The Pennsylvania State Farm Show will offer limited edition
collector models for the third consecutive year.
For toy farm tractor collectors, a 1/6
scale model of a Sheppard Diesel SD-3 has been approved. New
patterns were made for the aluminum and-zinc castings and each
tractor is individually serial numbered.
The R. H. Sheppard Company of Hanover made the real Sheppard
tractors from 1949 through 1956. They also produced the toy tractor
models in the early Fifties. Both the toy models and the real
tractors are quite scarce today and are considered collectors
items.
At the State Farm Show in 1950, toy Sheppard Diesel tractors
were offered to the public at a cost of $2.00. They were cast
aluminum and had solid rubber wheels. Their design inspired the
Sheppard 1993 farm show model tractor.
Sheppard was founded in 1935 and manufactured the Kintzing wire
cloth loom, floor polishers, and gasoline powered generator sets
for farm use. One of their first major products was diesel engines
built as power units for generators, pumps, and commercial
applications.
In 1949 Sheppard produced the first diesel powered rubber tired
tractor built in the U.S. They ranged from 1 to 4 cylinders and
from 5 to 55 horsepower. Other ‘firsts’ for farm tractors
included a torque converter, power steering and a 13 speed
transmission.
In 1963, Mr. Sheppard totally committed the company’s
efforts into the manufacture of power steering and they hold over
two dozen patents on the same. Their units can be found worldwide,
particularly in the trucking and transportation industry.
To learn how to reserve a model of the Sheppard SD-3 collector
tractor, send a self-addressed envelope to: Farm Show Tractor, P.O.
Box 553, Drawer SD-A, Gap, PA. 17527. Models must be reserved by
mid to late November and will be delivered to the state farm show
during the week of January 9th through 14th, 1993.
