farmertim

Saw this old thing near my farm and couldn't resist sharing the pictures.
see the small picture of what it should have looked like?

this info below from; http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bobkav/aussietractorpage/aussietractors.htm

RONALDSON TIPPETT

The Ronaldson brothers started to produce farm machinery in 1903 in Ballarat Victoria Australia, Jack Tippett joined them in 1905. they helped to service the extensive gold mining operations. They produced some of Australia's earliest internal combustion engines including the Austral brand, by the early 1920's they had produced over 4000 engines. They experimented with tractors as early as 1910 but it was not until the mid 1920's that they introduced their Super Drive tractor.(see story below) They also imported the Wisconsin engines and later made them under license, they produced a lot of engines for WW2 and by the end of the war were Australia's largest engine manufacturer. They ceased making tractors in the late 1930's and continued making engines until 1972

Things are not always as they seem and this could apply to the Vintage Ronaldson Tippett tractor which is part of the large collection at the Temora Rural Museum. Actually the only part that is Ronaldson Tippett is the oversize cast iron radiator with Ronaldson Tippett cast into its ample front area. The tractor is in reality, a l924 American "Illinois", one of 73 tractors imported by Ronaldson Bros and Tippett of Ballarat, Victoria, who were heavily involved in the manufacture of Austral oil engines and a variety of high grade farm machinery. It seems that the Temora tractor, serial number l0, was one of the first batch of 25 Illinois tractors imported in l924 and all of the batch had a cooling system problem, being prone to boiling when working under unfavourable conditions. To overcome the problem Ronaldson Bros and Tippett made an oversize radiator, incorporating a very large top tank onto which they cast their name.

Ronaldson Tippett TractorIn other words they re-badged the tractors. Tractor No l0 was dispatched to a Temora farmer on 8th October l924. It was presented to the Temora Rural Museum by Mr Bob Dunn, of Temora, in good working condition. It is not known if he was the original purchaser. These tractors were known as "Super Drives" which probably referred to the somewhat unique transmission which consisted of a planetary final drive on the rear wheels and a quick change set of cogs under a cover on the side of the transmission housing. Having an assortment of various size cogs it was possible to change the gear ratio of the tractor in a few minutes. The tractor also had a gear lever that gave two forward speeds as well as a reverse. The Illinois-cum Ronaldson Tippett was a made up job using a Wisconsin l8-30 HP engine with a bore of 5" and stroke of 6". The transmission was manufactured by Foote Bros and the wheels by the Electric Wheel Co of Illinois. Like many other tractors and machines the Illinois had its own very disconcerting peculiarity. The foot brake, while reasonable effective, became immediately ineffective when the gear lever was placed in neutral. I first discovered this unusual trait when unloading the tractor on a long slope in the railway goods yard. The tractor took off as soon as I put it out of gear. Ronaldson Bros and Tippett went on to manufacture a replica of the Illinois, starting with their own serial number of l0l. It is thought they made over 400 Super Drive tractors and ceased production about l939. The later models were fitted with pneumatic tyres but apart from a few minor improvements to the governor and the fitting of a power take-off there was little change in design from the original Illinois. The Super Drives were a simple, but rugged tractor, easy to start and the slow revving motor governed at 900 RPM was capable of lugging a heavy load. I found, even with its lack of frills, it is a delightful machine to drive.

Thanks to Ron Maslin and the Temora Museum. Photo 1998 Exhibition

Attached Images

    

__________________
Einsteins theory of insanity; doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result

G'day from Tim in Australia.

tired-retired

Thanks for posting the interesting pictures Tim. I enjoy looking at that kind of history and became especially interested when I noticed it had been bought by Bob Dunn. My name is Jim Dunn, from Harrington, Delaware, USA.

Thomas

Thanks for sharing interesting read/pics. thats some heavy metal beast.

tractor beam

Gosh, could you imagine cranking that over by hand? That's an awesome link by the way Tim.

__________________
Oh Beautiful for smoggy skies, insecticided grain,
For strip-mined mountain's majesty above the asphalt plain.
America, America, man sheds his waste on thee,
And hides the pines with billboard signs, from sea to oily sea. .....................An oak is just a little nut that refused to give up its ground!

Larry in OK

Old iron and old implements can be interesting.
Here's a few from my late uncle's place.
Allis Chalmers Roto-Baler. I hauled a bunch of hay that came out of this old thing.


AC WC, one of the first vehicle I ever drove


AC WD


AC CA that I ended up with, runs good but it has seen many many years of usage.



I don't know the fate of this old disc plow but it was in serviceable condition


This old disc is was returned to service a year or so ago.

tcreeley

Beautiful pics. I always admire the quality of the workmanship going into the old iron/steel stuff!

Thomas

Thanks for stirring up memories of yesterday iron Larry...hay roller.

Cublover

That young man at the wheel will remember that forever!
My brother got to steer Uncle Busters tractor when he was 5. I was 3 and remember that day!

Before I got old enough to do it, Uncle Buster was killed by that tractor.
He was mowing a hillside and it tipped over.

__________________
I'm not a REDNECK! I am an Appalachian-AMERICAN!!

Larry in OK

He still gets a kick out of driving the tractors. We take the Kioti over on dad's place where we have 2 acres of smooth level ground and I let him take the wheel with me on the brakes and throttle. The younger grand daughter enjoys it as well. Seat belt on the Kioti will go around both of us.

jhngardner367

The oldest tractor I ever drove,was a steel-wheeled JD.I don't know the model,or year,but it had a hand clutch,with fwd,neutral,& reverse. The wheels had steel bolt-on lugs. It had sat in a field for nearly 20-odd years,and my uncle bought it for $100. Amazingly,we put fresh fuel in it,and after 5 times of rolling the big side-wheel,it started,and I drove it 8 miles to my uncles' house. He had it until 1998,just beforehe passed away. My Aunt Ruth then sold it back to the PO's son,who restored it,and still runs it! I think I'm gonna go over there ,some time ,and get some pics. I grew up with the fellow that owns it,and I'd like to see it,again!!

__________________
" I'm busier than a one-legged cat in a sandbox!"