TRACTOR TRIVIA and other interesting stuff 5/9/2024

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Today’s letter is “G” and good quality and mutual gain get it done.

 

Greyhound Tractor

 

The Banting company traces its roots to Elmore, Ohio, where John Banting opened a store and began selling farm machinery. John sold the business in 1900 and moved to Toledo, where he operated Banting Machine Co. John and his brother, Carlos, started a manufacturing business, Banting Manufacturing Co. in 1925 and began producing the Greyhound thresher line. Unlike the commonplace wooden units, Greyhound grain separators were all-steel construction. Additionally, Banting sold a full line of farm machinery from other manufacturers and sold under the Greyhound name. They manufactured grain and bean threshers, hay presses, beet harvesters and steam traction engines.

As the popularity of Steam Traction Engines plummeted Banting was looking for a gas tractor to add to its equipment line. At the same time Allis-Chalmers was looking for a quality grain separator to add to its line. The two companies reached a mutually advantageous agreement: Allis would sell Greyhound separators while Banting would buy, modify and sell Allis-Chalmers 20-35 gas tractors.

The first gas tractors marketed by Banting from 1925-27 were essentially Allis-Chalmers tractors. These tractors had no raised lettering on the radiator top tank, but did have the Banting logo on the front of the radiator and on the hood side. These early tractors used standard Allis-Chalmers sheet metal fenders with armrests to go with the Banting-added canopy.

Banting made major changes to the tractor in 1928. The engine cylinder bore was increased to 5 inches (from 4-3/4 inches) which increased horsepower rating to 25-52 (from 20-35). To accommodate the increased power, Banting recast the tractor’s top radiator tank to add another 4 inches and raised the fuel tank 4 inches to compensate for the increased radiator size.

The operator’s platform was completely redesigned, and extra-wide driving wheels, steel fenders and a canopy were added. A sight gauge was added to the fuel tank so the operator could keep an eye on the fuel level without having to physically measure the fuel remaining in the tank with a measuring rod.