going to build a vehicle we can drive throughout the winter.
And this time, no one is going to stop me from gliding over the snow....
In 1922, Joseph-Armand was 15 years old. He coupled a propeller to a Ford T engine, mounted it on sled runners, and test-drove it with his brother Léopold.
Their father immediately ordered them to dismantle this “infernal” machine.
Pass me the 8 mm wrench.
No, I mean 7 mm.
What a storm!
I thought we’d never make it.
Come and help me pull out the engine.
Well, guys?
We won’t be waiting for spring to try it out!
In those days, it was impossible to travel by car in winter. Like hundreds of villages, Valcourt was cut off from the world.
Here we go!
It’s the tracks....
It’s the weight....
It’s the Titanic....
Back to the garage!
The guys are already at Wilfrid Charbonneau’s. They’re waiting for us to play pool!
It has to work for all types of snow: fresh, sticky, grainy, and wet,
whether it’s windy or blowing snow, when it’s -30, and when it’s zero.
So?
Are you coming or not?
Okay, I'm coming!
But I’ll be expecting you early tomorrow. I have an idea....