Ryder, North Dakota 58779
The January 1925 issue of The American Thresherman magazine has
an ad by the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company which states the
new 18-32 Case replaces the 15-27, and we now build a 25-45 instead
of the 22-40.
The 18-32 model was tested in Nebraska in the fall of 1924.
Tractor number 51320 was used in this test. It developed 32.08
horsepower on the rated load belt test and 19.21 horsepower on the
rated load drawbar test. The 18-32 Case had the cross-mounted
vertical engine 4-1/2′ x 6′ with a rated speed of 1000
r.p.m. and two forward speeds of 2.46 and 3.28 miles per hour.
This model was designated the K in 1928 which was also the last
year it was built. The company seems to have changed the numbering
system when they used the letter designation for the models. The
late models of the 18-32 have numbers such as K3335189 while the
earlier models had numbers in the fifty and sixty thousands.
The 18-32 Case pictured was restored by the Franklins of Ryder,
North Dakota, Bill, Marvin and Ferd. This tractor No. 58882 may be
a 1925 model. It was brought to Makoti in 1970 for the threshing
show and remains in the museum buildings.
The 15-27 is shown in the December 21, 1918 issue of the Country
Gentleman magazine with all specifications. This model was test
number 4 in 1920 at the Nebraska University tractor testing
station. The engine in the 15-27 Case was the same as in the 18-32
but ran at only 900 r.p.m.s. It was also a little lighter in
weight.
The smallest number I know of on a 15-27 Case is number 47222
while the largest is 50905. The price December 1, 1918 for the
15-27 Case was listed as $1,600
18-32 Case, No. 58882 owned by Bill Franklin, Ryder, North
Dakota. This was at the 1970 Makoti Threshing Show.
1 HP Ottawa air-cooled engine belonging to me and shown at our
annual show.
This tractor I made in 1948. The steering worm I have my left
hand on is out of a 1928 Chevy, front steering column, is 1929 Ford
rear end housing, 1937 Ford wheels in front, model T truck frame
and rear end, 1938 Willys radiator, motor and transmission, second
transmission I don’t know what it is. All is Chalmers gas tank
and the seat is of a grain binder. I made the governor out of a
vacuum diaphragm unit that was used in a Greyhound bus air
conditioning system. Tractor hasn’t run for about 5 years.
I’m going to ‘restore’ it this year.
That’s me in Greyhound uniform and the license plate on the
door is red with white numbers about 1911 or 13. By the way tractor
has 13 speeds ahead and 7 reverse.
These pictures might be a bit unusual for your magazine. They
were taken in 1962 in the country of Nicaragua, Central
America.
Top picture shows two yokes of steers pulling a log on an ox
cart. The Indian in front guides the steers. The Indian on the log
prods them along. The two guys standing are there just to be in the
picture. The hut is sided with slabs from my sawmill. The palm leaf
roof may last ten to twenty years. The girl is pouring them
lemonade. The wheels on those ox carts, called ‘chin-gas’
when used for logging are of one solid piece of wood, except for
cross bracing by inlaid slats.
Bottom picture is my sawmill under a thatch roof. The logs are
Spanish cedar, mahogany and guanacosti. The poles used in the shed
are tied together with strips of bark. Very few nails are used.
This type of shed is cheap to build and it does not leak.
