The Rural Voice, 1992-04, Page 28Men and machines
For every old tractor there is a story
of how a farm family did its work
By Cathy Laird
The relationship between man and
machine is a special one. Back
through the years, every farmer has
had a favourite tractor. This trip
down memory lane is a series of
recollections by farm families about
the dependable partners in their
farming operations: the tractors of
yesteryear.
The first tractor on the Weaver
farm in Derby township was a
Waterloo Boy. "Thcn we had a
Massey -Harris Wallis," says Stewart
Wcavcr. "My Dad, Herman Weaver,
was the first manager of the Grey
Farmers' Co-op in Owen Sound back
in the late 1930s. He also had an
implement dealership," he continues.
"Hc ran it later from the home farm
here, selling Co-op tractors. Dad sold
nine Co-ops, and we know where five
of the original nine are today."
The Co-op tractor was produced
in three models. The Co-op #1 was a
"tricycle model," with one wheel in
front. The Co-op #2 was the most
popular, according to Stewart
Weaver. "It has a six -cylinder
Chrysler engine, with five speeds
ahead and one reverse. It also has a
Chrysler differential."
"It's a real smooth riding tractor,"
says Don, Stewart's son. "It's just
like riding in a truck."
The Co-op models #2 and #3 sold
for $975 to $1050. "The Co-op was
about the first tractor in the area on
rubber tires," states Stewart. "It was
a good, general -use tractor. They
would travel about 30 to 35 mph on
the road."
Stewart and Don work together on
the old tractors. "We don't usually
rebuild the motors," says Don. "If
it's working, we use it 'as is.'
Otherwise there is too much expense
involved. We're not looking for
financial reward, but when we restore
a tractor, we want to do it right," he
Stewart Weaver drives his Model #2
Co-op tractor at a local parade. His
father sold Co-ops and they know
where five of the nine tractors he
sold are today.
continues. "Like most collectors, we
have more money invested in them
than what they're worth."
Don collects Allis-Chalmers
tractors. "I dealt our Co-op on an
Allis and that's how we got started,"
says Stewart. The Allis-Chalmers
Company was formed in 1901 with
the merger of four firms in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The
company first introduced a tractor in
1914, then branched into tillage
equipment, later including the
"Gleaner" line of harvesting
equipment.
"At first, Allis-Chalmers did not
make tractors," states Don. "They
purchased tractors from the United
Tractor Company. In 1930, Allis-
Chalmers bought U.T.C. What's
interesting is we have a 1929 Model
U with the `United Tractor Company'
name cast in the rad," he continues.
"We also have a 1931 Model U. That
one has 'Allis-Chalmers' cast in the
rad. It's quite a novelty to have
them."
The Weavers have several Allis-
Chalmers models. The AC Mode B
was made from 1937 to 1957. It was
a four -cylinder model with adjustable
tire tread width. The price of a
Model B, F.O.B. the factory, was
$518 in 1940. The AC Model G was
a smaller tractor with a 10 -
horsepower, rear -mounted engine. It
was used particularly in truck
farming operations for scuffling and
plowing.
"The Allis-Chalmers Model
WD45 could be purchased with either
a gasoline engine or a diesel engine,
24 THE RURAL VOICE