Ryder, North Dakota 58779.
The Huber Manufacturing Company, Marion, Ohio began building the
12-25 Light Four in 1916 according to R. B. Gray in Part I of his
book, ‘The Development of the Agricultural Tractor in the
United States.’ This tractor had a vertical cross mounted
Waukesha engine with a 4?’ bore and 5?’ stroke running at
900 r. p. m. The price listed in a February 17, 1917 Country
Gentleman was $1085.
The 1919 Chilton Tractor Index and the 1919 Tractor Operating
Book and Directory give the same specifications for the Huber Light
Four 12-25 as mentioned above. While the report of the Ohio State
University plowing tests in 1919 and the Nebraska test in 1920 list
the engine with 4?’ bore and 5?’ stroke running at 1000 r.
p. m.
This 12-25 model was still listed in a 1925 Cooperative Tractor
catalog along with the 18-36 Super Four. In a October 1926,
‘The American Thresher-man,’ the 12-25 is still
recommended. The Huber ad states there are on our floor several
Factory Rebuilts at bargain prices which cannot be told from new
machines.’
The Huber Light Four 12-25 pictured is owned by Allen Larson,
Newburg, North Dakota. This is a 1918 model chassis number 3335.
This tractor, one of many in Allen’s collection, has been
beautifully restored by him. Allen has brought it a number of times
to Makoti for the parade and show.
A Huber tractor brochure for the 12-25 shows it with red wheels
and fenders while the rest of the tractor is green. The tractor
used a Perfex radiator, Kingston carburetor and ignition, and
Bennett air cleaner. The Light Four has the radiator fan on the
left side while the Super Four has it on the right side of the
radiator. Also the final drive has enclosed bull gear and pinion on
the Super Four while the Light Four is open.
Mr. Kenneth McDonald, Dresden, Ohio gives the following
explanation of the succession of cross mounted Huber tractors; The
Huber Super 4, 15-30 with a Midwest engine was made from 1921
through 1924. Then the company made a number of improvements, one
was flat spokes in the rear wheels. In 1925 it was rated 18-36. In
the meantime, Waukesha bought out Midwest but agreed to build the
Midwest engine for Huber, so a Hercules engine was used on a few
Huber Super Four tractors. Then in 1926, Huber made two tractors,
the 18-36 Super Four with the Stearns in line vertical engine
and a 25-50 Master Four with a cross mounted LeRoi engine having a
5?’ bore and 6′ stroke. The Master Four had all enclosed
gears with roller bearings and was called a full Jewel tractor.
The October 1926, The American Thresherman, has a Huber ad which
lists the Huber tractors as 18-36, 20-40, 25-50 called the New
Huber Super Four. The tractor pictured shows it with the vertical
in line engine.
