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Progress of the Agrimotor in the States.

14th September 1916
Page 16
Page 16, 14th September 1916 — Progress of the Agrimotor in the States.
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Harry Ford Still Demonstrating : America Beginning to Look with a Favourable Eye Upon the Small Tractor.,

The much-debated Ford tractor is still demonstrating. During last month was held an agricultural exhibition in Fremont, _Nebraska. Harry Ford and his son were both in attendance, and the tractor was on view. It is stated to be very light, weighing less than a ton, and cannot be mistaken for anything else but a Ford. It is a fourwheeler, can plough from 24to 3 miles an hour, and, run along the road at five to six miles an haul., It is fitted with headlights so that ploughing can be done at night, the current for this being supplied from the magneto. The engine is merely a larger edition of the Ford passenger ear unit, being a fourcylinder, 4 in. by 41 in. -bore and stroke • respectively. It is fitted with the familiar Ford flywheel magneto, and employs thermosyphon cooling. Transmission is Ina a multiple disc clutch and three-speed-and-reverse gearbox with worm and wheel as final drive to the rear axle. It is capable of ploughing two furrows at once. We gather that it is not yet ready to be put on the market. It can be arranged so as to use petrol, paraffin or alcohol as fuel ; consequently, the fluctuation in the price of petrol will not affect its economy to so great an extent as would otherwise have been the ease.

Activity in Agrirnotors.

This agricultural exhibition has served to show the remarkable advance made in the popularity of the agrimotor during the last twelve months. No fewer than 90,000 farmers were in attendance, and there were as many as 65 tractors demonstrating at thesame time. They ploughed between them 160 acres of land in a couple of hours.

Fremont Demonstration a Classic One.

The Fremont demonstration has come to be regarded as a. classic, and, in consequence, tractor manufacturers exhibited to a greater extent than at any of the earlier demonstrations. The fact that many of them had been preparing and had only been able to be ready with their products in time for the Fremont show kad its effect perhaps upon exhibits. This is the third year in which tractor demonstrations have been held in this town, and the effect on the attitude of the farmers is now plain. They do not come to have it proved to them that a tractor is a practical piece of mechanism, but rather to judge as between one make and another. Three different farmers, one of whom lives 75 miles away from Fremont, pointed out a field upon which a tractor demonstrated for the two preceding years, and which this season produced a yield nearly double that of its' horseploughed neighbours — " Deeper ploughing" was their explanation.

Official Opinion.

The American Board of Agriculture has found that, in general, on level land, a tractor will pay, if properly manned, when the tillable area is not less than 160 acres.

Heavy Machine Becoming Less Popular.

One land owner, whose holdings approximate 1200 acres of corn and wheat land, has been using two' very large tractors for several years. He this week purchased two smaller ones for use in addition to his larger ones. The smaller and less expensive tractors are undoubtedly becoming popular. The big, heavy expensive machine, capable of hauling eight or ten 14 in. ploughs represents too much capital to the owner of 240 or 360 acres. Its capacity is so great that there is no work for it on one farm of sufficient proportion at a time. To keep the machine sufficiently busy by doing work for other farmers is declared not to be a paying proposition.

Who ls To Sell?

The importance of the agricultural tractor question in the States is indicated by a long and interesting article which appeared in a recant issue of our contemporary " The Horseless Age."It was written with a view to pointing out to motorcar agents the advisability of their taking a hand in the business of selling agrimotors.

5,000,000 Potential Users.

Theconditions in America are very different from those that hold here. There, 50 per cent. of the motorcars marketed go to fanners, and there are nearly 3,000,000 farms exceeding .100 acres in size, and therefore suitable to be worked by tractors. It is pointed out that the field of agricultural tractors is closely allied with that of motorcars, If a, dealer takes an agency for. a tractor and perhaps a gas engine or two in addition to his line of cars and heavy vehicles, he has arranged a continuous outlet for his energy, knowledge and ability. His income earnings . will, instead of being confined to four or five months per annum, be continuous. The farmer has probably bought a ear and will be willing to buy his tractor and his small stationary gas engine from the same man, provided that. he is given facilities and reasonable . attention., particularly in the matter of service.


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