TRACTOR TRIVIA and other interesting stuff 2/3/2025

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Lesser-known tractor brands, good tractors with a short lifespan.

 

Innovative engineering and a strong intrapleural drive resulted in some great tractors and agricultural equipment, Strong market competition, economic conditions and corporate buy-outs left some brands as a footnote in history. Here are a few you may have heard about but have faded away.

Graham-Bradley Tractors

The Graham-Paige Motor Co. of Detroit introduced its first tractor in1938, the Graham-Bradley Model 103. David Bradley Mfg., owned and operated by Sears, Roebuck & Co., built the tractor.

The Graham-Bradley Model 103 was produced by Graham-Paige Motor Co. from 1938 into 1939. The two-bottom plow tractor was powered by a Graham-Paige 6-cylinder gas engine and Nebraska tested at 25hp.

Grahm-Bradley had no dealer network of its own, the company contracted with Sears, Roebuck & Co. to market the tractor through their stores and catalog. Grham-Bradley had ambitious plans to build 10,000 tractors annually but those plans never fully materialized. Sears gradually reduced its catalog space for farm-related products; the Graham-Bradley tractor disappeared from the catalog in 1940.

In 1941 Graham-Paige switched to wartime production. The production facilities became Kaiser Motors after World War Two and, eventually, Kaiser-Jeep.

 

 

[Achto 27,562]

Graham Bradley tractors have possibly the most appealing style of any farm tractor ever built.  I've always admired the looks of them.

 

Sears Roebuck & Co. had very good taste when it came to style. This was also reflected in the Graham Shark Nose auto mobile that was sold through Sears in 1939. I saw one of these in person and they are absolutely stunning to look at. Such a gorgeous vehicle !!

Edited February 4 by Achto

[Handy Don 12,210]

14 hours ago, Achto said:

Edited 13 hours ago by Achto

Beautiful styling and the details!

The operable vent windows fore and aft were such a practical and useful addition.