Route 4, Huntington, Indiana 46750
It might be interesting to go into the history of some of the
older tractors, some of which became more or less popular, and some
obsolete.
In 1906 The Transit Thresher Co. was organized in Minneapolis,
Minn, to make a self-propelled threshing machine, but this idea
never got off the drawing board, and was discarded. They contracted
with the Diamond Iron Works of Minneapolis in 1906 and 1907 to
build 26 large tractors for them. Apparently not too successful,
the company was reorganized in 1908 as the Gas Traction Co. also of
Minneapolis. They called their tractor The Big Four. It was quite
successful and the company was bought out by the Etnmerson
Brantingham Co. in 1912, and production was continued. A Big Four
’30’ is shown at the Rollag show and is owned by Jerome
Swedberg of Whapeton, N. D. and Carl Anderson of Gary Minn.
Somewhere along the line the Huber Mfg. Co. of Marion, O.
contracted with them to build a 30-60 with Hubers on it. It was
patterned nearly the same as the Big Four. This was in 1914 I
think. The one at Rollag is the only one I ever saw.
The Garr Scott Co. of Richmond, Ind., successful builders of
steam engines, started building large tractors in 1910 of 40-70 H.
P. Later increased to 40-80. They were called the Tiger and 200 of
them were built. They later made smaller ones. Norman Pross of
Luverne, N. D. shows one at Rollag.
In 1910 The Imperial Mach. Co. of Minneapolis made nine 40-70,
big four cylinder tractors with very high wheels. Of the nine made,
two are still left. Guy Wilson of Virgille, Mont., and John Messner
of Sanborn, N. D. own them. I saw the latter thresh at New
Rockford, N. D. and it was a sight to behold.
The Minneapolis Steel and Machine Co. of Minneapolis in 1910
started making the Twin City line, which were both popular and
successful. In 1909 they built some tractors for the Joy McVicker
Co. In 1910 they started building T C 40-65, which was very
popular. In 1916 came the 60-90 a huge six cylinder and there are
still two left. One at Yorkton, Sask. and the one at Rollag owned
by Elmer Larson and Norman Pross. At one time the Rochell Canning
Co. in III. owned seventy-seven small Twin City tractors. After two
mergers the company is still in existence and is known today as the
Minneapolis Moline Company and at present is owned by the White
Motor Co.
The Russell Co. of Massillon, O. another of the old steam engine
companies got interested in tractors in 1909 and built a 20-40
three cylinder 8 x 10 vert. 350 rpm engine. This one was tested at
Winnipeg in 1909 and pulled six plows. Apparently only a few made.
In 1911 they brought out a 30-60 4 cyl. vert, cross-mounted engine
and had one wheel in front. In 1916 they made a 30-60 with two
wheels in front. In 1917 a 12-24 four cyl. vert. engine set
lengthwise and had auto steering. This became very popular. In 1919
a 20-40 of the same style.
After Emmerson Brantingham got hold of Reeves in 1912, they
built in 1914 a Reeves 40-65 four cyl. engine set crosswise. Later
also made a 25-50. Not many left, but Western Dev. Museum at N.
Battleford and Saskatoon each have a 40-65. Sanford Brown of
Hoopple, III. has a 40-65, Neil McClur of Colchester, III. and Jim
Rathhart of Foreman, N. D. each have a 25-50.
In 1910 Buffalo Pitts Co. took a try at it. In 1910 they made a
35-70. 3 cyl. vert, cross-mounted engine. One-wheel in front, and
chain and sproket driven. In 1914 they built a 40-65 using a Twin
City engine and set it crosswise of the frame. Not many were built
and none are known to have existed to this day. Remember there was
lots of competition in the large size tractors.
In 1912 Nichols and Shepard of Battle Creek, Mich, producers of
the Red River Special line of steam engines and separators, thought
it was time for them to get into the tractor business. They built a
35-70 called Oil Gas. It used a two cylinder twin, horiz.
cross-mounted engine along with a steam engine governor, later
built a 25-50 size along the same lines. There are still a few
around. There is a 35-70 shown at Rollag, Minn, and Glenn Thomas of
Ottawa, III. has a 25-50.
If you want to see a rare engine in operation, stop by the Show
July 28, 29 and 30, 1972. This Nelson engine was made at Harlan,
Iowa. It is a monster for only 3 hp. The proud owner is Rawleigh
Woltman of Avoca, Iowa. This shot was taken at the SW Iowa Antique
Machinery Show of A. C. Eshelman’s in 1971.
The Kinnard Haines Mfg. Co. of Minneapolis were the makers of
the Flour City line of tractors. Just exactly when they started
making tractors I am not sure of. I do know that in 1908 they
tested a 30-60 four cyl. six and one half by seven engine at
Winnipeg. They tested the same size engine at Winnipeg in 1909 and
1910. Also in 1910 a 40-60. In 1918 a 15-25 4 cyl. vert, engine. In
1918 Kinnard and Sons a 14-24 Flour City JR. In 1919 a 22-45 4 cyl.
horiz. double opposed engine. I can account for seven Flour City
tractors left today. Two 40-70’s, three 30-60’s, and two
25-50’s.
The Aultman Taylor Co. of Mans field, Ohio, another old steam
engine company, started making 30-60 tractors in 1910 using a 4
cyl. twin horiz. engine with a square radiator with a round stack
on top. In 1915 they made a 25-50 with the same kind of radiator.
In 1916 they discontinued the square radiator and from then on they
used the round tubular type as we see on the later ones. Just when
they made the 18-36 I’m not sure. Specifications for the 18-36
and 25-50 can be found in E & E Jan. 1956 page 16. In 1919 they
discontinued the 18-36 and 25-50 and started building the 1 5-30 4
cyl. vert, and the 22-45 4 cyl. horiz. engine. I’ve been told
they made a few 35-70’s, but I’m not sure of it and
can’t prove it.
The 30-60’s were and still are very popular as the number
still around will prove. I know of one man who paid $4000 for one
in excellent condition. You will see one at most all the shows. I
know where there are thirty-six 30-60’s yet, and six
22-45’s. The number I can account for is probably only 60% of
what still exist. The Campbell Farming Corp. who were operating in
a large way in Montana at one time had or were using over
thirty.
The Dauch Mfg. Co. of Sandusky, O. placed the 15-35 Sandusky on
the market in 1911, and in 1916 they made a 10-20 model J, the
15-35 was Model E. Both had 4 cyl. vertical engines.
In 1911 Fairbanks Morse a 15-25 and in 1913 a 30-60. Both were
single cylinder engines. I know where there are still eleven of
these left.
My late father, Irvin Maxwell of Champaign, Illinois, owned this
1917 12-25 Titan Tractor and 28′ Avery Separator.
