Armand Bombardier's Inventions

As a child, Joseph-Armand Bombardier was always curious about the workings of mechanical toys. Early in life, the Canadian built his own toys, to siblings' delight, according to the J. Armand Bombardier Museum. This innate curiosity and innovation lasted a lifetime. When he died in 1964, the Ski-Doo inventor held 24 patents for his inventions in Canada, 16 patents in the United States and three in Great Britain.

  1. Track and Sprocket System

    • According to the museum, Bombardier began manufacturing snowmobiles full-time in the 1930s, in Valcourt, Quebec, which was often snowbound. When his son died because the family was unable to get him to hospital, Bombardier was more determined than ever to find a way to travel safely over snow. Through patient research, he invented a track-and-sprocket system. This featured a cogged gear wheel, whose wooden sprocket was covered in rubber for pulling the track. The track comprised a pair of rubber bands joined by connecting steel links. The system, patented in 1937, was used on Bombardier's B7 snowmobile. The B7 was very different to contemporary snowmobiles, being functional rather than recreational. In a logical vehicle naming system, "B" stood for Bombardier and 7 referred to the number of passengers allowed. The B7 sold in significant numbers to people who needed it for their work, including rural veterinarians, doctors and funeral directors.

    B12 Snowmobile

    • Bombardier worked on the 12-seater B12 snowmobile design during 1941. This update to the B7 had a longer, sleeker profile and an improved track, being more robust and providing greater grip. Bombardier patented the B12 design in 1942. The launch was a "great success," leading to a surge in orders, according to the museum. However, when Canada joined World War II, business received a setback because of the rationing of materials and a shortage of labor.

    Tractor Tracking Attachment

    • Bombardier patented the Tractor Tracking Attachment, or TTA, in 1952. The accessory allowed tractors to work in places previously inaccessible, such as muddy or swampy ground. The TTA gave tractors more traction by spreading the axles' load. The TTA received warm reception from tractor manufacturers; thousands were sold in North and South Americas and Europe. Bombardier had actually improved a design first generated by his brother Gérard, according to the museum.

    Ski-Doo

    • In the early 1960s, Bombardier developed the invention for which he is perhaps best known: the Ski-Doo recreational snowmobile. He had established the feasibility of a smaller snowmobile in 1958 with a prototype. Mass production began in 1959 and missionaries, surveyors and prospectors soon purchased the machine. However, a new kind of buyer, the outdoor recreation lover, was also interested in the new, two-seater Ski-Doo. In 1960, Bombardier's company built 225 Ski-Doos, but this grew to more than 13,000 by 1965, the museum reports.