953 nut 51,932 #1 Posted April 2 Samson Sieve-Grip A couple of months ago we took a look at the Samson Iron Horse (Tractor Trivia and other interesting stuff 1/11/2024) which was intended to allow farmers to begin horseless farming while using the horse-drawn implements they already owned. Today’s subject is the Iron Horse’s big brother, the Sieve-Grip. Samson Iron Works of Stockton, CA, began in 1884 manufacturing steam engines and pumps then began manufacturing tractors in 1912. That was a time of experimentation, massive prairie tractors wouldn’t fit the needs of smaller farmers and a multitude of options were offered. Drum drive, three wheeled, tracked, four wheeled tractors were all being developed at the same time. Samson thought they had the perfect answer for the grove and orchard owner when they introduced the Samson Sieve-Grip. It had a low profile to work under the overhanging branches of fruit trees, ran on inexpensive kerosine and had a unique tread design on its steel wheels that had less slippage than most other tractors with cleat wheels. The Sieve-Grip’s wheel tread design was unusual. Although the Samson tractor used cleats, its open wheel design was unique among tractors. Samson’s ads claimed the open tread provided better traction. By 1913, the Samson tractor won the California State Fair competition in its category. The following year it was offered in two sizes: a 6-12 model and a 10-25. Both were called Sieve-Grips. In 1915 the single-cylinder engine was replaced with a more powerful four cylinder GMC 12-25 engine. Samson was one of the first manufacturers to enclose its drive gears to keep out dirt and dust. The Sieve-Trac was 63” wide, 57” high and 14.5 feet long. The operator seat is so low that the driver cannot see the front wheel over the hood. An arrow is perched atop the wheel so the operator can tell which direction the front wheel points. There is one speed forward and one reverse. A PTO shaft protrudes from the rear, to which a belt pulley can be bolted for belt work. In 1918 General Motors purchased Samson, and moved operations to Janesville, WI, merging operations with the Janesville Machine Company which GM purchased at about the same time. A new state-of-the-art factory was built and GM was now in the tractor business. Though the Sieve Grip tractors had proven successful for grove/orchard operations the demand for general purpose tractors was strong and the Sieve-Grip was too expensive at $ 1,750 to compete with Fordson Tractors so the time had come to develop a new general-purpose tractor to remain competitive. More on this tomorrow. 5 4 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 35,916 #2 Posted April 2 What a beast of a tractor. With that low CoG, looks impossible to upset. Seems strange, I don't see a central drawbar, only those 4 offset rings that appear to be for hooking chains. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,309 #3 Posted April 2 Ain't that a neat rig. Seeing those steel tires with the holes in them makes me want to experiment and see what really works there. Very interesting. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 35,916 #4 Posted April 2 46 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: Ain't that a neat rig. Seeing those steel tires with the holes in them makes me want to experiment and see what really works there. Very interesting. It might be what you need to plow that 18" er that's on it's way. 2 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,309 #5 Posted April 2 2 hours ago, Ed Kennell said: It might be what you need ..... Something about a "Steelie" Wheelhorse... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beap52 591 #6 Posted April 2 The two brass thumb pump oil cans were a nice touch. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,932 #7 Posted April 2 8 hours ago, ebinmaine said: Ain't that a neat rig. Seeing those steel tires with the holes in them makes me want to experiment and see what really works there. Very interesting. Don't know how well those wheels would do on rocks and stones but for a grove or orchard I guess they did the trick. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,309 #8 Posted April 3 1 minute ago, 953 nut said: Don't know how well those wheels would do on rocks and stones but for a grove or orchard I guess they did the trick. Back when I was thinking about modes of traction for Colossus I seriously considered a set of steel wheels. The paths we choose here through the acreage are bony, yes, but would be usable in steel. The reason I opted for rubber was a great concern that steel might have TOO MUCH grabification and holdosity. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,932 #9 Posted April 3 11 hours ago, ebinmaine said: paths we choose here through the acreage are bony, What are you doing driving through a cemetery? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,309 #10 Posted April 3 Just now, 953 nut said: What are you doing driving through a cemetery? It might be an answer you don't want. In all seriousness though... MANY properties have private graveyards around here. NOT ours... yet... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 24,231 #11 Posted April 3 1 hour ago, ebinmaine said: In all seriousness though... MANY properties have private graveyards around here. NOT ours... yet... Uhm... I'd delete this post lest you give BBT any ideas on how to dispose of ... er... evidence, should you continue with your auto shenanigans... 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,309 #12 Posted April 3 1 minute ago, SylvanLakeWH said: Uhm... I'd delete this post lest you give BBT any ideas on how to dispose of ... er... evidence, should you continue with your auto shenanigans... Lucky for me/us she doesn't read what I burble out!! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
