1408 N. Van Buren Ottumwa, Iowa 52501
The ‘Cletrac’ Model BD was a small crawler tractor of 48
horsepower, weighing 9,000 pounds. It had a dozer blade and
hydraulic controls which added several pounds. I used this tractor
with the dozer and for farm work. It was equipped with an
agricultural power take-off.
The Cleveland Tractor Company was at 19300 Euclid Ave.,
Cleveland, Ohio until it was sold to the Oliver Corporation. The
Oliver Corporation continued these tractors until about 1960. They
were made in five sizes equipped with Hercules engines, both gas
and diesel ranging from 22 to 120 horsepower.
The model BD had four speeds forward and two speeds reverse.
Some of the earlier models had three speeds forward and one reverse
gear. The dozer was made by the Heil Company. An interesting thing
about the moldboard was the fact it was curved by being put in a
large press and bent several times instead of being rolled into a
curve. Because of this the moldboard did not scour very good.
