TRACTOR TRIVIA and other interesting stuff 2/7/2024

[953 nut 55,229]

R.H. Sheppard Co.

 

The story of the Sheppard Tractor Company is somewhat similar to that of other tractor companies that emerged after World War Two, then disappeared a few brief years later. During the war Shepard furnished the US Navy with diesel engines but after the Allied victory over Germany and Japan another market was needed. They manufactured small diesel engines for industrial applications such as pumps and generators but needed another outlet for their engines.

Richard Sheppard loved to work on anything mechanical, He built his first diesel engine when he was 16.

The R.H. Sheppard Company was founded in 1937 by Richard Sheppard when he bought the Kintzing wire cloth loom, floor polisher and gas generator company. These products kept the manufacturing facility going while diesel engines could be developed. As more diesel engines were produced other lines were phased out. In 1940, the company bought a larger factory in Hanover, PA, adding a foundry in 1943. The company still operates at that location, where it produces power steering equipment for the transportation industry.

Following World War Two horseless farming was catching on, there was a world-wide shortage of agricultural equipment, especially tractors. Major manufacturers had been engaged in war production for several years and there was plenty of demand to go around at the time. Sheppard was a bit late in deciding to enter the tractor manufacturing business. By 1949 the large well established manufacturers were making as many tractors as they could and had developed strong dealer networks to sell them.

Sheppard first developed a 3-cylinder diesel conversion kit in 1949 to make the Farmall Model M a diesel. The company promoted the ease of replacing the gas engine and the cost compared to purchasing a new tractor. Sales for the conversion kit were dismal.

Confident that diesel’s time had come Sheppard built its own line of farm tractor. The SD-1 garden tractor, SD-2mediun size two bottom tractor, SD-3 three bottom tractor and SD-4 four or five bottom tractor. The SD-3 and SD-4 models were available in row-crop, orchard and grove versions, and  were the first to have a patented torque converter, 13-speed transmission and high-ratio power steering.

Since Sheppard produced a proven one-cylinder diesel it began with a small tractor called the SD-1. Rather than building an entirely new small tractor they used a rolling chassis of the Atomic Babe replacing the Novo gasoline engine with a Sheppard 5.4 HP diesel engine.

The engine used in the SD-1 has a 3 x 4-inch bore and stroke. The air-cooled unit in the SD-1 is indirect injected and rated at 5.4 horsepower. The Sheppard engine could be started by hand with a crank or with an optional electric start system. The engine has a compression release on the head for hand starting. The engine has a pressurized lubrication system with an oil filter, unusual for small engines of the day, and a finned oil cooler.

The SD-1 didn’t do well in the marketplace. The list price was $1095, about 20% higher than similar garden tractors its size.

SD-1

The SD-2 was a 2-cylinder tractor. It looked more like a tractor, sheet metal and all. The SD-2 was also priced significantly higher than its competitors, and sales suffered as a result.

The most popular tractor was the SD-3 (3 cylinders). The 32hp (belt) tractor was priced at a competitive $2,995.

Business considerations hurt the marketing of all Sheppard tractors. They had no floor-planning (providing a demonstrator tractor to the dealer) or financing plans for the dealers. The only unique feature was the diesel engine and diesels were still not readily accepted by most farmers at the time.

Unable to overcome the larger manufacturers head start and having a poor dealer organization Sheppard tractors were discontinued in 1956. The Sheppard Diesel Tractor was ahead of its time.

Of the 1,943 Sheppard tractors produced between 1949 and 1956, 14 were the SD1 model, 257 SD2 models built; 1,441 SD3s; and 231 SD4s.

The first power steering gear was applied to the SD-4 tractor in 1953, and soon would was used by other tractor companies and on heavy-duty trucks. In 1963, R. H. Sheppard totally committed the company’s manufacturing and engineering resources to the production of power steering. Over the years, the company has been issued more than fifty patents on steering and related technologies.

Today, R.H. Sheppard Co., Inc. has established itself as a global leader in power steering technologies. Most of their manufacturing plants, remanufacturing facility, pattern shop, and foundries are located in Hanover, Pennsylvania, where they produce 95% of the steering product components in-house

In 2008 the company partnered with a Chinese engineering company to provide highly-tolerance custom castings. This partnership has grown to include a partnership with a Western machining house to provide high-precision machining services in China. Most recently, the company has partnered with a Chinese steering gear manufacturer to produce power steering gears for the Chinese truck market.

 

 

[JoeM 7,874]

Just a couple comments. 

I enjoy this read and call it coffee with Richard.

 

Other thoughts.

The early 50's late 40's was a time when it was evident were lawyers did not demolish a company. Very simple ideas that worked and we allowed to grow.

 

And this is ironic, just yesterday a friend was over and he works on machinery, mostly lawn and farm stuff. He talked about Kawasaki engines. How he favors them. We talked about the Chinese knock offs and other things.

I looked around and was checking out the cycle world seeing what interest the Chinese has in Kawasaki. 

It seems as if China has partnered with thousands of manufactures world wide. 25, 30 up and beyond 50 percent. 

 

A small but important signal in the article how a solid Pa. manufacture is now in with the off shore group. I guess money talks. 

 

[953 nut 55,229]

Glad you are enjoying the posts.

If you go to the Sheppard website where I obtained a good deal of information for this post you will see that Sheppard is providing power steering to the Chinese industrial truck and equipment market. As I read it this  American Manufacturer is not exporting jobs to China.

[ebinmaine 67,497]

3 hours ago, 953 nut said:

enjoying the posts.

Here too sir.