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Looks dangerous!

M

morgan in ar

Member
I saw this picture at the John Deere museum in Waterloo. The caption reads: dealer delivering a new B tractor about 1939. Do you think it's real? It looks hard to handle, and I can't imagine that pickup having enough power, suspension or brakes to get the job done. I didn't think trailers and pickups moving tractors was common until the 70's. I would picture using a two ton truck, or even towing the tractor prior to that. What do you think?
a272606.jpg
 
I think it's just a still photo ......... for whatever reason, like advertising, etc. Or maybe taken just before they chained it down.
 
I'm not convinced that it is real. I was around then, although young and never saw anything close to that. My Dad was a auto mechanic and my uncle (his brother) owned a car dealership.
Four or five men would drive to Detroit; each would drive a new car back to the dealership.
There were very few car haulers and they couldn't pull four cars far.

Look closely at the wheel rims/tire width on the trailer..............To my knowledge nothing like that until after WW2.
Look closer at the rear tractor tires.....Must be ultra inflated; not much contact with bed. That is a "doctored" photo.
Jim B
 
(quoted from post at 11:53:07 07/06/18) I'd guess it is real. I doubt the rig broke 10 m.p.h. with the tractor loaded though.
Click to expand...
In 1939 the top speed of that tractor was about 6 m.p.h. So even at 10 m.p.h. it was still faster than driving it if you had to go any distance.
 
With that single axle trailer, the first thing that will happen will be the trailer will start to swing and the whole thing will wind up in the ditch.

Don't ask me how I know.
 
The tongue weight would increase a lot anytime the brakes were applied.

Which would be more dangerous with that rig: towing or loading? I would not want to try either one.
 
Doc ...... you caught something others missed. Are you sure you aren't a "doc" in forensic police investigation?
 
Now, that's funny! Seriously, I think only the Essex tri directional could be delivered behind a model A truck. The Essex tri directional is filled with helium, so it is very light.
 
The whole trailer looks fake.

Where are the springs?

Looks to be attached directly to the truck, no tongue.

No running lights or plate.

No tie downs.

Too perfect and clean.
 
Just because they don't have locking rings does not mean they're not split rims, and they did have Budd style wheels at that time:

http://www.fatfenderedtrucks.com/widowmaker.html
 
That kinda stuff all worked out and there wasn't all the dot stuff back then.

But the trailer construction and rims sure look newer than the 1930s......

Paul
 
Oh and it probably *WAS* dangerous, but people were either more willing to take risks, or more ignorant to the risks involved, at the time.

Trailer isn't manufactured. It's shop-built.

Tractor's almost perfectly balanced over the axle. Not a guaranteed sway event, especially if you keep the speed down.
 
They over inflated tires for shipping back then to help with the tie down on rail cars. That would account for the tire stance the tractor is so light in the front end it would probably balance about there on a trailer.
For the wheels the locking ring was usually on the side next to the hub when bolted on the axle.That is why I put them on the axle to inflate them as the ring can only hit the other tire. The inside tire would however be facing the open space so with both on it is pretty safe plus no ring to see from this angle.
Now if that is a tilt bed trailer it would come down about there.
 
(quoted from post at 14:18:16 07/06/18) Just because they don't have locking rings does not mean they're not split rims, and they did have Budd style wheels at that time:

http://www.fatfenderedtrucks.com/widowmaker.html
Click to expand...
es, Sir! I have read many discussions over the years & have reached the conclusion that more often than not, people wouldn't know the split rim (RH-5) if it jumped up an bit them.
 
do a search on a John Deere #16 trailer. James Howell re-did one some years ago, it was mentioned on this sight.
The arches over the wheels are different, but everything else sure looks like a #16.
 

I used to haul a 1950 JD model B on a one ton truck. The tractor had cast rear rims, and weighed 4500 pounds. The tractor in the picture has spoke rims and is probably a hand start. It probably weighed under 4000 pounds. The trailer would hold it's weight alright, but it needs to be chained down. That trucks top speed was probably 45-50mph. If the driver kept in under 40mph pulling that load would be possible.
 
Back when that outfit was new there was a Deere dealer every 25 miles so that was as far as they hauled anything and if you look at the pics it was more than likely central IL where it is flat land anyway. Less traffic and less people it was more than likely ok but not in today's world. Tom
 
People are posting now without reading the previous comments. Obviously, something smells fishy in Denmark yet people are still offering all kinds of ridiculous explanations when the whole thing is a hoax ............ probably from Nigeria.
 
Compliments of James Howell, we have pictures of a John Deere #16 trailer. He has some very good pictures of the wheels.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hUjA5qxUmOI?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Our 1948 Cyclone A got delivered the very same way near Titusville Pa. But the Trk was a Flat bed dually, very same trailer.
No I don't remember it, but I seen the picture!
 
Budd developed the stamped steel wheel with the solid center, with input of Michelin, back in 1918. Early versions employed a multipiece design, both 2 and 3 piece. Given the advertising literature posted, plus the restoration video from one of our own respected YT members, there is no doubt in my mind that the photo is legitimate.
 
There was a John Deere dealer in Mchenry North Dakota, (population about 150) that sold out with a auction in 1966/67. Our neighbors bought the trailer just like this one. My Dad borrowed it several times and I remember cranking the winch on it. No we never hauled any tractors with it but pulled it with a 1950 ford 1 ton.
 

Back in the mid 60's I picked up/delivered several tractors/implements on a #16 JD tilt trailer towed by a early 50's GMC 3/4 ton pickup. The hand gear operated winch would take one's breath a away loading a non-running tractor. Backing a hand clutch 2 cyl would put "skid marks in ones undies" if the tractors rear tires slipped on the metal plates over the trailer's dual tires. BTDT
 
There wasn't as much traffic then and they probably went slower. The only thing that bothers me is there is nothing strapping the tractor to the trailer.
 
Many many ytdot officers who are still in boot camp chiming in on this one &#128514;&#128514;&#128514;
 
Passed a 4450 John Deere mfwd with loader on a flat bed
trailer not one chain on the whole thing I know they guy and
where he was coming from and it?s a long windy road yet the
world turns and humanity is not wiped out and then sun still
shines I?ve never dare haul one 60 miles without chains I
have went across the farm it?s just to easy to throw a few
chains
 
My grandpa swore there wasn?t a tractor made until 1940 and balers didn?t exist until 1970 just because you didn?t see it doesn?t make it fake
 
(quoted from post at 17:21:00 07/06/18) There wasn't as much traffic then and they probably went slower. The only thing that bothers me is there is nothing strapping the tractor to the trailer.
Click to expand...

Stephen, were you there? What tells you that they didn't chain it down after taking the pic?
 
Years ago I talked with Al Rucker who was a photographer for IH back in the 1960's. He said all the pictures are staged. Anything to sell their product. One IH picture shows a giant rock in a rear dirt scoop. It took them 30 minutes to get it in the scoop he said. He was very interesting to talk to. He also sent me a list of all the IH promotional movies that IH made, what year they were filmed. The movies are located up in Wisconsin but I forget which town.
 
If your looking at the rims laying down in the picture, they are the OLD lock ring type rim. Look at the bottom rim. I spent 22+ years in the tire business doing everything from 4" tires to the biggest end loader tires. Every thing looks 100% correct to me.
 
Picture is NOT a fake. That is a factory built dealer only trailer and has brakes. Friend now still owns one that his Dad got years ago when he was a tractor jocky. A different friend had one he sold at auction a few years ag, restored and he hauled a unstyled Deere D on it back of a I think 36 Chevy One ton with the plow for tye Deere on the truck. I cannot tell you if it has springs or not, would just have to drive the 4 mile to look at my friends trailer. But that truck at that time 25 MPH would have been a high speed with that trailer. Most were pulled with the ton and half trucks.
 
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