TRACTOR TRIVIA and other interesting stuff 3/18

[953 nut 55,218]

Mity Midget

 

In the days following World War Two there was an abundance of surplus devices that had been produced for military purposes which were being converted to civilian use. The Nelson Brothers of Seattle WA, were part of this movement.

The Nelson Machine Works, located on the north shore of Lake Union in Seattle, Washington, put together a tough little walk-behind crawler, the Mity Midget, between 1945-1947. 

The Mity Midget utilized the track system and trucks from the U.S. Navy’s World War Two Bomb and Torpedo Skid, Mark 6. The tracks on the Mark 6 were not powered but the large footprint of the tracks allowed easy movement over soft or uneven terrain while maintaining a low stance.

This little walk-behind crawler was powered by a three horsepower Wisconsin air cooled engine and only had one forward speed, no reverse. Lacking a reverse gear, pulling the four hundred twenty pounds tracked unit backward must have ben a chore.

The first classified ads appeared in the Seattle Times on April 11, 1946: ”Mity Midget Tractor – Immediate delivery – Drop forged steel tracks. All welded steel frame. Low center of gravity. 144 sq. in. of traction. Will not dig or bury in ground. 3 h.p. Wisconsin air-cooled engine. Geared 20 to 1. Weight 400 pounds. Manufactured in Seattle. General Sales Co. National Bldg. Elliot 7785.”

Sales seem to have been limited to Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, Canada. Sales for the Mity Midget were apparently no very brisk as this next newspaper ad from 1948 suggests.

 

 

 

 

[sjoemie himself 3,068]

This machine certainly fits in the "I don't need it but I want it anyway" category. 

Just look at those little tracks! Awesome machine. Thanks for sharing since I've never heard of or seen one before.

[Beap52 811]

On 3/18/2024 at 5:27 AM, 953 nut said:

Lacking a reverse gear, pulling the four hundred twenty pounds tracked unit backward must have ben a chore.

 

I'll bet it didn't take long for the operator to plan ahead! 

 

I've been noticing that several of these machines cost about a dollar a pound.  I believe my dad's first lawn tractor in then late 1960's cost about a dollar a pound.  

 

These articles have been really interesting.