MY HUSBAND’S 8 HOURS A DAY HOBBY

By Staff
Published on October 1, 1990
article image
Bantam tractor

21 Point Lane Arcadia, Indiana 46030.

My husband, Joe Artman, decided to retire from farming in 1984.
After long days and years of hard work and repairing machinery, he
took a year to overhaul, paint and repair every piece of his farm
equipment. Then we had an auction and moved from the farm.

The first year we were there, I thought, ‘Boy! Have we made
a mistake!’ Then came a steam and tractor show at Tipton, and
he saw a Bantam tractor there. Well, he had worked at the Standard
Manufacturing Company in Lebanon in the 1940’s and helped build
the Bantam’s in the 50’s. From then on, the hunt was on for
one to restore.

Jack Harrell (of Roanoke) came to the rescue and sold him a 3
HP. It was all there but the gas tank. Joe completely rebuilt the
motor, then sanded and painted it. He ended up using Allis Chalmers
Orange on it. In a couple of months it looked like new, and ran
like it too. Then came a 5 HP (we had to go to Pennsylvania to find
it), and the same thing. We may have to go to Illinois or Ohio or
Pennsylvania for a part or a tractor, but it sure beats grouching
at your wife and jigsaw puzzles.

In the meantime the history of Standard Manufacturing Company in
Lebanon, Indiana has been interesting to recall. It started in 1925
making replacement parts for cars-Auburn, Stietz & Coles. When
the Model A came along, they made clutch parts for Ford and other
cars of that era.

In 1935, Ralph Poynter, the owner, was issued a patent for a
rotary lawn mower, and then for inventions, such as a leaf
pulverizer; these products were known the world over.

In 1947 Poynter sold the inventory rights to Jacobsens of
Racine, Wisconsin. He kept the shop and retained rights to sell the
mowers in Indiana.

After retiring, Poynter decided he’d mow his own lawn if he
could do it without working. So about 1950 he made a 235 lb.
tractor, 50 inches long, 30 inches high with a Briggs &
Stratton motor. Calling it the Bantam and painting a pointer dog on
the hood, he had invented rocking chair comfort.

They were made in 3, 5, and 8 HP and a 2 HP for kids. The kids
size weighed 154 lb., went 4 mph and sold for less than $200. He
made them in Lebanon, Indiana until he decided to retire again in
about 1956. John Ramp bought the inventory and moved it to
Indianapolis. He continued making them until 1958. In ’59 he
filed for bankruptcy and the whole thing went to Falls
Manufacturing in Illinois where they continued until 1964, when
Bantams were no longer made.

Thus the Bantam tractor from Lebanon has provided us with a
great hobby. As soon as we get an 8 HP to work on we’ll be
ready for another interesting hunt for parts, etc. And I’ll
probably be replaced as the official secretary around here, when
Joe finds out I’ve sent this to GEM.

If you should want to contact him, the phone number is
317-984-4935 or write Joseph Artman, 21 Point Lane, Arcadia,
Indiana 46030.

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