[Help sought] identifying a tractor in a painting

jameswetzstein · Apr 28, 2019

Hello friends,

I joined this forum in the hopes that someone in this community would be able to help me make an identification of a tractor that is featured in a 1936 fresco mural painted by Edgar Britton for Bloom High School in Chicago Heights Ill.
It features a rear three-quarter view of the right side of a tractor with steel wheels and large fenders over the drive wheels.
I've posted a picture here (sorry it's sideways)

I'm working on an analysis of this painting for a class I'm taking.

Thanks in advance!
Jim

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Billy NY · Apr 28, 2019

Fordson would be my guess.

showcrop · Apr 28, 2019

I agree, Fordson. The detail is not really specific, but there were a lot of them in use at the time.

Janicholson · Apr 28, 2019

I also agree Fordson A 10-20 would likely have side panels. Jim

RogerinIowa · Apr 28, 2019

The rear bottom of fender doesnt have the flare or lip of Fordson, but side panels seem tosay so.

Old weldor · Apr 28, 2019

Generic tractor, quite common with artists!

J.Wondergem · Apr 28, 2019

Kind of a rough painting of a Fordson. My guess.

jameswetzstein · Apr 28, 2019

Thanks to all who responded!
This is very helpful.
I'll search for images of Fordson tractors.
I'm inclined to think that Britton painted from some sort of example another fresco in the same series contains what is obviously a Douglas DC-3 in correct American Airlines livery of the day.
Jim

MJ in the UK · Apr 28, 2019

I vote a IH 10-20, the Fordson did not have an operators platform with a drawbar underneath it. MJ

Lyndon - AB · Apr 28, 2019

I'm going to throw another curve ball in. The steering wheel is low, far back, and almost looks offset to the right. Along with the way the platform and hood looks, I'm tempted to say it looks like a Twin City 12-20.

Would the wooden-appearing steering wheel be a clue with any merit? I tried chasing that lead, but hit a dead end.

Lyndon - AB · Apr 28, 2019

Disregard my idea. The operators platform is different on a 12-20, and they all have a 5 spoke steering wheel, not a 4 spoke.

timcasbolt · Apr 28, 2019

(quoted from post at 12:58:22 04/28/19) Hello friends,

I joined this forum in the hopes that someone in this community would be able to help me make an identification of a tractor that is featured in a 1936 fresco mural painted by Edgar Britton for Bloom High School in Chicago Heights Ill.
It features a rear three-quarter view of the right side of a tractor with steel wheels and large fenders over the drive wheels.
I've posted a picture here (sorry it's sideways)

I'm working on an analysis of this painting for a class I'm taking.

Thanks in advance!
Jim

jimg.allentown · Apr 28, 2019

I would suggest that it is not any particular brand, but rather a rendering from the artist's memory of what a tractor would have looked like in his day. He could have taken features from several different tractors from memory and made it look the way he liked it.

55 50 Ron · Apr 28, 2019

I agree on the 10-20 McCormick-Deering. It would seem somewhat natural to paint that since the IHC factory was in Chicago.

SweetFeet · Apr 28, 2019

Not sure if it's a 10-20 either... as quite a few differences from 10-20's that I have seen:
air stack missing,
seat mount looks different,
the backside of platform not bowed inward,
draw bar seems too high/close to the platform,
cannot see any starter-tank,
and cannot see that handily located toolbox that one could snag your foot on if trying to get off the tractor in a hurry.

[Help sought] identifying a tractor in a painting

jameswetzstein

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Billy NY

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showcrop

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Janicholson

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RogerinIowa

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Old weldor

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J.Wondergem

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jameswetzstein

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MJ in the UK

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Lyndon - AB

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Lyndon - AB

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timcasbolt

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jimg.allentown

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55 50 Ron

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SweetFeet

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