TRACTOR TRIVIA and other interesting stuff 4/27/2024

[953 nut 54,845]

Cockshutt, the early years

 

James Cockshutt had a better idea for a plow and convinced his father to provide financial backing for his business venture. The Brantford Plow Works was established in 1877 in Brantford Ontario with the intention of making his products sell themselves because of their quality. His product line included stoves, plow/cultivator lifting devices known as “scufflers,” and horse drawn walking plows. Cockshutt achieve a leadership position with western Canadian farmers because he invented the first plows specifically designed for breaking prairie sod.

After James’ untimely death younger brothers William, Frank and Henry provided leadership for the company which became Cockshutt Plow Company. Under their direction the company was able to obtain financing for acquisitions and expansion

In 1903 a new manufacturing complex covering 23 acres was built in Brantford. By the 1920s Cockshutt Plow Company had become a leader in the tillage tools sector of the farm equipment marketplace. They also broadened their agricultural machine line to include planting, cultivating, and harvesting machines for various crops.

Wishing to enter the tractor market  an arrangement was made to distribute Allis-Chalmers tractors. This agreement continued from 1929 until 1935 when Cockshutt took on the Oliver tractor line.  

During World War II Cockshutt manufactured undercarriages for several types of British bombers and built plywood fuselages and wings for the Avro Anson training aircraft. Cockshutt Munitions Division also manufactured artillery trailers and artillery shells of variety of sizes. The work force at Brantford grew to nearly 6,000 people. A great number of the work force were women, (I believe “Rosey the Riveter may have worked there). Cockshutt's other Brantford factory manufactured mechanical transport bodies, ambulances, and specialty trailers for the war effort.

During the war years Cockshutt was designed its own Cockshutt 30 tractor. The Model 30 finally went into production in 1946 when restrictions on raw materials were lifted. In 1948 Cockshutt introduced their first live power take-off (PTO) tractor.

 

Cockshutt entered the United States tractor market in 1946 through an agreement with the National Farm Machinery Co-operative (NFMC). Cockshutt tractors and implements would be sold under the Co-op brand in the US and Canada. The Co-op Model E-3 was a Cockshutt 30 with orange paint and a different nameplate. The Canadian Co-operative Implements Limited (CCIL) also marketed the Co-op E3, E4, and E5 in Canada.

Cockshutt sent one of the Model 30/Co-op E-3 tractors to Lincoln, Nebraska, to be tested by the University of Nebraska Tractor Testing Lab. Testing found that the Model 30/Co-op E-3 tractor delivered 32.95 horsepower to the belt pulley and 28.43 horsepower to the drawbar, far more than the advertised 30/25.

 

Cockshutt’s engine of choice was the Buda but in 1953 the Buda Engine Company was bought by Allis Chalmers so they were forced to find other options. The engines Cockshutt decided to use were Perkins, Hercules, and Continental.

After the introduction of the Model 30 the larger 45-horsepower 3-4 plow Cockshutt 40 came on line followed in 1949 by the smaller 25-horsepower, 2-plow Cockshutt 20 in 1952, and in 1953 the Company added the much larger 60-horsepower, 4-5 plow Cockshutt 50 to their line farm tractors. In 1955 the Blackhawk model was introduced to accompany the recently acquired Ohio Cultivator Co. “Blackhawk” seeder line. 

1957 was the last year of the round-nosed Cockshutt tractor, tomorrow we will continue the story with the launch of the square hoods.

This Cockshutt Blackhawk tractor was given to President Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower by the Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio Farm Bureaus in November 1955. It was used on Eisenhower’s farm adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park.

[Streetrodchev 779]

Dad has these two model 50.

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Here ya go @Achto...

[Achto 27,416]

11 hours ago, 953 nut said:

In 1948 Cockshutt introduced their first live power take-off (PTO) tractor.

 

One error - Cockshutt actually introduced live PTO in 1946 1/2 as a standard option on their first model 30 tractors. Making them the first tractor with live PTO, beating Oliver's introduction of live PTO on the model 88 in 1947 out by 6 months.

 

My early 1947 Cockshutt 30, equipped with factory live PTO. The reason that I add early to the year? My PTO clutch only has 2 fiber discs and 3 steel disc, later in '47 they add more fiber & steel disc for better holding power

 

 

My 1957 Cockshutt 20 Deluxe. The model 20 did not have live PTO.

 

Edited April 27 by Achto

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[davem1111 2,018]

Cockshutt always takes me way back in time. Growing up on a farm in west central Ohio, our teenaged neighbor had a Cockshutt and used to drive it the 1/2 mile or so from his farm to visit us. I think all we had at the time was a Ford 9N, which was the first tractor I drove.