VINTAGE TRACTORS STILL IN RUNNING ORDER

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 28

VINTAGE TRACTORS STILL IN RUNNING ORDER

Confnbtifec? by C. J. Crosbie, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Christchurch. Taking pride of place at the display of vintage tractors at this year’s Royal Show arranged by the Ferrymead Museum of Science and Industry is a Centaur 2-G garden tractor. This 44-year-old machine has been restored by members of the Society of Rural History (Canterbury), a group interested in the preservation of early machines associated with Canterbury's agriculture. The Centaur 2-G, which will be in working order at the show, was rebuilt from two tractors presented by Messrs J. H. Cropp, of Redcliffs, and P. Harris, of Marshland. Neither tractor was complete, but the lucky, almost coincidental arrival at Ferrymead of the ’two nude it possible to build up a complete tractor, together with its single furrow plough, inter-row cultivator and a drawbar for haulage The Centaur garden tractor was built in the 1920 s by the Centaur Tractor Corporation of Greenwich, Ohio, and from a descriptive leaflet in the possession of Mr T, McLaren, of Rangiora, it was “for plowing, preparation, cultivation, seeding and belt power on large and small farms, market gardens, orchards, vineyards, nurseries, golf courses and country

They wrote that “plowing is made a pleasure instead of a drudgery—cultivation and harrowing and all field work is a matter of comfortable riding. The Centaur lightens the load and puts the farm on a true manufacturing basis. “The Centaur does the work of two horses and with less work for the operator. It incorporates the splendid Le Roi Motor (a two-cylinder vertical petrol engine of approximately 10 h.p.) and has roller bearings in the transmission. The Centaur has a reverse gear built into the transmission — the same as in an automobile or a motor truck. “The tractor’s speed is controlled by an auto governor which adjusts the motor speed from 600 to 1600 revolutions to give a forward speed of one to three and a half miles.” (It has only one forward gear and a reverse in the transmission.) They wrote that “the tractor is of strong construction —will give lasting service and is one that you can thoroughly understand. It runs on gasoline and is very economical.” A most interesting feature of this Centaur tractor is that to go round comers, it bends in the middle. Steering is effected by turning a bevel pinion meshing on a quadrant located in the centre of the tractor — the same style of steering used in the “Olin” and the “Moline” tractors of that period. It is interesting to note that modern earth moving equipment and heavy industrial tractors today steer in the same manner, but with

the aid of hydraulics. The rear wheels of the Centaur can, if desired, be foot steered when inter-row cultivating garden crops, thus making for very sensitive and accurate work. Four such Centaur tractors are known to exist in Canterbury, and three of them have been restored. However, the New Zealand agent for these tractors is not known. Mr J. H. Cropp believes that the representative was in Auckland. Can any reader assist? Keeping the Centaur company at the show will be seven other old tractors — four of them from Ferrymead. There will be a 1936 Massey Harris Pacemaker presented to the museum by Mr R. M. Comer, of Milford, and restored by W. A. Rintoul, and a 1930 Case Model C industrial tractor (a relatively rare option of which about three came to New Zealand) presented by the Heathcote County Council and restored by the Riccarton Rotary Club. The Model C, owned, restored and displayed by the Ferrymead Railway Society is one of 20,478 such tractors of that model built by the Case Company at their Racine factory between 1929 and 1939. Two Railway Society members, Messrs A. J. McKenzie and K. G. Brown, also display a 50-year-old McCormick Deering 10/20 of the 1922 era — a tractor that was originally on steel wheels, but was converted to rubber tyres for driver comfort. The Case and Vintage Farm Machinery Club has also assisted with this display, and will be exhibiting a 1928 John Deere Model D “unstyled,” owned and restored by Mr C. C. de Lambert, a 1939 Lanz Bulldog Model N of 35 D.8.H.P., owned and

restored by Mr I. Gillman and a 1935 John Deere Model B, owned and restored by Mr F, McKenna. There have been many developments since the first successful farm tractors were built in 1892. In that year in the United States, Case engineers built their first tractor and in the same year John Froelich built what was to be the forerunner of the John Deere line of tractors. One of the earliest tractors to be put to work in Canterbury was a threewheeled Sanderson — an English tractor—a few of which were imported by a farmer of Leeston. Mr D. L. Rutherford recalls one at work on Leslie Hills in 19061907. It was powered by a four-cylinder engine with a 6in diameter piston and a 6in stroke. It was driven and steered through universal gears on the front wheels, and through a roller chain to the back wheel. This tractor pulled either two sets of nine-a-side disc harrows, or two three-furrow lever ploughs in tandem. The year 1911 saw the introduction of the Titan tractor by the International Harvester Company, to be followed later by their Mogul—one of the first going to Mr J. Sowden, of Bankside, who used a fivefurrow gang plough with it. The 24 h.p. Ivel tractor was on display at the Canterbury Show in 1913 and 1914; the Sampson Sieve Grip received the Gold Medal at the 1916 show, and in 1918 the Cleveland Farm Tractor was awarded the Gold Medal. In 1919 both the Fordson, and the Case 10-18 were on display, and the 32 h.p. Peterbro in 1922. Other great names in the vintage tractor world are recorded (they took part in tractor trials in 1917 at Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth and, in 1919, near

Lincoln) — Alldays, Austin, Avery, Blackstone, Clayton, Crawley, Emerson, Eros, F.1.A.T., Gamer, G. 0., Glasgow, Gray, Illinois, Mann Steamer, Marton, Maskell, Moline, Overtime, Pick, Soulter, Saunderson, Wallis Junior, Week’s Simplex, and the Whiting Bull. But the prize for unusual tractor names must go to

the Hofherr - Schrantz - Clayton - Shuttleworth (the H.S.C.S.), a tractor which appeared in the Ashburton County in 1924. Its engine was made in Hungary, and tractor built in England. It is interesting to read of these old tractors and the contribution they made to agriculture. It is even more interesting to see them on

display. A growing band of I enthusiasts, either indi- ■ vidually or as clubs, is ensuring that these pages! from the past will not be| lost. They make it their plea-! sure to find, restore and; preserve vintage tractors! that would otherwise rust; away, or be melted for scrap iron.