In his article on the elusive Herr Goeble*, Tim R has included a couple of pics of the tractor unit shown below. Acc to this very informative site it's not connected with Mr. G, but a Wotan-Werke Type A tractor, designed post-1918. I can't find any more about it at present.
I've always thought it odd that Herr Goeble is frequently referred to as "a German from Riga". I don't doubt that he was of German extraction, as was a large percentage of the city's population, but IIRC Riga was in Russia for quite a long time before The Great War. Unless he moved to Germany, I don't understand how he would come to demonstrate his machines to the Kaiser.
*which has, of course, also been stolen by patriotfiles.com
-- Edited by James H on Monday 13th of June 2011 12:36:15 PM
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Agree, the vehicle is post-war and not connected to Mr. Goebel. - There were many Baltic Germans around in Germany during that time, most often people disagreeing with the Russification policy virulent under Tsar Nikolay II's rule, and a lot of them actively supporting Germany's war effort - and planting weird ideas into Ludendorff's brain.
I wasn't casting aspersions, Tim. It was interesting to see a name put to the vehicle. Mildly surprisingly, it seems Wotan-Werke remained in exisyence until 1990, making machine tools and grinding machinery. No reference to the tractor yet.
-- Edited by James H on Monday 13th of June 2011 09:33:04 PM
__________________
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.