Talk:Unimog
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[edit] Anyone watching this article?
I have some ideas about how to improve this article, but before I change anything major I wanted to see if there are ohers interested in participating...--Metadynamics 00:37, 30 September 2005 (UTC)
- Sure, let's hear your ideas. ---Zippy 05:27, 30 September 2005 (UTC)
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- I'd make the changes. 68.39.174.238 13:44, 28 February 2006 (UTC)
[edit] English English vs American English vs ...
In an earlier edit changing petrol to gas, I wrote in the edit comment that I was changing the wording to American English (gas) because that's the standard for this Wikipedia. Another user pointed out that my assertion of an American English standard for this Wikipedia was incorrect according to the Wikipedia Manual of Style. That user is correct. I was unaware of the Manual of Style's position on this, so I read into it. According to the MoS, there is no standard form of English for the English language Wikipedia. Instead, the language that one uses in a given article depends on: 1) the form of English most closely associated with the topic, and 2) the form of English used by the first major contributor to the article. The article should, in any case, adhere to one standard form of English (for example, American English, British English, Canadian English, Indian English, or Australian English)
I'd like to talk about this for a bit, because I think we may have an interesting boundary case in this article that helps further define the MoS policy on how to select the correct English variant for an article.
[edit] English language variants and Unimogs
Item 1 above says that the version of English used in an article should be the one most closely aligned with the subject. The Unimog is a German truck, and so one would have a hard time saying that there is a particular form of English closely aligned with the topic, at least when it's spoken of in Germany. The Unimog has an especially weak association with England, as the British military and farm trades did not (as far as I know) make much use of the Unimog, instead heavily prefering the British designed and built Land Rovers. The Unimog was used in many other nations, however, including Switzerland (by the Swiss military) and some nations in Africa and Asia. I am not aware of the modern history of the Unimog outside of Europe, but I know that in the 60s and 70s, when it was at its peak in terms of exposts, it was purchased in these regions for military applications. In Asia and Africa, I am unaware of any particularly strong association between the Unimog and a given variant of English.
There was one market the Unimog was sold in where there was a strong association with a particular variant of English, and that was the United States. Daimler-Benz, through its dealers and representatives, has sold and serviced Unimogs in the United States for I believe over twenty years.
To add to American English argument, in recent years, Daimler-Benz merged with Chrysler. Chrysler is a US company.
Further, the US company Applied Minds created and widely publicized a variant of the Unimog called the Maximog. This Unimog variant has received press coverage (a Google search turns up articles on this project in the US newsmedia).
I believe that the Unimog sold more units and has a higher profile in the United States than in any other nation where English is the official language, though perhaps Canada could make a claim. I would like to hear whether others feel that the Unimog has a particularly strong association with Britain, Canada, India, Australia, or another country whose version of English is widely recognized?
[edit] English language provenance of the article
Item 2 above refers to the version of English used by the first major contribution to the article (excluding stubs).
I wrote the first version of this article in Sept 2002, and I think I could argue that this was a non-stub creation in American English. The article remained unexpanded until 2004, when other editors added content to it. These edits largely retained the American spelling, but (wisely) introduced metric measurements, which I believe are most strongly associated with Unimogs -- I would be surprised if a German-engineered vehicle was built in terms of feet and pounds!
I'd like to open this up to comments -- what do others think? --Zippy 08:22, 15 April 2006 (UTC)
[edit] vs what is on the German page
I have been slowly plugging away adding some content including translating the German version [1]. I really do not want to add fuel to the Gasoline/Petrol argument Talk:Gasoline/archive2#Article_name. (or tyres vs tires for that matter) This is one of the religious arguments that makes Wikipedia a laughingstock.
The Unimog should probably be a follower article, not an envelope pusher. There are several other Mercedes Benz vehicles that already set the standard in Wikipedia.
As a Nortamericano, I still believe that International units should prevail for the Unimog. Note that the German article is still under construction and has mixed power units (PS Pferdestaerke/HP horsepower and kW) which should be retained. The history section in German reflects the slow adoption of SI following WWII. Although dimensions seem to be primarily in SI. North Americans are well aware of liter displacements for engines as they have been common in auto marketing since the 1960's.
Quite frankly, many people outside of Germany were first made aware of the Unimog when Matchbox toys introduced a model (406? 421?) as one of their 1-75 line in the 1960's.
I am guessing that the biggest problem will come in constant Turnip/Potato reverts.
[edit] North American differences
What are the differences? --Gbleem 02:53, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
The Freightliner sites mainly state that the Unimog conforms to North American regulations. In Germany, the Unimog operates as a tractor that can drive on the road to its job and return to its home garage each night to prevent vandalism. In the US and Canada, it is classified as a truck, not a tractor. As such it must have cab occupant safety devices for highway operation. Also the brakes must be highway worthy. The engines and transmissions are warrantied by Detroit Diesel, however they are still the MB Deisels.
Here is one article that outlines differences. It appears hoses are one of the differences. "Because of U.S. regulations, about a third of the vehicle had to be re-developed as part of an inter-disciplinary project. The U.S. model is not only different in terms of standards and characteristics. Individual customer requirements also have to be taken into account." [2]
It would seem the main concern is ready availability of replacement parts in North America.
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Since the 80, most of "moggies" have been from Swiss Army Surplus S 404 with standard gas 6 cyl and special carb for running in any angles. I've got one in ambulance box I've conerted in "Campmobile" with little camping gears added. Later came the Swiss Army Steyr Puch Pinzgauer High Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle 710 (4X4) and 712 (6X6) in M ( pick up) and K (Koffer: hard top) body style. They are delivery truck or van, street legal.
It takes only details conversion to fit with the US DOT (Department of Transportation) regulations, as back up lights. It goes the same way in Canada. Wonderful rigs for hunting and fishing parties deep in the woods and by the lake. In the coming days, I gonna be in the wood for moose, not very far from Danville and Richmond, QC, (Eastern Townships) just 6 hours drive at legal 40-50 mph (60-90 km/h metric in Canada). It takes 15 mn to my 1X1mile woodland for deer hunting.
For English and American English, "let's call all this off" (George Gerswin), "bonnet" or "hood", "windscreen" or "windshield", petrol" or "gas", "lorry" or "truck".
Takima 15:01, 26 September 2006 (UTC)
