102 Britannia St., Stratford, Ontario, Canada.
I suppose there are others who attend steam shows to see
equipment they remember from by-gone years and to see models they
have read about but did not happen to have been used in their
locality.
The first tractor I remember was a Hart-Parr Model 30. This
tractor was purchased in 1920 along with a John Goodison 28-42
Thresher with a Ruth feeder. It belonged to J. E. Schneider who did
our threshing and a number of others in the neighborhood. This
tractor preceded the 18-36 model. The general construction was the
same as most readers will be familiar with the 2 cylinder 18-36
model, I will list the features that are different from the 18-36
model.
Wheels were of the round spoke type, steering sector and worm on
front axle and right front spindle. Steering wheel connected to
worm by three rods and two universal joints. Water pump located on
fan shaft between fan and friction drive pulley. Clutch was of the
external contracting band type on a drum located in the center of
the flywheel. Gear shifting lever and quadrant located on an angle
frame member between the transmission case and the clutch lever.
Bull gears and pinions not enclosed and bull gears were of the
annular type.
This tractor had a canopy. Whether this was original equipment,
an optional extra, or built on by the owner, I am at a loss to
know. The bore and stroke was 6/2′ x 7′. The construction
of these tractors is quite similar to the Waterloo Boy. I wonder if
any of the readers know if there is any connection here.
The 1971 Steam Show at Brigden, Ontario had a Hart-Parr Model 30
on display. This tractor, while not a restored to show room
condition machine, was still being used for farm work and was in
remarkably good shape. They announced it as being built in 1917. It
differed from the one I had seen by two features. The water pump
was located on top of the crankcase driven by the magneto and
governor shaft. The gear shifter lever was located on top of the
transmission case. These two features were the same as the 18-36
model and would lead one to believe this to be a newer model than
the 1920 one I had seen.
While attending George Hedtke’s Show at Kings, Illinois in
1969, he had on display a John Goodison thresher with Ruth feeder.
This was a 22′-36′ machine but was identical to the one I
remember from the 1920s.
Until I started reading the Gas Engine Magazine, I did not know
that Hart-Parr made an oil-cooled tractor. I would like to attend a
show that featured one of these, but so far I have not been able to
find out which show has one.
