953 nut 55,193 #1 Posted January 12 The Square Turn Tractor Horseless farming saw many intriguing variations of the maneuverable small tractor for the farm. Perhaps the best example of ingenious engineering was the “Square Turn Tractor.” It was a progressive, unique tractor for its time. Conceived by two Nebraska men, A.T. Kenney and A.J. Colwell, it seemed perfectly designed for farm use. Kenney was a successful farmer and Colwell had 14 years’ experience as superintendent of construction on the C&NW Railroad. Colwell supplied mechanical genius and Kenney provided practical farming experience. The partners formed the Kenney-Colwell Co., Norfolk, Neb., and began taking customer orders in 1914. The Square Turn was a three-wheel tractor with two powered wheels and one castor or free wheel. It would do the work of from 3 to 5 teams in general draw-bar work and would deliver 35 horsepower on the belt. A four-cylinder kerosene-gasoline Climax Tractor Motor with 510 cubic inches of displacement was used. The driver’s seat was swiveled around the steering post allowing the operator to go forward in either direction. While towing an implement the operator would face in the direction of the caster wheel and have an unobstructed view. Each drive wheel was operated independently by moving a leaver on each side in the direction of travel. If one wheel was driven clockwise and the other counterclockwise the tractor would turn on the spot. While plowing the operator would face toward the engine and push both levers forward. The plows were lifted with an engine driven mechanical lift. The Square Turn could be throttled down as low as a crawl or as high as 3 mph. Ninety percent of the 7,800-pound tractor’s weight was carried by the two 50-inch diameter traction wheels. The Square Turn was so maneuverable that it would get close up to fence corners. It carried the plows under the tractor in full view of the operator, this allowed the plows to be lifted to avoid large stones or stumps without stopping. The machine operated at the same speed and power in either direction, making a real “two-way tractor.” There were no gears for the operator to shift, no differential gears and no clutch, just a pair of easily used levers. The Square Turn’s transmission featured radical new technology covered by eight patents. “This invention was called ‘the giant grip drive,’ a new type of transmission never before used in any piece of machinery.” “No other farm tractor is so easy and natural to drive as the Square Turn,” advertisements boasted. “Pull left lever to turn left, right lever to turn right and pull both halfway back to stop and all the way to back up. A unique foot throttle was used to control speed. Experiencing the financial challenges common to any start-up, Kenney-Colwell was forced out of the tractor business in just two years. The partners sold their patents to the Albaugh-Dover Co., Chicago, in 1916. The Square Turn Tractor Co. was organized in December 1917 with headquarters in Chicago; the manufacturing operation remained in Norfolk. Over the next four years, approximately $2 million in common stock was sold to 3,500 investors. Plans called for construction of approximately 2,000 tractors per year. Equipped with a 3-bottom gangplow attachment (an Oliver 3-bottom plow was the standard offering), the Square Turn sold for $1,385. Albaugh-Dover also streamlined the 7,800-pound tractor and added a Waukesha engine. Over a century later Mercedes has debuted its concept vehicle, the EQG, that has the same turning capability at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show. Gotta wonder if the Square Turn Tractor may have been their inspiration? 3 7 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sailman 1,291 #2 Posted January 12 I am enjoying your interesting and unique look at tractors we never ever knew about! Thanks for the articles. The turning radius of the Square Turn and the Mercedes is much the same as the operation I had running 52 ft catamarans in the Caribbean. With the "twin screws" diesel engines you could go forward on one engine and reverse on the other and it would literally let me spin that 52 footer "on a dime". 1 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,565 #3 Posted January 13 12 hours ago, 953 nut said: I have seen this tractor at the show in Edgar WI several times. The one in the back ground is working scale model that was built the the owner of the original in the for ground. Really cool machines. 2 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Streetrodchev 798 #4 Posted January 13 At Edgar Steam show. 2 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,432 #6 Posted January 13 Very interesting rig. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
