Route 4, Huntington, Indiana 46750
In about 1925 The Farm Equipment Institute said a total of 593
companies had made, or were listed as having made tractors, or
component parts, such as engines, transmissions, wheels, etc. Now
this may seem high to some. I have been working on a list of
tractors manufactured or listed as having been manufactured at some
time or other, and were advertised for sale. So far I have over
four hundred and fourteen companies and am still finding more. Now
let it be understood that a good percentage of these were small
outfits. Maybe a black-smith or a mechanically-minded farmer built
several with the intention of making many more, but for the lack of
money, material etc., just made a few. On the other hand there were
some who were merely stock promotion schemes and made a few
samples, and never intended to go any farther. Lack of finances was
usually the limiting factor.
In 1916 The Farm Implement News listed ninety six active tractor
manufacturers with one hundred and thirty de-signs. In 1917 the
production of tractors was doubled as over seventy five new
companies showed up, bringing the total number of companies to
around one hundred and fifty. 62,742 tractors were made in 1917, of
which over 15,000 were exported.
In 1918, 132,790 tractors were made by 142 companies. Tractors
were going through big changes in sizes and designs. The day of the
real large tractor was about over except in the west and north-west
for the wheat farmers for plowing and belt work. The tendency was
for small two and three plow outfits. Up to now a good number of
two cylinder opposed engines had been used. Now the trend was for
four cylinder engines, but still set in every direction, length
ways, cross ways, vertical, horizontal, etc. Everyone had his own
ideas. Automotive steering was coming, as was tubular radiators,
and kerosene was becoming more popular as fuel.
By 1921 there were 186 companies making tractors. In 1929 but 47
companies were listed but 229,000 tractors were made.
Tractors with new faces besides the Fordson, were Huber Light
Four 12-25, at $985, Mogul 10-20, Sandusky Model J 12-20. Parrett
12-25, Avery 8-16, Peoria 8-20, 4 cyl. 2 plow at $685. This was a
three wheeler and looked like a Bull tractor. ALL WORK in two
sizes, 8-16 Int. 4 cyl. vert. engine two plow. It had removable
cylinder sleeves, over-head valves, and the first tractor out with
power take-off. In 1918 came Case 9-18, Massey Harris 12-25 made on
the order of the Parrett. I might add that there were five tractors
being made on the same pattern or style. They were the Frick,
Huber, Parrett, Besser and the Massey Harris. They were all 12-25,
had high rear wheels, and higher than usual front wheels, vertical
four cyl., engines set crossways, and narrow radiators set length
ways. I understand that Parrett made the ones for Massey Harris,
and possibly for Besser. 1916 Parrett 12-25 Buda engine sold for
1000 dollars. 1917 Besser 15-30. Besser Mfg. Co. Alpena, Mich. 1916
Huber 12-25 Waukesha engine. 1919 Frick 12-25. 1918 Massey Harris
12-25 Buda engine.
1918 8-16 International, owned by Rolland.
1914 Moline Universal tractor, owned by Rolland.
Rider Ericsson 6′ Hot air water pumping engine restored by
R. C. Miller and W. A. Taubeneck of Marysville, Washington for the
Chelan County Historical Society, Cashmere, Washington.
Many thanks to J. W. Sydam of Chestertown, Maryland; Thomas R.
Stockton of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Bob Kuxtable of Lansing, Michigan
and Mell Anderson of Okanogan, Washington for helpful
information.
Hart Parr in 1917 built the 15-30, which was usually called the
’30’. This was their first small tractor, and was the start
of a series of tractors that really went to town. Later came the
10-20, 16-30, 12-24, 18-36, and 28-50. In1916 came Bates Steel Mule
model C 13-30. $895, two wheels in front, cater-pillar in rear, two
cylinder, two cycle engine. Also Keck Gonnerman 12-24. The Gray
tractor made in Minneapolis in 1916 Model A 29-35 6 plow $2150,
Model B 15-25 4 plow $1650, in 1918 18-36, and 1925 22-44 Canadian
Special, 1916 Eagle 8-16 two cvl.. 12-22 two cyl. Other models came
later. 1916 The Wallis Cub Jr. Model J, had one wheel in front, in
1919 Model K 15-27, had two wheels in front. In 1923 Model 0 K
15-27, had fenders, later the 12-20 and 20-30 Certified. In this
period came Oil Pulls by Rumely in the following sizes: 1916 to
1918 Model H 14-28, in 1919 to 1923 it became the 16-30, 1919 to
1923 Model K 12-20, 1919 to 1923 Model G 20-40. I can account for
at least forty-eight model G’s yet.
As I mentioned before J. I. Case started making the 30-60 and in
1911 won the gold medal at Winnipeg in the kerosene division for
heavy tractors. Jim Rathhart of Foreman N. D. has a 30-60 fully
restored. Two cyl. opposed. In 1912 came the 20-40 two cyl. opposed
and it became very popular. I can still account for about
thirty-five still in existence. Nearly every show has one on
display. In 1916 came their 10-20 three-wheeled, 1917 a 9-18 and
later 10-18. In 1913 they made their 12-25 two cyl. opposed. 1 know
where they’re ten of those yet. 1919 came the 15-27 which later
became the 18-32 Model K. 1920 the 22-40 which later became the
Model T 25-45 in 1924. These last two were four cyl. engines set
crossway and were vertical. Just how long the old two cyl.
20-40’s were made I am not sure, but no doubt up to the time
the 22-40 came out in 1920. The Case Company has had a steady
healthy growth and is still in business in a big way.
In 1919 International Harv. Co. bought the Parlin and Orendorff
Plow Works of Canton, Ill., and added plows to their line.
Incidentally my old P & O plow uses 054 shares the same as the
Mc Deering Little Genius. They never changed the plow much except
to take off the old chain lift clutch. In those days when a company
wanted to add another line of implements they simply went out and
bought some well established business to get it.
Fageol tractor may be seen in a farm implement yard on the main
street of Wenatchee, Washington.
