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Tractor Tires
Because
of
early pneumatic tire pioneers Charles Goodyear and his development of
vulcanization, which made rubber both elastic and non-sticking, thus rendering
it suitable for use in pneumatic tires. And Benjamin Franklin Goodrich who's pneumatic tires were on
the first cars manufactured in the United States. The Tire industry would usher in
the next major advance in improved tractor technology. The lack of practical pneumatic tires
had, until the early
1930s, hampered the
universal use of
tractors.
While tractors with lugged metal wheels suitable for plowing could not be
used on surfaced public roads, solid tires suitable for road use were inadequate
in wet fields. Solid lugged wheels were also unsuitable for cultivation
purposes, as they caused too much damage to the roots of crops. |
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The first tires for farm tractors were sold in 1932. They were special, low-pressure pneumatic tires which seemed capable of
meeting the varied service requirements demanded of farm tractors. And thus started one of the most rapid and striking changes in farm equipment history.
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Less than three years later, in 1935, nearly 20,000 tractors
(14 percent of the wheel tractor production) were equipped with rubber
tractor tires at the factory.
Left Not until
the early 30's were rubber tractor tires even available for tractor
applications. All tractors were configured much like the Oliver
70 RC on the left.
That figure kept
jumping spectacularly. In 1936, it was 31 percent; in 1937, it
was 42 percent; in 1938,
it was 65 percent; in 1939, it was 83 percent. By 1940 more
than 90 percent of all wheel tractors were sold on rubber.
Rubber tires soon showed they could do all of these things on
other implements, as well as on tractors.
Bottom
Despite this mid 30's ad promoting Oliver Tractor Companies Tip
Toe wheels as the "modern way to apply power" . The steel wheel
would become obsolete only a few years later
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Agricultural experiment stations put rubber tires to the test. Purdue found, in actual farming tests extending over the working season,
that pneumatic tires save an average of more than 14% in fuel and increase drawbar horse power by 15 to 21 percent.
Ohio State University tests revealed that tractors equipped with rubber tires could plow 27 percent more, with 23 percent less fuel,
than tractors mounted on steel. It required but 31.4 percent as much power to move the rubber-tired tractor on sod,
and 54.1 percent as much power on plowed ground.
With both rubber and steel tired tractors, the University of Nebraska made tests cultivating corn, combining wheat, binding oats,
drilling wheat, picking corn, plowing and moving hay. In all these farm operations, the rubber-tired tractors saved
13.1 percent in time and 17.9 percent in fuel.
University of Illinois experiments showed that rubber tires allow a tractor to roll so easily that "there is 20 to 25 per
cent more horse power available at the drawbar than is the case with steel wheels, a saving of nearly 25 percent
in fuel for heavy work, and a year-round saving of 14 to 17
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Aided by the cushioning effect of rubber tires, the speed of farm machinery improved noticeably.
Rubber-tired tractors were hitched to trailers and wagons mounted on rubber, replacing the farm truck in some instances.
Ohio State tests showed what putting wagons on rubber would do to make it easy on team or
tractor: a 6,275-pound load of hay on cultivated soil required only a 780-pound pull
when mounted on rubber, while a 6,325-pound load on steel required a pull of 1,175 pounds.
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Iowa State engineers tested two manure spreaders over five miles of graveled road. One was equipped
with rubber tires; the other was on steel. Shocks to the frames of each were measured at speeds of
2 1/2 and 5 miles an hour. At the lower speed, the steel-wheeled spreader received 4,431
shocks; the rubber-tired spreader, only 709 shocks.
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These shocks on the steel-wheeled implement varied in force up to 1,988 pounds;
on the rubber-tired spreader, up to 1,288 pounds.
At five miles an hour, the rubber-tired spreader received only 528 shocks; the steel-tired spreader,
18,251. That's 34.5 times as many. Engineers estimate that the useful lives of some implements
are prolonged 25 percent by putting them on rubber
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Allis Chalmers Early Pioneer |
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In 1930
, Allis Chalmers engineers had begun experiments with pneumatic tires. In April, 1932, a pair of Firestone 48 x 12 airplane tires were mounted on an
A-C Model U tractor belonging to Albert Schroeder of Waukesha, Wis. This test
proofed extremely successful.
In 1933 Allis Chalmers unveiled a "hot rod" tractor at
the Wisconsin State Fair. The tractor was shown working a plow
then a local racing driver, Frank Brisco, took it to 35.4mph on the now
historical Milwaukee Mile Race Track.
This created a sensation and Allis-Chalmers capitalized on the success
by starting a tractor racing team. Valuable publicity was generated and by 1937
around 50 percent of new tractors sold in the United States were fitted with
pneumatic tires. |
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Actual News story
titled TRACTOR SPEED AMAZING from The Wisconsin Agriculturist
and Farmer 1933
Fans attending the A. A. A. automobile races at the Wisconsin State Fair Grounds in Milwaukee June 18 were amazed when an air-tired farm tractor, which had been giving a plowing demonstration in the infield of the race track, was unhooked from the plow, and run onto the race track to establish an all time world's speed record of 35.4 miles an hour for a farm tractor, average for 5 miles.
Driven by Frank Brisko, nationally known race driver who made 118 miles an hour at Indianapolis this year and was second in the race there until mechanical trouble forced him out, the bright orange colored tractor displayed a brand of speed which never before has been associated with the plodding iron horse.
After Albert Schroeder, prominent Waukesha County, Wisconsin farmer, had plowed in front of the grandstand at a speed of five miles an hour, he unhitched and turned the tractor over to Brisko.
Those in the stands inclined to sit back and grin at the absurdity of afarm tractor on the race track, were soon sitting on the edge of their seats wondering if they were dreaming. The tractor, one of the new models recently introduced, with the aid of its air tires held the curves on the track like the speediest racers.
The speed was officially electrically timed by A. A. A. officials who also expressed amazement at the performance of this farm tractor.
It was demonstrated in the Milwaukee A. A. A. test that the farm tractor has entered on a new field of usefulness and that its service is no longer confined to the fields alone, but can be adapted to hauling uses on the highways.
In addition to the new tires, the speed record was made possible by the development of a four speed transmission which gives the new tractor the same operating ease of a pleasure car.
It was the first time that engineers had been able to adapt the transmission principles of the automobile with success to the tractor.
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Antique Farming Top Links |
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Massey Harris Tractors
Take a look at the roots of the Massey Ferguson Tractor
Company visit our Massey Harris Tractor page
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John Deere Tractor Model M
John Deere's Utility Tractor designed to replace the John Deere Model H,
John Deere Model L and Model LA
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NEW HOLLAND |
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Most tractor manufactures realized the importance of offering a full line of farm machinery to complement their farm tractors. While many attempted to sell hay balers
Very few succeeded in creating one that could run head to head with what the New Holland Company had to offer.
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JOHN DEERE MANURE SPREADER |
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The
John Deere
company sales catalog began showing John Deere Manure Spreaders in 1910 with the acquisition of the Kemp & Burpee and their successful spreader
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New Idea
Farm Wagon |
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Original going by the name of the New Idea Spreader
Company. Early success with their Manure Spreader and
Farm Wagon
help New Idea enjoy a long successful existence manufacturing
Farm equipment |
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CASE 530 |
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Case 530
First announced in 1960 the Case 530 tractor "Standard Tread"
was the base tractor of the extremely popular 530
Construction King. The tractor offered the advantages of the 530
Construction King for drawbar applications. It was a popular tractor for pulling rollers, tampers, scrapers, trailers,
and similar
Construction Equipment
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