The snowmobile developed from several innovations that took place over more than a decade. Joseph-Armand Bombardier, a mechanic from Valcourt, Quebec, developed a propeller-driven sled in 1922. This was the first of many vehicles that could travel over snow. Carl Eliason of Wisconsin patented a motor toboggan in 1927. It was Bombardier’s sprocket wheel and track system, though, that defined the first snowmobile in 1935. This design made the vehicle practical.
In 1937, Bombardier patented his seven-passenger B7 snowmobile. The first buyers included doctors, ambulance drivers and priests living in remote areas. The market soon expanded to a wide range of businesses and services.
In 1941, Bombardier developed the 12-passenger B12 model. He then designed vehicles used in the Second World War. By 1951, more than 2,800 B12s had been made. Bombardier patented many other improvements to make the snowmobile more reliable. These included suspension and transmission systems.
In 1958, Bombardier built a prototype for a small snowmobile with a lighter engine. Production of this recreational model began the next year under the Ski-Doo trademark. This type of snowmobile, about the size of a motorcycle, became very popular in snowy climates. Several manufacturers currently make personal snowmobiles under various brand n
