TRACTOR TRIVIA and other interesting stuff 4/28/2024

[953 nut 55,230]

Cockshutt goes BIG and then disappears 

 

In 1958 Cockshutt introduced a completely new line of 500 Series Tractors. The sheet metal of the 500 series was designed by Raymond Loewy, a well known automobile designer of the era. The design set a new standard in modern styling. The Model 540 was 30 horsepower, 2-3 plow; Model 550 was a 40 horsepower, 3-plow; Model 560 was a 50 horsepower, 4-plow, and the model 570 was a 65 horsepower, 5-plow design. Cockshutt began experimenting with a Model 580 tractor, a 100-horsepower hand assembled unit which never came into production.

Company ownership was taken over in 1958 by English Transcontinental, a British mercantile bank purchasing on behalf of an American holding company that became White Motor Company. White continued the Cockshutt line through 1969 blending it with the Oliver Corporation tractor line they purchased in 1960 and the Minneapolis Moline line that had been acquired in 1963.

The **50 series Cockshutt tractor models (1450 to 2150) were identical to Oliver tractors of the same model number. They were manufactured at the Oliver plant in Charles City, Iowa. After acquiring Minneapolis-Moline White began selling the M-M Jet Star 3 as a Cockshutt 1350, a 45-horsepower tractor. White also offered a diesel import manufactured by Fiat as a Cockshutt Model 1265, a 3-cylinder 40 Horsepower tractor.

White established White Farm Equipment in 1969 to merge and further consolidate the three acquisitions and by 1975 had discontinued all three of the previous brand names and began offering White equipment, distinguished by its primarily silver paint job. The Cockshutt name was no longer used.

My uncle Ted loved his White tractor and when he passed away the urn with his ashes was carried to the cemetery on it.

[Sailman 1,291]

Growing up on a farm in Iowa I saw many of the Minneapolis Moline, Oliver and even some Cockshut tractors in use. We always had JD, International and Ford but there were a few of the above mentioned ones in use around the area. Had no idea they all ended up in the White Farm Equipment Company. After retirement my dad was coaxed into selling White tractors for a local implement dealership, due to his reputation in the farming community..

[WHX?? 48,815]

Uncle Ted must have had a fondness for deer too...

[oliver2-44 9,752]

It's hard to read, but on the main arm of my backhoe the decal says "White/Oliver"  The 2-44 Industrial Backhoe/Loader was built on an 550 tractor chassis with an Industrial (heavier) front axle.  The transmission was a 4 speed with a forward reverse shuttle. Unfornatualy I bought my tractor for salvage knowing the shuttle transmission had a broken top shaft and front bearing carrier. I replace the shuttle transmission with a transmission from an Oliver 550 farm tractor 4 speed with hi/lo.  I would love to have the shuttle when I do loader work. 

 

 

My boys are grown and married with kids their own this size now.

[8ntruck 7,004]

Raymond Loewry was a designer.  His work includes items ranging from toasters and coffee pots to steam and diesel locomotives.  He came to prominence in the 30's when everything needed to have the 'streamlined' look.

[953 nut 55,230]

9 hours ago, WHX?? said:

Uncle Ted must have had a fondness for deer too...

Uncle Ted began farming with a team of horses my mother bought and his first tractor was an unstyled John Deere GP. That had a little to do with the model tractor on the top he urn containing his ashes. My cousin (Ted's granddaughter) asked her daughter to find a model tractor that looked like the White while she was at Tractor Supply. There were none but she knew he had started tractor farming with a John Deere because her dad had restored the GP a few years ago so she decided he would like it too.

We had a variety of tractors on the farm over the years, brand loyalty only began when Ted was prosperous enough to buy a "new" tractor. The dealer brought a White out to the farm so he could test it out, Ted was so impressed that it never left the farm. 

[ACman 7,618]

Unfortunately ,this is just the beginning of all the buyouts of tractor, machinery manufacturers that now all fall under the AGCO brand.