20601 Old State Road, Haubstadt, Indiana 47639
The question comes up from time to time on just how you can tell a Hercules/Economy cart from those used for some other brands of engines. Beginning now and continuing occasionally will come some cart information. Most carts used on Hercules/Economy engines were apparently built by the Peru Plow and Wheel Company of Peru, Illinois, whose ad you see here.
In the Sears catalogs, it refers to the carts as being shipped from a factory in northern Illinois.
Typically, the large size drop frame cart has the following dimensions:
Length of frame rails | 104 inches |
Channel iron width | 6 inches |
Front wheel diameter | 24 inches |
Rear wheel diameter | 32 inches |
Width of tire tread | 4 inches |
Width to outside of wheel rims | 58 inches |
Width to outside of rails | 14 inches |
Distance between engine mounting holes | 48 inches for 12 HP |
42 inches for 9 HP* |
* Sometimes the 9 HP was attached to the 12 HP hole spacing by using adapter plates.
There seem, however, to be several variations. Early Sears catalogs list 26 and 36 inch wheel diameters with 5 inch wide tires. There are also some of the large carts that have 120 inch frame rails.
The picture shown is of a cart whose dimensions are given in the table at left, with one exception. The rails are 15 inches to the outside instead of 14 and it had a 6-7 HP ? Sattley brand of engine on it fitted with adapter plates.
A few weeks ago, Jim Windle of Powhatan, Virginia, sent a copy of the design found on the frame rails of an Economy cart that he has. It is shown here in the accompanying picture. It is the same design that I found of the Sattley cart mentioned earlier, except that it is upside down. Maybe the guy who stenciled the design on at the factory didn’t pay much attention to which way he held the stencil on. If you are interested, the length of the stenciled design is 16 inches. Send a stamped envelope and I will gladly send you a full size pattern.