Studebaker Museum Tractors

[Racinbob 11,086]

I took one of the grandsons to the Studebaker Museum for his birthday. I had yet to go to the museum since it moved to its new location in 2005. From everything I've heard I didn't expect to see any Wheel Horses on display anymore. We walked in as they opened and four guys from the Netherlands walked in right behind us. I got to chatting with them and mentioned the possibility of seeing them. They had never heard of them so I explained a bit and showed them a couple on my phone. The museum is three levels and we walked the mail level, went up stirs to the 2nd level then down stairs to the basement. Almost to the far end I spied them. 

A Suburban 551, a Pond lever steer, a 420 LSE and a 69 Work Horse 700. I no more then got to them when I heard the door open. It was the guys from the Netherlands. They showed an interest and apparently I went into full tour guide mode explaining what I knew about them. My grandson noticed and made comment about it as we had some lunch. 

It wasn't much of a display but at least it was something. 

[Achto 27,597]

Thanks for the pictures.

 

They did not happen to have a Gravely Westchester garden tractor with the fiberglass body designed by Studebaker? I would sure like to own one some day.

Edited September 26, 2022 by Achto

[Lane Ranger 10,968]

https://www.tractordata.com/lawn-tractors/003/5/3/3533-gravely-westchester.html

[Racinbob 11,086]

1 hour ago, Achto said:

Thanks for the pictures.

 

They did not happen to have a Gravely Westchester garden tractor with the fiberglass body designed by Studebaker? I would sure like to own one some day.

I didn't see one. But I have to admit my eyes were looking more for red. 

[Pullstart 62,905]

I’d like to see more detail on that lever steer! It looks like something chain drive behind the engine…

[Pullstart 62,905]

Second look, I don’t think that is a Lever Steer by Pond… the front axle, rear end, everything.. they’re different.  Seems I read about this somewhere once before too, like there was a mixup.

[wh500special 2,184]

It's a Gibson.  It's the same one that I saw back in 2000.

 

The 420-LSE was given to the City of South Bend by WH.  Its ownership is probably the museum now.

 

Steve

 

Steve

Edited September 26, 2022 by wh500special

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Must've missed it.

What is the Studebaker and W-H connection?

[tractornut86 620]

40 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

Second look, I don’t think that is a Lever Steer by Pond… the front axle, rear end, everything.. they’re different.  Seems I read about this somewhere once before too, like there was a mixup.

It's a Gibson Model A.   Most people can't read and walk on by because it's casted Gibson right on it. It makes ya loose faith of how much actual history facts are in museums 

[Racinbob 11,086]

44 minutes ago, AMC RULES said:

Must've missed it.

What is the Studebaker and W-H connection?

 

Both born and raised in South Bend. 

[Racinbob 11,086]

1 hour ago, Pullstart said:

Second look, I don’t think that is a Lever Steer by Pond… the front axle, rear end, everything.. they’re different.  Seems I read about this somewhere once before too, like there was a mixup.

That's disappointing.  The display was roped off so I couldn't get very close and I'm not too up on the model. Now I'm going to research it more. The only one that had a sign by the display was the 700 and that didn't say much.

[Achto 27,597]

1 hour ago, wh500special said:

It's a Gibson.

 

Totally agree, all the same features as our Gibson just a different color.

[wh500special 2,184]

46 minutes ago, Racinbob said:

 

Both born and raised in South Bend. 

Exactly. 
 

They used to - and looks like they still

do - have a “Made in South Bend” exhibit with the AM general (Hummer), Oliver, White Farm Equipment, South Bend Sporting Goods, and Wheel Horse (of course) among others. 
 

FWIW, Studebaker was a pretty interesting company and the brothers sounded like a bunch of characters.  We think of them as a car company, but they had been in business for 50 years before they built their first automobiles in the early 1900’s. 
 

Steve

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

10 hours ago, Racinbob said:

something

 

Bob, next time you go, see if you can snitch the fuel tank on the Gibson for me.  Looks to be exactly what I need for my restored generator!

It actually looks like a replacement, seems it's a pinky red... or maybe that's just the lighting.

 

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,568]

6 hours ago, wh500special said:

FWIW, Studebaker was a pretty interesting company and the brothers sounded like a bunch of characters.  We think of them as a car company, but they had been in business for 50 years before they built their first automobiles in the early 1900’s. 
 

Steve

Didn't know that...

 

I feel some readin' coming up.  

 

12 hours ago, Racinbob said:

Wheel Horses on display

Cool stuff! 

[Racinbob 11,086]

Yup. They started in the 1850's. Another Studebaker immigrant about 100 years prior to that.

 

 

I'm thinking that I should go back and take to them about the entire Wheel Horse display but especially the lever steer. I'm sure they don't have a clue. I'd even be willing to make them some information cards to put up. The Gilson could certainly stay but it should be identified as such. I'd lean on you guys for info on that one.

[lynnmor 7,307]

A little history of Studebaker in my area.

[Achto 27,597]

1 hour ago, Racinbob said:

The Gilson could certainly stay but it should be identified as such. I'd lean on you guys for info on that one.

 

What they have is a Gibson model "A". identified by the small rear wheels, The later model "D" would have had 24" rims on the rear. They were made in Longmont Colorado or Seattle Washington. (There should be cast in letters on the rear axle stating both locations)  It is missing the gas tank decal. They used 6hp AEH & 9hp AHH  Wisconsin engines on the "A" & "D". The most common color for the Gibson model "A" was grey body with red wheels but this is not set in stone. Gibson often used what was available when needed.

 

Here is a picture of my family's Gibson model "A" With an AEH Wisconsin engine.

 

Some reading for you.

https://www.gasenginemagazine.com/community/farm-shows/a-history-of-the-gibson/

 

@WHX?? has a Gibson too. I believe that his is a model "A".

 

Edited September 27, 2022 by Achto

[Racinbob 11,086]

1 hour ago, Achto said:

 

What they have is a Gibson model "A". identified by the small rear wheels, The later model "D" would have had 24" rims on the rear. They were made in Longmont Colorado or Seattle Washington. (There should be cast in letters on the rear axle stating both locations)  It is missing the gas tank decal. They used 6hp AEH & 9hp AHH  Wisconsin engines on the "A" & "D". The most common color for the Gibson model "A" was grey body with red wheels but this is not set in stone. Gibson often used what was available when needed.

 

Here is a picture of my family's Gibson model "A" With an AEH Wisconsin engine.

 

 

Some reading for you.

https://www.gasenginemagazine.com/community/farm-shows/a-history-of-the-gibson/

 

@WHX?? has a Gibson too. I believe that his is a model "A".

 

 

Great information Dan. Thank you. The first thing I need to do is see if they'd like me to help out. I contacted them this morning and I'll wait a bit to see if I get a response. It would be a blast if they said yes. You can see in the pictures that the Work Horse 700 is the only one with an information plaque. I think they all should. I emphasized to them the importance of Wheel Horse to South Bends history. Not like Studebaker but still important. Unfortunately, as time goes by the memories seem to be fading away. We'll see how they feel. 

[Racinbob 11,086]

I just receiver an email from the curator, Kyle Sater. This is what he had to say.

 

I'm glad you and your grandson enjoyed your visit yesterday. You bring up a very good point--we don't have a ton on display around the Wheel Horses. It's likely we have some archival materials and documentation about each of the Wheel Horses, as they are part of our collection, but I'll be in honest and tell you I have not had a chance to dig into those files (I've been at the museum about 2 years now). I will tell you that we are planning to reconceptualize that whole area downstairs so we can better display and tell the industrial history of South Bend. At that point, I may take you up on your offer--I'd love to have as much information as possible and any help would be appreciated.

 

Please keep in touch, thanks again.

 

I sure hope he takes me up on my offer. 

[Lane Ranger 10,968]

Studebaker started as a blacksmith shop where the two brothers were good at what they did.  Their success came in making wagons and they got a contract with the Union Army to provide supply wagons.  The wagons were assembled in South Bend and sent by train to Indianapolis where they would be joined with railcar loads of horses and mules.  They would proceed to Jeffersonville, Indiana ( just north of Louisville, Kentucky) where they would be outfitted with harness, loaded with supplies at the Quaternadter Quadrangle supply center for the Union Army.  Indiana and Ohio were critical supply depots for the Union Army.  From Louisville the railroad lines could carry them in many direction.

 

In later years the Studebaker automobile plant UAW local also represented the Wheel Horse employees at the Ireland  Road factory.

Studebaker was very innovative and the Lark was first auto company to have unibody construction.

 

 

 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studebaker

[WHX?? 48,828]

5 hours ago, Achto said:

@WHX?? has a Gibson too. I believe that his is a model "A".

Yes mines a model A.

AHH dates to '47. 

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

I really need to find one of these!  Anybody got any clues where to start looking?

 

 

 

[WHX?? 48,828]

Tractor show flea markets are your best bet Jeffrey... unless you get blind s house lucky like @Pullstart and find on at a garage sale. 

Try searching flea bay...  Wisconsin gas tank. 

[AMC RULES 37,130]