Box 508, Alliston, Ontario, Canada LOM 1AO
In reply to. D. Andersen’s letter in Jan.-Feb. 1980 GEM –
perhaps I can help regarding Cockshutt tractors. These, as stated
were made in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Models as follows: Model
20 gas from 1952-56; Model 30 gas and diesel from 1946-56; Model 40
gas and diesel from 1949-1957; Model 50 gas and diesel from
1953-1957; the Model ‘2’ 1954-57; the model ‘3’
1953-56. There is no information on model ‘4’. Above three
models offered for sale in U.S.A. only. I believe called E2, E3,
and E4.
Above replaced by models as follows: 540-1958-60; 550-1958-60;
560-1958-60; 570-1958-60. They also sold a Model 35 for one or two
years about 1956. Also sold ‘Golden Arrow’ for a short time
about 1956-57. The Model 40 was also offered with a L4 Perkins
diesel engine called 40.D4. Model 20 had Continental F124 engine,
which I believe sold only a little over 20,000 units. Model 30 had
Buda 4B153 engine which was quite popular and sold some 40,000
units. Model 40 had Buda 6B230 engine, also sold some 30,000+
units. Model 50 had Buda 6B273 engine, sold only some 20,000 units.
The Models 35, Golden Arrow used Hercules 198 engine, some say as
result of Buda motors having been sold to Allis-Chalmers
Company.
Then the Model 540 with CMT F162 engine only sold about 4,000
units. Model 550 with Hercules 198 engine, (like the 35 and Golden
Arrow) some 3000 units. Model 560 with Perkens L270 diesel engine
(I don’t believe a gas engine was offered in the 560) some some
6000+ units. Model 570 with Hercules 298 engine (gas or diesel)
sold some 7000+ units.
These 500 models sold only in small numbers, but Canada was not
a farmer’s paradise in those years and perhaps none were
exported. Serial numbers on 20 thru 50 located on top of main frame
near flywheel housing.
Models 30 thru 50 and all the newer ones had a really good
independent PTO (similar to Oliver 77 series). Quite a few are
still being used by smaller farmers and had 5 or 6 speeds ahead
depending on year made and were economical on fuel. In my opinion,
as one being connected with farm equipment sales for some 30 years,
they were very good in their time.
The newer models were very similar chassis but motors changed.
Power steering leakage was troublesome. The 560 in particular was a
good starting tractor in cold weather, but had a bad habit of
breaking crankshafts if bearings got too badly worn. I am not
familiar with 570, so cannot comment on its operation. I believe it
shared same transmission and final drive as 560.
The 40, 50, 560, 570 trans and final drive are favored today for
tractor pulls, of course, with souped up engines of all kinds being
used.
I do not have permission from publisher to list production by
serial number for different years, but if anyone wishes to get his
tractor dated, please send 25? and I will date it for him.
I trust this will help those interested in Cockshutt tractors
made by a Canadian company in Canada, the only company
manufacturing in Canada in recent years except the M H pony and
pacer models which were made in Woodstock, Ontario.
MICHIGAN ENGINE DATA
Pupils in a British school are working on the restoration of a
Michigan 3? HP engine, and their teacher is seeking answers from
our readers to guide the work.
Colin Caborn, head of the Creative Design faculty at John Howard
School, writes to GEM:
‘This is a considerable project because the engine has been
greatly modified during its lifetime and many parts are missing. As
far as we can find out, this is the only surviving example of this
type of engine in England and all attempts to find the information
needed to work out what the missing parts should be have
failed.’
He saw our ad in Stationary Engine Magazine, and wrote to us
since this is an American engine. The engine nameplate says:
The National Engineering Co. Michigan 3? Horse Type 3? H.P. 3?
Speed 375 Saginaw, Michigan (The number A298 is stamped on the
cylinder casting.)
Caborn reviews the history of the company, which may be of
interest to United States collectors. Here it is, with the balance
of his letter.
1895 Founded as the Wolcott Windmill Company located at 92 South
Niagara, Saginaw, Michigan to build wind pumps.
1903 Windmills discontinued. The company was reorganized as the
National Engineering Company manufacturing small gasoline engines
for farm use, particularly for pumping well water.
1907 The firm took contracts with several automobile
manufacturers to finish crank shafts for car engines.
1908 Engine manufacture discontinued.
1919 Bought by General Motors and renamed Michigan Crankshaft
Company.
1920 Renamed Chevrolet Transmission Company.
These engines were imported into England by Messrs. Arthur and
Edward Woodward of Rotherhithe New Road, East London who later
built their own copy of the Michigan when imports ceased.
As the enclosed photographs show, the piston and connecting rod
are missing, as are the original fuel and ignition systems. The
present carburetor is a British Zenith type 22HAC (circa 1920) and
the present ignition system comprises a German Bosch type DA2 and a
plug mounted in a casting which does not appear to be original. The
fuel tank was originally in the base of the main casting and the
present, rather crude arrangement was obviously used to provide a
gravity feed supply without the use of a pump.
We do not know whether this engine ran on petrol (gasoline) or
paraffin (kerosene).
I have been told that the earliest Michigan engines had a
‘coil and battery ignition system,’ but that this was soon
changed to a Thompson Bennett oscillating high tension magneto
system.’ I need to know exactly how these worked and what they
looked like before I can work out what is missing from our
engine.
I would, therefore, like to ask for any help which you are able
to give in finding out the history of our engine, in working out
the original specification of it, and in collecting enough
information to enable us to make or find replacements for the many
missing parts. After two years of searching there appears to be
little chance of solving these problems in England.
Thank you.
Caborn’s address is: John Howard School, Biddenham Turn,
Biddenham, Bedford, MK40 4AZ, England.
