MTFCA Forum

Hi

New to this forum and writing from the UK, we have picked up this tractor conversion kit recently and wondered if anyone can assist identifying it please?

Many thanks

Happy to help! Hard to tell by the photos but looks like 10x36 inch wheels with 16 spokes. Bull gears look like they are one piece probably 56 teeth with 8 angle brackets rivited to the wheel rim and using 5/8 bolts. If I've guessed wrong so far or if the bull gears are actually segments let me know. 1-15/16 axle diameter? measurements needed : 1. across wheel center 2. diameter of wheel center. photos needed : 1.pinion gears 2. wheel hub centers 3. adjusters 4. axle stops. This wheel was used 1916 - possibly as late 1923/24. Are there any letters or numbers on the gears? Glenn

I'd guess staude, monkey wards, or one of the hundreds of conversion builders. LOL, heavy channel irons through me off.

thanks for responses , will get some more pictures and dimensions posted later today or tomorrow...
many thanks...

10x36.3/4" inch wheels with 16 spokes.
Bull gears 56 teeth with 8 angle brackets riveted to the wheel rim and using 5/8 bolts. they are segments
1.13/16 axle diameter
spoke wheel center. 5" dia x10"wide
pinion gears 6 teeth
there no any letters or numbers on the gears or anything!
wheel hub axle retainers are missing, easily made.

many thanks....

Hi Steve! There is good and not so good news. Great new photos. Your wheels are from a 1917/18 "Tracford" built by the Standard Detroit Tractor Company in Michigan. The company started manufacturing ''Tracfords'' in 1916 but at first used different wheels that they made. The company went bankrupt in 1919. The later wheels like yours were purchased from the Havana Wheel Company in Illinois. The pinion gears were originally roller pinions. The not so good news depending on what your plans are is that the rest of what you have is homemade.

Glenn
we were aware of home made part of the project when we saw the aluminium spacers on axle shaft, also thought it was overengineered in size of steel frame used ?

Have you any pictures you can post of the roller pinion you mention, so I can getting understanding of such a pinion.
and also any pictures a complete similar tractor conversion please ? so we know what we are aiming for.

Many thanks for your help here....

Steve Frost wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 30, 2023 9:41 am

Glenn
we were aware of home made part of the project when we saw the aluminium spacers on axle shaft, also thought it was overengineered in size of steel frame used ?

Have you any pictures you can post of the roller pinion you mention, so I can getting understanding of such a pinion.
and also any pictures a complete similar tractor conversion please ? so we know what we are aiming for.

Many thanks for your help here....

Found on the INTERNET
https://www.ebay.com/itm/165538609060 Possible to copy pages --
--
Some similar pictures in this link but not the same https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/3 ... 89459.html

The wheels seem identical with the riveted tab for the bull gear sections to bolt to, light Glenn said the wheel were probably bought from a wheel company like Electric Wheel or someone else

Here is the Fond du lac drive pinion

Hi Steve! the brochure on Ebay is 1917 and has some photos of the 1916 model. It also shows an early 5-tooth roller pinion. several different attachment mfg. companies used roller pinions. They are not hard to make by machining down a T wheel hub, welding on a round plate and drilling holes for the roller mounting bolts. Glenn

Hi Billy! Your wheels for a 20th Century/FondduLac are similar yet different. Tracford wheel centers are smaller in diameter and shaped different at the inner hub end. That upset of the spokes thru the rim has a "star" pattern while Tracford's are like a rounded button. If you look at the photo in the brochure on Ebay of a bull gear segment, you will see that the trailing edge from the higher bolt end is straight. Yours will have a rounded edge. You have the 7 tooth pinions. Glenn

A little more history for you .. they cost $155 in California (March), and $125 in Illinois (February) 1917:



Excerpts from Prairie Farmer, 24 February 1917 and Chico Record, Number 68, 23 March 1917 with thanks to Illinois digital newspaper collections and California digital newspaper collection.

Would be interesting to know how yours ended up in the UK, and what the cost was there at the time!

Hi Luke! What is the brand name of the tractor attachment in your first photo? Chico newspaper? It looks like an "L.A." Glenn

My Son has purchased the leaflet on ebay
we bought the project off a dealer here in UK who had filled container of cars etc from America,
would anyone have such a tracford conversion so we could get some detailed measurements of the roller pinion to enable us to fabricate....

many thanks...

TractorGlenn wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 31, 2023 1:17 pm

Hi Luke! What is the brand name of the tractor attachment in your first photo? Chico newspaper? It looks like an "L.A." Glenn

Glenn,

I had a look back at the advertisement again but it doesn't name the attachment - it was all about the Tracford.

FWIW 'Mission Garage' were agents for Ford (and it would appear Tracford) at that time and I guess it was them that commissioned the photograph. I had a quick look to see if they had any ploughs for sale but nothing doing. It might be that a more concerted search would reveal something.

In case it's of interest there is a little more on both the Model T and the Tracford, in the Chico Record of 15th April 1917:

"W. F. Gage & Son of the Mission garage have received a new Sedan Ford demonstrator. The sedan is the masterpiece of the Ford factory, and is a town car as well as one for social purposes. • • • The Tracford recently delivered to L. D. Cholsser, a local farmer and orchardist, by the Mission garage, attracted a great deal of attention Friday afternoon when it was driven about town by a mechanic of the garage."

Luke.

Steve Frost wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 02, 2024 3:14 am

My Son has purchased the leaflet on ebay
we bought the project off a dealer here in UK who had filled container of cars etc from America,
would anyone have such a tracford conversion so we could get some detailed measurements of the roller pinion to enable us to fabricate....

many thanks...

Pictures from this link might help in estimating measurements for fabrication https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/3 ... 89459.html

thanks everyone for your help and assistance with information and photos, it a great help!

regards


Steve