TRACTOR TRIVIA and other interesting stuff 1/30/2024

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Lesser-known tractor brands, good tractors with a short lifespan.

 

Innovative engineering and a strong intrapleural drive resulted in some great tractors and agricultural equipment, Strong market competition, economic conditions and corporate buy-outs left some brands as a footnote in history. Here are a few you may have heard about but have faded away.

 

B.F. Avery & Sons Co.

B. F. Avery Corporation began as a plow manufacturer in Louisville, Kentucky prior to the Civil War. Production was halted during the Civil War. With his three sons by his side Avery company was soon recognized as the leading plow manufacturer in the USA.

 

The Avery Motor Plow was built from 1914 to 1917, it was the company’s first venture toward mechanized farming, Avery contracted with Huber Mfg., Marion, Ohio, to build tractors. Huber built the first 355 tractors for Avery in 1930. The Great Depression brought a temporary end to Avery tractor manufacture.

By 1936 the economy was recovering. Avery engineers developed the “True-Draft” tractor with improved implement control. Cleveland Tractor Co. manufactured the tractor that would become known as the General GG. The it was equipped with a 4-cylinder gasoline engine which was tested at over 14 drawbar hp and nearly 30 belt hp.

Avery bought the equipment and dies from the Cleveland Tractor Co. and began to manufacture tractors at its Louisville facility. In 1943, the Model A (formerly the General) was redesigned with a larger engine. In 1946, Avery introduced a smaller version, the Model V. In 1950, the Model R joined their lineup.

Minneapolis-Moline Co. bought out Avery in 1951 and the Avery production facility was closed in 1955.

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The Avery model R is the same tractor as the Minneapolis BG 1 Row. Some of the early BG 1 Row's had both the Minneapolis and Avery name on the decals.

 

The BG 1 Row that is in my family's collection has only the Minneapolis name on it.

 

Edited January 30 by Achto

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The current issue of Antique Power has an article on a 1913 Avery 40-80.