Factory original

Bob Huntress · Dec 9, 2011

I'm a little of a purist, but, that only goes so far. I frequently hear people talk about keeping their 6volt systems because they were what the tractor originally would have had. I reminds me of a very old machine shop owner I knew in the early 1980's in east TN. He was the one who explained that back in the day most people didn't buy tractors. He told me that before WW2 they would buy the most stripped down automoble the factory would sell, send it to a machine shop that would build a tractor out of it. I tend to believe that may have been a common practice in those way back days. If this be true, factory original isn't something that would be as critical, as most tractors depended on not being such. Is the account of this nameless machine shop owner common enough, to thing that small farms weren't operating large numbers of the factory tractors that we see on this site?

just another old geezer · Dec 9, 2011

I would not put a lot of credibility on that story, A few companys sold traction conversion kits to put on cars to convert then to tractive use. It was soon learned that cars lacked the cooling system or drive train to stand up to this use. these kits are museum pieces now

Bob Huntress · Dec 9, 2011

He was telling me that was the bulk of his work when he was young, but he was old then, I wasn't around, then, but I have read books that displayed locally made tractors that were built many years ago. They generally look like they were originally cars. I'm sure no one argues that it never happened, just as to how prevalent the practice was. It sounds like you are saying that it didn't happen all that much. I really don't know, yet, it is interesting.

Janicholson · Dec 9, 2011

There were few New cars converteed directly, they were (most often) model T and AA trucks with conversion "kits" used to add transmissions, and shorten the drive line. Doodle Bugs were the common name. The trucks were not purchased new, they were often wrecked, or not road worthy in some way. Wooden body components were very short lived. Jim

pat sublett · Dec 9, 2011

I was around in those days. It never happened in my part of the country, maybe in Tenn. A few people tried to use Army surplus Jeeps after the war. You could buy atachments. Didn't last long though.

ShadetreeRet · Dec 9, 2011

Old Geezer is right, several conversion kits were made to convert a car or truck chassis to a light duty tractor. One even addressed the cooling problem by providing a large tank to increase the coolant capacity. I found this information in a book printed in 1926 concerning the Model T Ford car and Fordson farm tractor.
In the area where I grew up, in the WWII days it was commonplace to take an old heavy duty truck or even a semi tractor and shorten the frame to where the rear axle was just behind the drivers seat. These were heavy enough to pull a plow, grain binder and do other farm work. They were referred to as "Hoover tractors" or Doodlebugs in our area.

Ultradog MN · Dec 9, 2011

Dunno about the machine shop conversions but between 39 and 52 they sold most of a million Ford Ns. They were all factory original.

samn40 · Dec 9, 2011

A company called Eros sent kits over here to Britain to convert model 'Ts' into light tractors. In fact it was on to one of these conversions that Harry Ferguson fitted his first fully mounted plough!
Sam

SMinWi · Dec 9, 2011

This one was home made by my neighbor in the 1950s

CenTex Farmall · Dec 9, 2011

Now that is way too cool! I love the brake marks on the hood. Any idea what powers it? Look like OHV of some kind.

SMinWi · Dec 9, 2011

(quoted from post at 04:30:27 12/10/11) Now that is way too cool! I love the brake marks on the hood. Any idea what powers it? Look like OHV of some kind.

Ford model A engine. Ford model A transmission. Chevy transmission. Yes it has two transmissions! Chevy differential.

BCnT · Dec 10, 2011

i got 4 more of them chevy 18" duals if he needs em

Leroy · Dec 10, 2011

No body could have aforded to buy a new car to do that with. When that was being done they used cars that were considered no longer good for use as a car. Remember there were no used car dealers then so when the family car was no longer good for that ( like the model T that did not have a starter that the wife could not use they got a new car with the starter and then as no used car dealers the old car just would have gone to junk.) But not having a starter was not a problem for the farmer so instead of junking the car completely they usually bought a kit unless the owner was enough of a fabricator to make his own and put it to use in that way. A lot of time it would have been as a second light tractor.

barnE · Dec 10, 2011

uncle built several model a tractors. Said kits come from Sears and Roebucks. This was in the 50's. Have seen three myself, two in Buckley, Mich. about 10 years ago. Dave

Factory original

Bob Huntress

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just another old geezer

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Bob Huntress

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pat sublett

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Ultradog MN

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