1375 S.R. 294, Marion, Ohio 43302-9607
In today’s standards, the year 1976 would not lead most
tractor collectors on that ‘Wild Goose Chase’ after a
prized restoration project. When it comes to antique farm
machinery, some of us would like to find that-one of a kind-nobody
else has ever heard of one, let alone seen or owned one- piece of
equipment. How we wish that we or Grandpa would have just kept that
‘old piece of junk,’ even if everybody else has one, so
that one day we would have that special part of the past.
Having that one-of-a-kind seems to make it even more special. As
we read GEM and IMA and other books, we find names of companies
from the past that sometimes don’t even have pictures left of
their products, only memories from those who may have built or
owned them. So sad it seems that some of these machines, machines
that in our minds are almost human, have vanished without a
trace.
In search of GBT. In 1976 my uncle owned an outdoor power
equipment company, Logan Cooper Sales and Service, Brownstown,
Indiana, and in the summer of that year he became an authorized
dealer for GBT Industries, Inc. 2517 Seiferth Road, P.O. Box 6235,
Madison, Wisconsin. At this time the president and general manager
was J. Pep Gnewuch. In January 1977, Cooper’s received a model
2000 and 3000 tractor. The 2000 design was based on the
Allis-Chalmers model G. The 2000 was powered by a rear-mounted
Continental R800-46-27 brake horsepower, four-cylinder, water
cooled engine. The transmission was equipped with six forward and
one reverse gear. The model 3000 was of conventional design similar
to other utility tractors of that horsepower rating. It was also
equipped with a live PTO, live three-point hydraulic lift, and
power steering. This tractor didn’t have remote cylinder
hookups, but that could have been easily adapted because the
three-point system used a conventional hydraulic cylinder.
According to 1976 sales literature, the GBT 2000 listed for
$4,600 and the GBT 3000 listed for $4,650. GBT literature also
advertises a model 4000 and 4000/D, along with a ‘full line of
implements designed to complement each particular model.’ Some
of these implements were made by Special Products of Golden,
Colorado.
GBT Industries Inc. at that time was also the exclusive United
States importer for a line of small four-wheel drive tractors.
According to GBT-Pasquali owner’s manual, these tractors were
built by Pasquali Machine Agricole of Calenzano (Florence) Italy.
The information states that Pasquali was founded in the early 1950s
and wholly owned by Dr. Lino Pasquali. This company also had plants
in Spain. The line of tractors advertised consisted of four diesel
powered units ranging from 19.9 to 34 horsepower. Powered by
Lombardini four-cycle single cylinder, or Ruggerini four-cycle
two-cylinder, air cooled engines, these tractors had manual
transmission with nine forward and three reverse speeds,
articulated steering, PTO and independent two and three-point
hydraulic lift systems.
My uncle, who has since passed away, had told me, and his
records indicate, that GBT was taken over by another company,
United Tractor and Equipment Ltd. I have been able to locate Mr.
Gnewuch at his home and have talked with his daughter and
housekeeper, who assured me that he would write me or return my
call, but he never has. According to his housekeeper, GBT was sold,
possibly because of bankruptcy, to a company in Canada, which I
assume is United Tractor and Equipment Ltd. I have two addresses
for this company in 1978, one in Portage, Wisconsin, and one in
Winnipeg, Manitoba. I also have the name of Craig L. Scott, who
appears to be the representative for United Tractor in 1978. As of
this date I have not been able to locate him. This is where my
information ends.
I don’t know if GBT is one of those lost companies, or if
they are under a new name, or if in some other area of the USA or
Canada there are a ‘blue million’ of them, but I sure would
like to find out. I know there is at least one GBT 3000, serial
number 082582, because I own it and I hope to have it running soon.
I also know that in 1978 there was at least one GBT 2000, and it
was bought back by the new company to have some rework done to it.
Shucks, maybe those two are the only ones they made. No one I have
talked to at shows in Ohio or Indiana have heard of GBT. If anyone
has a GBT, or any information on them or the company, or United
Tractor and Equipment Ltd., or any ideas about finding more
information, Please write, or call collect. 419-985-3891.
