TRACTORS FOR LINCOLN TRIALS.
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A Classification of the Competing Machit Comparison of Their Technical Features.
THE TRACTOR trials organized by the S.M.M. and T. at Lincoln next September will afford a fine opportunity to observe and consider the various types of agrimotor which are at present being offered to the public. Indeed, so diversified are they that we find ourselves, at the outset of this article, wherein it is proposed briefly to indicate the details of each of the 50 machines which will compete, in difficulties with regard to suitable classification, for these 50 are representative of 30 different types of machine.
Shortly, we believe the division of tractars into two main classes will be easy, by reason of the distinction which the law will make between those legally usable on the highways and those only adaptable for field use. 'The present moment, however, is not a suitable one for lengthy discussion of this matter and, failing such a simple classification as thab we have indicated, we find it better to divide them as fob hms: First—and in this group lie the greatest number— those having four-cylinder engines and transmission largely following motor vehicle practice. Out of ;30, no fewer than 14, or nearly 50 per cent., come under this head.
Second alike in importance and in numbers, those machines which, in general lines, follow what might be described as agricultural practice, having twocylinder engines of the slow-revolution type, and gearing which is more or less exposed.
A third class includes those -self-contained agrimotors wherein the implement is, to all intents and purposes, essential in order to maintain the equilibrium of the machine.
Fourth, caterpillar-type tractors.
Fifth, steamers.
This absorbs 28 of the 30 types, leaving two individual machines, the .Santler, which is peculiar, inasmuch as it embodies a one-way plough ; and the Eros tractor attachment, -which is adapted to be attached, to the Ford chassis.
New Machines the Feature of the Trials.
A feature of the trials will, undoubtedly, be the large percentage of machines which will compete, .and which will, at these trials, make their first bow to the public. It is interesting and, perhaps, significant to note that of the five main classes which we have enumerated, the second one only lacks this characteristic, which even prevails amongst the oddments, since the Santler has that advantage. Turning, then, to the first and largest class, it may be best to discuss them in order of their novelty, and here Britain ties with America for first place, and I think we may name the Blackstone wheeled tractor as taking the palm, on this account, on the British side, while the International Harvester new four-cylinder machine bears the honours for the importers.
The former has the special type of engine which was described in our last iisue as being fitted to the
Blackstone caterpillar-type tractor. It has three cylinders, each being 5 in. bore by 6i in. stroke, and it is claimed that the brake-horse-power actually developed at 750 revolutions per minute is 25.. The. transmission gear is totally enclosed, the final drive being by pinion and internal gears in the rear wheels, and the gearbox gives three, speeds forward and One in reverse, the normal speeds being approximately 41, 3* and 21 miles per hour. The engine burns paraffin without need of any petrol for starting purposes, fuel being injected under pressure. Ignition is by low-tension magneto; with make and break within the cylinder. A self-starter, operated by compressed air, is fitted, and the steering operates by control of the differential gear, the front two wheels being Castors only.
Only the barest information is as yet available concerning the International new machine. A striking point considering its origin is the fact that it is fitted with a four-cylinder engine of the motor vehicle type, With cylinders 4 in. diameter by 5 in. stroke, developing 24 h.p. at 1,000 revolutions per minute ; it has a three-speed gearbox, and final drive by chain. Its normal speeds if running are approximately 41, 21 and 1i miles per hour. Neither of these two ma
chines has as yet. been seen? '
The Martin' is another which is equally novel, and as we write particulars are not available. T-he same applies to the Avery, an entirely new model, which has been imported by that well-known Dursley &ncern, R. A. Lister and Co., Ltd., and enteied for the
Another newcomer, an American this time, is the Samson.. A few brief particulars of this machine were given recently in our " Agriniotor Notes." It is manufactured by a notable firm in the States, who are represented on this side by F. S. Bennett, Ltd. The Samson is one of the most modern type, resembling in its general lines the Fordson or the Austin A remarkable point about it is its extremely low price. It sells in the States for, in round figures £130. Its powbr unit, of bore and stroke 4 in. and 5 in. respectively, is claimed to develop 35 h.p, at 1,200 revolutions per minute. Tha-gearbox provides two speeds forward and one reverse. The final drive is by bevel.
Made Its Bow at the Royal Show.
The competing Alldays is the model Mark 1I, which was exhibited for the first time at the Cardiff Show. The important difference between this and the previous model, Mark I, is in the engine, which is much larger, its normal speed being slightly less. It develops 30 h.p. at 900 r.p.m., and the cylinders are 4i's in. bore by 6* in. stroke. A three-speed gearbox is still fitted to both types, the final drive being by chain, and the normal speeds are 8*, 4*, and 21 miles per hour.
The semi-international character of the trials is indicated by, the inclusion of the F.I.A.T., and this again is a tractor which has not hitherto been seen in this country. A brief description of it, however, has appeared in our columns. Its four-cylinder 4 in.
• by 7 in. engine develops 25 h.p,, and the transmission
includes a three-speed gearbox and a firal drive by to compete.
worm and wheel. The DL., another new tractor, 11. The Mann. 12. The Emerson. 13. The Santler.
was described briefly by us in last week's issue. Its 14. The Alldays. 15. The Overtime. 16. The Titan.
27 h.p. engine has cylinders of bore and stroke 41 in. 17. The Fordson 18. The Fiat. 19. The Saun
by 5i in. Its normal speed is 1,100 revs, per minute, derson. 20. The Whiting Bull. 21. The Glasgow.
and the two forward speeds are 5 and 31 miles per hour.
The Austin, if advertisement goes for aught, is wellknown, at least by name, in which respect it shares equal notability with its " opposite number," the Fordson. It is of interest to compare the important dimensions of these two 'machines. The Austin has
an engine which develops 25 h.p. at 1200, r.p.m., having a bore and stroke of 31 ia. and 5 ins. respectively, and speeds of 41 and 2:14miles per hour, its final drive being a double reduction spur and bevel. The Fordson, with an engine of a little larger cubic capacity? 4 in. by 5 in., claims 22 h.p. at 1,000 r.p.m., having three speeds forwaad-61, 21, and 11 miles per hour, and a, final transmission of worm and worm wheal. The gearing on both machines is, of course, entirely enclosed and, externally, the resemblance between them is striking. A parallel pair to these in many respects, but differing inasmuch as both are American productions, are the Garner and Wallis Junior. The former is a four-wheel machine, worm-driven, with a 27 hp. engine 41 in. by 51 ine running normally at 950 r.p.m., and giving speeds of. 51, g and 1/ respectively. The latter is a three-wheel machine, the two tear wheels driving, the front single wheel being held in a bicycletype fork. Its power -anit, of 41 in. by 51 in. bore and stroke, develops 30 h.p.. at 900 r.p.m., the travelling speeds being 41 and 21 miles per hour, and the final transmission, like the Austin, being double redaction.
We are now 'left with two of our 14 in the first class, the Weeks, a small British four-wheeler of 30 hp., 4/ in. by 51 in. bore and stroke, 900 r.p.m., three-speed gearbox,and final transmission spur ' gears in the rear wheels. The travelling speeds are 41, 2/, and 1/ miles per hour. The Emerson, also, is pretty well established in this country ;,its 41 in. by 5 in. engine develops 25 h.p. e.t 900 r.p.m., the travelling speeds being 2/ and 11 miles per hour.
Types Which Follow Agricultural Practice.
In the second chase we might, without being charged with showing too much bias, justifiably consider the British machines first. These are the Omriltractor and the Saunderson : both are very well known to our readers. Both embody two-cylinder vertical engines of the comparatively slow-speed type, threespeed gearboxes and final transmission by spur gears. The Saunderson engine is 51 in. by 8 in. bore and stroke, with a normal speed of 750 r.p.me and the travelling speeds of the tractor are 41, 2*, and 11 miles per hour. The Omnitractor has a 6 in. by 9 in engine. It develops 35 h.p. at the same speed as the Saunderson, and its travelling speeds are from 8 to 2/ miles per hour.
Of the American, -one naturally considers the Titan
first. Its horizontal twin-cylinder side-by-side engine revolves only at 500 r.p.m., at which sheed it develops 25 h.p., the dimensions being 81 in. by 8 in. bore and stroke. The forward speeds are 21 and 1* miles per hour, and the final drive is by chain. The Mogul, emanating from the same factory, is a 30 h.p.machine, its engine being a twin-cylinder, 8 in. by
12 in., vertical, rreming•normally at 550 r.p.m. The final drive is by chain, and two forward speeds are provided.
Another of the same class is the Overtime, which machine also embodies a two-cylinder horizontal side-by-side engine, 61 in. by 7 in., developing 28 h.p. at 700 r.p.m. Two speeds forward are provided. of 3 and 21 miles per hour, and the final transmission is by* spur gears in the rear wheels. The last n,achine of this class is the Whiting Bull, a tractor which 'embodies ,several unusual features. For example, • the final drive is transmissible normally to one large rear wheel, but provision is made for driving both of the rear wheels if desired. The front steerer and offside rear wheel run in the furrow. The engine power is 24 at ,750 r.p.m., the eedinders being 51 in. c34
by 7 in., horizontally opposed. The final drive is by pinion and spur in a rear wheel and allows of a road speed i•)f 31 miles per hour. We now turn to self-Contained motor ploughs. A newcomer in this class is the Pick, a British' machine, made in Stamford, three-wheeled, the front being central and steering, the drive being transmitted to the rear. A four-cylinder 4a in. by 5 in. engine develops 30 h.p. at 800 r.p.m. No fewer than nine forward speeds are provided in the gearbox, and the final drive is a combination of roller chain and spur gear, the road speeds being from 31 to 11 miles an hour. The Orawley is a forir-cylinder 41 in. by 51 in. engine, giving 30 h.p. at 1,0 r.p.m., provided with two speeds at 31 and 21 miles an-hour. For hauling purposes in_ and about the fields and farmyard, a third wheel replaces the implement, and it is attached to a special framework which carries a duplicate set of controls. The Martin -would call for mention in two classes. It is a self-contained motor plough, and it is also a caterpillar-track tractor. The engine is four-cylinder, 2 iii. by 5 in., provided with two -carburetters, so as to facilitate the use of paraffin and petrol, and, like the Crawley,' it can -be converted for use as a tractor by the substitution of a small trailing carriage for the implement.
Last, but not least, we have an example of American practice in self-contained ploughs, in the Moline. It -is anticipated that the new model-D type will he demonstrated: This is fitted with a four-cylinder engine instead of, -as in the old tractor, a two-cylin der. Further, 'all the gear is now totally enclosed, which was -net the case previously. The engine is 31 in. by 5 in. bore and stroke, and develops 18 hp. An unusual feature is the fitting -of an electric starter and. a complete equipment of electric lighting. At 1,400 r.p.m. the forward speed is 21 'miles per hour.
Amongst caterpillars, the novelty will be the new Blackstone creeper-track machine, with its threecylinder 25 hp. engine, the same as that of the wheeled machine. The chain-track model was exhibited at Cardiff. America will be there, being represented by the Cleveland, Mr. H. G. Burford's speciality, the engine of this machine being 31 in. by 41 in., four-cylinder, developing 22 hp. at 1,200 r.p.m. In the case of the Bla,ckstor, three forward speeds are provided, and in the Cleveland one only.
British Steam Tractors ,Taking Part.
A class which we would like to eee enlarged is that containing the steamers, in which only two, the Mann and the Sumrnerscales are present. The Mann is a very old friend,-being known to our readers both on the road and in the fields, for many years. A standard model will take part in the trials. Its engine is a compound two-cylinder 61 in. •bY8 in. engine, running at 300 r.p.m. The gearbox provides -for three, forward speeds ; the final transmission, is by spur gears, and the road speed varies from 5 to 1/-miles per hour. The Sunimerscales was described last week. We need only add that its four-cylinder 4. in. by 7 in. poppet-valve steam engine develops 25 h.p. at 350 r.p.m. the road speed with engine so running being 31 miles per hour: but it should,. of course, be remembered that in the case of both this and the Mann, the engine arid road speeds are not of such direct importance as is the case with' the internal-combustion engine. -The Eros tractor attachment is another well-known machine. Behind the Ford 31 in. by 4 in. engine, which develops 17 h.p: at 1,500 r.p.m., -the road speeds will be 2/ arid 11 miles per hour.• The final transmission is in this case, by spur gears on the ends of the existing Ford axles, meshing with gears bolted to the tractor wheels. • The Santler, which concludes the list, is notable • on account -of the fact that it is, at the time of writing, the only machine entered fitted with a one-way plough. All the particulars at present available -weI'e included in our description of -this machine which was given last week.