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Friday, September 6, 2013

Hart Parr Oil Pull



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15 comments:

  1. Taken For GrantedSeptember 6, 2013 at 10:04 AM

    This is a Hart Parr 30-60 Oil Pull, the first machine to be called a "tractor." This tractor had a two cylinder motor with a ten inch bore and fifteen inch stroke. There were 3,798 manufactured from 1907-1918 in Charles City, Iowa. This model tractor represents the birth of gas tractors in agriculture, road construction, and industry. The Hart Parr Company referred to this model as "Old Reliable" which started on gas and then switched to kerosene (oil) when fully warm. It contained a long list of innovations for internal combustion engines such as valves in head, overhead cam shafts, pressure lubrication to bearings, magneto ignition, and water injection. Water injection was later used on WW II fighter plane engines to increase power. In 1926 the Hart Parr Company merged with the Oliver Tractor Company.

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    1. himalaya07September 6, 2013 at 10:50 PM

      Where is, or was, Charles City, Iowa? Is it still there?
      Penny

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    2. Taken For GrantedSeptember 6, 2013 at 11:24 PM

      Mr. Hart was originally from Charles City. He met Mr. Parr while working on an engineering degree at the U. of Wisc, Madison. The two of them went back to Charles City at the intersection of highways 18 and 218 to build tractors. Today it is still there with a population of 7,546, but no tractor manufacturing.

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  2. EdSeptember 6, 2013 at 10:20 AM

    I've enjoyed all your pictures of these great antique farm machines. It looked like quite a display and you captured it well.

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    1. Taken For GrantedSeptember 6, 2013 at 10:44 AM

      Thank you, Ed. I've also been enjoying your posts on marine engines and boats.

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  3. MalyssSeptember 6, 2013 at 1:16 PM

    It's only when we see all those old machines that we realised the progress that was made since the beginning of industrial revolution!

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    1. Taken For GrantedSeptember 6, 2013 at 3:52 PM

      Yes, change is rapid. The tractors I grew up with are now considered antique collectables. The old oil pulls were the first step away from steam tractor engines. Those were before my time.

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  4. HansHBSeptember 6, 2013 at 3:35 PM

    Great photo, perfect in B&W!
    I do love all kind of old machines, this tractor is awesome!

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  5. JackSeptember 6, 2013 at 7:38 PM

    I'm guessing a professor of agricultural engineering. Close?

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    1. Taken For GrantedSeptember 6, 2013 at 10:41 PM

      No, just a long term follower of big iron for half a century, but I've also spent a career in universities.

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  6. John D. LinnSeptember 6, 2013 at 7:42 PM

    >>ten inch bore and fifteen inch stroke

    I am not good at math but that must be quite a lot of displacement, especially for only two cylinders! Almost unbelievable!

    Nice shots.

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    1. Taken For GrantedSeptember 6, 2013 at 11:03 PM

      Those cylinders are huge, 150 cubic inches each, or 300 cubic inches in the motor. It only produces 60 horsepower at the belt wheel. That mechanical horsepower could do a great deal more work than farm horses, and it didn't get tired at the end of the day. Industrial technology came to agriculture.

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  7. DragonstarSeptember 7, 2013 at 3:37 AM

    Great photos. I like them both. I'm particularly fascinated by the corrugations on the rear wheel!

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    1. Taken For GrantedSeptember 9, 2013 at 9:12 AM

      This tractor was designed to work in soil, so the iron patterns on the drive wheels are there to provide traction. Smooth iron of wet grass has no grip even with a machine weighing twelve tons.

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  8. paulSeptember 8, 2013 at 2:34 AM

    Good shots, and a bonus history class - excellent.

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