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Today’s letter is “N” news articles and nonconforming design were numerous Nelson four-wheel drive tractor The Nelson Blower & Furnace Company decide to become a tractor manufacturer, why not, everyone else was doing it? Company founder, Albert Hanson Nelson clearly hoped to take the nation by storm when he introduced his innovative tractor made in Boston, MA. Though design and development started in 1912 the Nelson tractor wasn’t presented to the market until 1919 in advertising and testimonials. Nelson’s advertising agents knew how to fluff-up (or make up) the facts and a lazy reporter would print anything the publicist sent them. A flattering article on the company appeared in the October 1918 issue of Motorboating magazine. Company President A.H. Nelson was praised as “an example of what can be accomplished by a manufacturer who puts quality before quantity. Under Nelson’s leadership Nelson Blower & Furnace Co. of Boston expanded its workforce from eight men to 800 in just four years”. May 1919 issue of Country Gentleman magazine article said “The Nelson tractor is recognized by engineers, dealers and users as the most advanced development of the tractor industry. The Nelson tractor embodies the sturdy construction, weight, power and flexibility to satisfactorily handle any kind of farm or commercial tractor work. No task is too hard for the Nelson.” A January 4, 1919, ad in Country Gentleman informed the world. “The Nelson tractor, in actual test, has hauled heavy loads through swamps where, in places, the water stood over a foot deep,” the ad declared. “It has climbed a 3,200-foot New Hampshire mountain, breaking its own road through underbrush and over rocks and logs. It has worked steadily on the sandy plains of Arizona under the most trying operating conditions. It has been thoroughly tested, in actual work, in every part of the U.S.” In the early years of the 20th century manufacturers were known to make outlandish, unsubstantiated, or overstated claims. There seems to be some doubt that Nelson ever took a tractor to the Arizona desert. Advertising for the Nelson boasted that all mechanical components were bathed in oil for long service life. The chain drive to the axles was not done with roller chains, common link chain was used and each axle had a cogged cast pulley like the chain sprocket on a chain-fall for the chain drive. This probably wasn’t the best drive solution but it is what they chose to use. “A 14-inch minimum ground clearance, low center of gravity and a 20-inch maximum wheel tilt makes the Nelson tractor practical for working rough land, side hills, orchards, cultivating, and any other work it may be called upon to perform,” ads stated. Nelson never applied for a patent on any of their “innovative proprietary” features and didn’t participate in any field tests or send a tractor to the Nebraska Tractor Testing Laboratory leaving one to wonder if their tractors were ever built when the advertising was being done. None of the advertising featured a photograph of the tractor, only artist’s renderings. In this ad from the January 1919 Country Gentleman three models are mentioned: a 15-25 3-plow tractor, 20-28 5-plow tractor, and a 35-50 8-plow tractor. The advertisement states that the “tractors are sold only through dealers, local service guaranteed, produced in our own plant, requires no costly repair or replacement” though they had no dealers or service facilities at the time. An August 1919 ad in Tractor and Gas Engine Review, the company announced that, “The Nelson Four-Wheel-Drive tractor will be one of the really great features at the Northwest Tractor Demonstration, Aug. 19-21, at Aberdeen, South Dakota.” News coverage in Tractor and Gas Engine Review had no mention of the Nelson participating in the Demonstration. However, the article said, “All tractors promised showed up, except for two: the Pullett and the Lauson. With the exception of these two disappointments every concern entered was present.” Perhaps the Nelson tractor had never been entered in the demonstration. According to a July 5, 1919, article in Implement & Tractor Trade Journal, “The business of the Nelson Corp., South Boston, Mass., has been placed in the hands of a receiver. This action also includes the associated firm, Nelson Blower & Furnace Co. The plant will continue in operation and a reorganization is expected.” A couple of years later Nelson was back in business and advertising its tractor which apparently was actually going to be built. A February 1, 1921, article in the Chilton Tractor Journal said that, “Nelson Mfg. Corp., Boston, has been organized by A.H. Nelson, former head of the Nelson Blower & Furnace Co., which made the Nelson tractor. Mr. Nelson is president of the new company, which will make tractors and other equipment. Offices have been opened in Boston.” On March 10, 1921, Iron Age magazine stated that, “Nelson Mfg. Co., Boston … expects to begin production of the Nelson 4-wheel drive tractor soon. Plans call for initial production at a Taunton, Massachusetts, plant, but later at a point in or near Boston.” The Nelson tractor was presented in a full-page ad in Argonaut magazine, May 14, 1921 including an opportunity for interested people to buy stock in the newly reorganized Nelson Tractor company. The offer to buy stock compared themselves to the Ford Motor Company and urged people to act promptly so they wouldn’t miss out. “Where Were You Then, and Where Are You Now?” the ad’s headline asked. The ad noted that an initial investment of $1,000 in Ford & Co. stock would be worth $122,700 in 1921. The Nelson tractor was presented as the savior of the tractor industry, well suited for use on 2,669,391 U.S. farms of 100 acres or more, and another 1,438,069 of nearly 100 acres. “You are herewith invited to become a stockholder in the corporation manufacturing the Nelson tractor at $12.50 a share,” the ad proclaimed. “All stock must be purchased within 30 days.” On June 14, 1922 Nelson passed away as a result of a fall so the stock offering never became a reality. We know that some Nelson Tractors were built but have no idea how many.

This bird has been doing this for the last week or so as I arrive for work... pecking away at a solid metal pole... never making a dent... turn up the volume for the full effect... reminds me of a typical work day, work week, career... IMG_2878.mov

A few i saw in the last few weeks.

Win some, lose some. $40 for the seat, but $50 for the plow!

This is for sale locally, if I had a few more dollar bills in my tractor fund, I might go get it. Fordsons aren't too plentiful in my area, and more than likely, in any area in the US. They're more popular in the UK and Europe, since Fordson was the Ford tractor being sold in Europe and the UK up to the mid to late 1960s. Any one here have a Fordson Dexta, Super Dexta, Major or Super Major?

Last night I made up this front receiver that uses the tach-A-matic. I just made it out of some scrap that was in the metal pile. Today I’ll sandblast it and give it a coat of regal red or black

The bird or the girlfriend ??? Sorry had to ask.

Gas... check. Straps... check. Hitch... "hey honey, dinners ready..." Oops...

Here we go...woodpecker, girlfriend, gutter..

Same here. Years ago, I took some kids in the neighborhood where I lived at the time for a trailer ride. There was a hill on one street with a sharp curve at the bottom. Dummy here pushed the clutch in and freewheeled to the bottom before realizing the brakes were useless. Needless to say, it made my eyes get big and I never forgot. No one was injured, and the kids never even knew. Just ruined a perfectly good seat with bite marks.

If it has No Name...it must of belonged to "The Man With No Name"...

I just got back in the USA after three weeks in Croatia. This isn’t a truck per se but it is vintage and pretty cool… (Downtown Zagreb—about two blocks from the Cathedral) …talk about van life!

I just had to do some stress testing. The trailer on the front is so heavy in the back that it lifts the front tires up on the tractor.

Just saw this on facebook. Thought it was pretty funny

Deestone 23x8.50-12s circa 2013 or 2014 date code. Mean Mo-chine tire chains I found. They are the first tires I ever fluid filled. They’ve been on a buddy’s tractor since 2016 or so I’d say. Still full of fluid, still got good tread. my first tires I purchased for a Wheel Horse. It’s only fitting they end up my second ever Wheel Horse I recently rebuilt. I’ll clean the filth off first, of course!

You actually have 6 forward and 2 reverse speeds with your 12 HP 8 speed "NO Name" Wheel Horse tractor. This is a basic easy to work on tractor that is capable of handling all implements including mowing decks, snow plows, turning plows, tillers, and snow blowers. to the

On the plus side... Banging your head against a metal pole is probably a great stress reliever!

...but... not how to tow properly.

Hello, after having this tractor for a few years, it is time for a restore. This will be my 5th complete restore and hoping to make this one my best. This tractor is really straight and runs like a top. Perfect candidate for a restore.

One of my cousins did that when he was about nine or ten years old. His dad bought him a green garden tractor and cart to play around with. my uncle screwed a plate over the shift pattern to prevent him from using anything but first and reverse. My cousin loaded his brothers and sister in the cart and went for a drive, when he got to the top of a hill he pushed in the clutch and let her rip. By the time he got to the bottom of the hill everyone had bailed-out of the cart and the brakes sent him sideways into a ditch. No one was hurt and they were able to get the 110 back on the lawn and everyone changed their grass-stained clothes before their dad got home. They all kept this little secret for years and then brought it up when my cousin turned 21 and everyone started ragging on him and all the mischievous things he had done as a kid.

He is just lookin for LOVE. Several years ago our power went out, turns out a large pileated woodpecker who had been tapping on the transformer for several days managed to shorty out the high voltage line and blew the fuse on the transformer. Never knew what hit him, gota to be careful where ya go lookin for love.

Almost done.

Well my truck is 20 years old now officially so it gets the nod for this thread. I really like it and my 11 year old son is already claiming it will be his first truck. It's a 2004 Chevy Silverado 1500 z-71 package. Has the floor shift 4wd lever, not push button which is a huge plus for me. I got it in 2016 with 161k miles for $3,900(Just before truck prices went crazy, could probably profit a couple thousand now). To me that is a high return on investment. It's at 195k now so it's not a high use driver. But it does get the fun! Added a camper shell last year to it. I really like this era truck from GM. In a few years I might start looking for a low mileage option and jump on it. So the son can get this one. But anyways..onto the pics...Here's a few below of it having fun. Hunting, Camping, Fishing, and hauling WH Tractors of course!

And more tools for the shop. Maybe for the kids’ future box?

It's a mating call and he is trying to find a girlfriend. I had one, some years ago, that worked on my rain gutter.

Too bad they forgot to latch the hitch.

Worked a bit more on the mythical beast today. Still got a few parts to put on once i get them but not bad for mostly scrap pile i got for free.

Got most of the herd out for a photo shoot now that I just completed two of them. Sound of 4 Onans and one Kohler idling away was amazing. You can just make out the wooded area in behind that was full of prickle trees, sucker trees, and other trash that I have been working on clearing. The 520HC and plow is resting comfortably so I left it inside. Tractors are now back inside. The Work horse is now moving to the shop to begin it's restoration. I will make a new thread on that.

The siding on the long wall is DONE!

I don’t have as much time to tinker as I wish I could have…but messed with this one again tonight. Turned out the low oil relay wasn’t closing. Oil is right up to the full mark. Bypassed that and she turns over and starts/stops as it should

Yeah, but it looks cool 😎 all the same

That looks like one choppy ride. Sure hope your fillings are tight.

I don't own one but like you said they are plentyful over here (the Netherlands). They're cheap, parts are pretty easy to come by and simple to work on/with. Many horse lovers use them for all kinds of jobs around stables. Around here there also a lot of senior citizens who use them for plowing competitions and/or touring around the countryside.

That is considered the era of the “no-names”. You have a 12-8 speed, or no name 12-8.

Legitimate question

I mean, he could be keeping his nose to the grindstone, but at least he has a good view!

It looks to me like a case of too much tail weight. I might overload on occasion, but I make sure I have tongue weight!

Nice - but the raspy "bark" can be annoying - kind of like the noise an ex-wife makes when the check is late....... Why not just weld it all around to a close nipple???

Little bit huh? Put them back on after the show if you plan to cruise it around. If they stay on I'm going to follow Kevin around and pick up all the loose change falling from his pockets! Maybe some cash too if he goes fast enough. LOL

Was his name Richard? Just asking for a friend.

Jusy be very careful on inclines. Even good working Wheel Horse brakes are dangerously inadequate when moving a heavy load. Nice job on the hitch. I did the same with mine- integrating the belly hitch so the load is spread out more. Also it can't flip up, which is helpful when pushing.

I did some switcherooing today. These Deestone 23-8.50-12’s are the first tires I ever bought for a . They’re also the first I ever fluid filled. I don’t know the source of these chains, but they are monsters! They happened to be the only tires that the chains fit. Well, it was meant to be. I pressure washed them, mounted them up (they are super heavy!), then added these fairly wide plastic/concrete weights. What a difference in the way it pushes! There is still no engine. @wallfish and I plan to remedy that once we get settled in at the big show!

Thanks so much for the quick reply and the info. Looking at this the deck must be 48"?

5/16-18 UNC

But, on the other hand, 1000s upon 1000s of tractors existed and were sold and used for many years before all of the safety switches were added. So were batteries without the label Do Not Drink the Acid. Just playing Devil's Advocate here since you guys seem pretty harsh on him for wanting to bypass some of those switches.