Looking for information.

Mike Fitz

Member
The neighbor has some neat MM stuff and I would like to know more about them. The UB diesel has a plate on the engine with model D283-4 and serial # of 04800864, I think there might be another plate but didn't see it. What year might it be, and were there very many made? It was a good runner but hasn't run is several years. The uni- pickers are neat but I have never seen them run. The first one is an ear corn picker with a overhead valve gas V-4, the second one is a picker sheller and is a diesel. What year s might they have been made and were there very many of them?
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From the list I have, UBU diesels were made in 1954 and 55. The tractor serial number plate should be just above the belt pulley. I dont have an engine serial number list for them though. Im sure someone on here can tell you more than me on that part. The first Uni might be about a 1956-58 since it has the ohv V4 like the 445s but does have the older style decals like the earlier models. The reason I mention the decals is because they are different than the decals on the picker. I think that style decal didnt come along until maybe late 1958 into 1959, so maybe a newer picker on a slightly older Uni-tractor? The second one must be 1959 or after as it has the brown chassis. Im not sure if they used metallic bronze on the first ones like the Jet Stars/4 Stars etc. or just used Dyna brown. I used to have a brown one with a picker/sheller on it. I dont think they made very many diesel ones. Neat looking cabs on them.
 
The UB diesel was made from 1953-1955. About 2000 were made with the majority of those having the row crop wide front or narrow front such as your neighbor's. I think you posted the engine serial #. The tractor serial # should be on the right side of the transmision case (below the brakes). I will try to post a picture of UB diesel later.
 
Nice to see a ub diesel, there my favorite mm form the 50s and the diesels are pretty hard to find.
 
I noticed that too. Not many of the pull type square beam versions around. I know of one around here.
 
The brown mules were made at Hopkins plant until New Holland "brass" came in --- I believe 1962 0r '61 and bought the "uni" line---then "mules" were made the next year by MM and had same brown color, but said New Holland --then next year New Holland took over and made them at their plant and were grey colored and had larger engine -- Detroit I believe ---would have to go back to my records and see as I worked on test stand and final inspection on "brown mules" for two years (1960 & 1961 I think or 59/60). I remember the later ones as Dyna brown and the earlier ones as the metallic as the Jet Star. I have a brown (Dyna) mule and picker sheller (250 corn head on model E sheller) and also did final inspections on those at Hopkins plant in the summers.
 
New Idea Bought the Uni Line (except the Uni-Balor which eventually landed with Hesston for their "in-line" baler design).
New-Idea built the Uni-up to about 1990, when "White-New Idea" went broke & bought by Agco, & merged with Allis.
 
Your right---it was new Idea --I remember the guys walking through the plant and watching us test and run the uni's. Thanks for the correction.
 
Here is the serial # for the UB. Is there any collector interest in the uni tractors? Also thanks for the input, like I said I have never seen them run but have alwayse thought they were neat machines. Mike
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I forgot to add the owner made the cabs, he said the coldest place in the world was sitting out in the open on the uni's on a cold windy fall day, He is a M-M man, I think he has 3U's 2 UB's, 2 uni tractors, a G1355, a corn sheller and a couple of plows.
 
Nice looking cabs. I think the cab that was on the one I had was an Excel brand. I wouldnt mind a Uni again but dont have a place to keep it. Any pictures of the G1355?
 

Nice to see there still some UBUDs around. Nice selection of interesting equipment. The sleeper in my opinion is the brown Uni diesel. Records indicate there were about 23 slated to be built in 1961-1962. I know of two others, 1 in Ohio and 1 in So. Dakota. Good to see UBD and Uni get a lot more respect than they use to.
 
is the Brown mule a Diesel? they are quite scarce. I've talked with many MM guys that didn't know MM built any. That really makes it interesting, wish it was in my shed.
 

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