953 nut 55,229 #1 Posted June 3 Bush Hog Garden Tractors In 1951, a new device designed to clear pasture and crop residue was being demonstrated to a group of farmers near Selma, Alabama. Witnessing the ease at which the tractor-pulled implement devoured heavy brush, an elderly gentleman wearing worn overalls stepped forward and observed, “That thing eats bushes like a hog!” And the Bush Hog brand was born. When Bush Hog decided to branch out into the lawn and garden tractor field, they had the good fortune to find an excellent manufacturing facility with a trained and highly motivated workforce. Stanley Shaw operated the company until 1962, when, at age 81, he sold the business to Bush Hog. One of the more unusual conditions in the sales agreement was that garden tractor production must remain in Galesburg. Some potential buyers may have seen this as a detriment but Bush Hog realized the value of continuing operations in Galesburg. Shaw industries had been the economic mainstay of Galesburg, KS, since 1905 and employed over half the community’s population. Some mention is made of a Mr. Pond who helped establish Bush Hog production when the sale from Shaw took place. Since Harold Pond had sold the Speedex Company in 1957 and returned to Galesburg it is likely that it was Harold Pond, he would have been about 57 years old at the time, but I couldn’t find any conformation of this. The Model T-63 Bush Hog Garden Tractor was designed, engineered, and produced in short order due to the talented workforce that Shaw had assembled. In keeping with Bush Hogs reputation for rugged quality implements their garden tractor was an all-gear drive unit with an automotive type clutch and ring and pinion rear gearing. Electric start Wisconsin engines were used coupled to a Peerless transmission. The tractor carried a hefty price tag for 1963 at $ 675, you could add a 32” mower deck for $ 90 and optional headlights for $ 20. This 1963 $ 785 package would be about $ 8,000 in 2024 money. Less expensive belt driven variable speed riding tractors were also built utilizing Tecumseh engines and a Peerless variable speed transaxle. Bush Hog garden tractor production ceased in 1972 and no other information could be found on them. 4 4 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #2 Posted June 3 They remind me of early Simplecities. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,229 #3 Posted June 4 11 hours ago, WHX?? said: They remind me of early Simplecities. More like the Allis Chalmers B-10 Sinplicity built. Seat and hood look a lot alike. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
