Ford Model A Tractor Conversions

[Model A Canuck]

Seems like alot of company's made them back in the late 1920's and early 30's one company was OTACO from Orillia Ontario with their Autotrac tractor conversion kits many of these were seen on many different makes of automobiles such as Ford,Chev and Durant here in Ontario.Anybody here own one of these tractor conversions with a Ford model A?

 

[mercman from oz]

 

[Keith True]

I've had a few pass through my hands.The local junkyard calls me when they get something they think is A,and if it is I haul it home.30 years ago they were hauling a lot of those tractors in when the old farms were being developed.All the ones I had used a big ring gear inside of the wheel,with a pinion on the original axle shaft to turn it.As time went by and farmers were getting real tractors,the A conversions would get made into something else.They would strip it down to the frame,removing the steering,engine,trans,and rear end.Then they would use it as a hay wagon,the big rear wheels worked out well for that.The Ford rear ends were always gone,so the drive pinions were always missing.The most common one around here was Sears Roebuck,and that was the only complete one I ever had.

 

[ronn]

Doodlebugs..................


There was a group for those in upstate ny a few yrs back

 

[gdmn852]

Hello, used to be a number of those in north western Pennsylvania, a friend would buy them to savage the engines ,sometimes complete with mouse nest inside the cylinders! Seemed popular around the grape fields around Northeast Pennsylvania.

 

[katy]

a friend would buy them to savage the engines

Verry interesting.

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Yes, I think the Doodlebugs were more 'back-yard inspired' than commercially built. Click on the link below to see a few of the factory kits and factory built units.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=110794

 

[Joe K]

Worthington Model A Tractor

Google AI to the rescue...

The Worthington Model A is a rare, specialized tractor manufactured from the late 1920s to the early 1930s in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, designed by Charles Campbell Worthington for towing gang mowers on golf courses and parks. These tractors were built using Ford Model A chassis, engines, and parts, often featuring shortened frames, unique rear axles for low-speed torque, and sometimes custom, smaller bodies.

Joe K

 

[Keith True]

Most all of the doodlebugs built around here used two transmissions and a truck rear end.I have one sitting on the side of my driveway,halfway out,about 300 feet from the road,My great grandfather had a machine shop across the road,and built quite a few of them during the war.There is a Worthington tractor in a barn a few miles from me.I first saw it when I went to a trade school with the owners son.I first thought it was a 32 Ford cut into a doodlebug,but realized it was a factory built tractor when I looked at it.It was a beauty,as it had spent it's whole life parked under cover.My friend had every intention of preserving it as his dad had done.

 

[Model A Canuck]

Model T's were also used with these conversion kits.Staude from St Paul Minnesota had a kit for a golf course tractor for use with the model T.A friend of mine here in Ontario has one that he bought from another collector in the Bracebridge area of Ontario a number of years ago.This tractor was on the cover of a few magazines years ago and was seen at many events years ago thru out Ontario

 

[Model A Canuck]

A couple more model A's with the Orillia Ontario made Autotrac tractor conversion kits

 

[Mike1291]

Here's a picture of a Montgomery Ward conversion they show at a local fair every year.

Another fun fact is that one of the two portable sawmills they have uses a Model A engine and transmission to power it.

 

[nkaminar]

That Monkey Ward tractor must have the rear end mounted upside down or else it would 3 gears in reverse and one gear forward.

 

[Keith True]

The rear would have to either be flipped over,or the ring gear/carrier/axle assembly pulled out from the drivers side and re-installed into the passengers side.All the ones I've seen have the ring gear on the inside if the rim,with the teeth facing inward.That one has the gear teeth facing outwards,so the wheels would turn the opposite way.Probably a better setup,as the dirt would have a chance to fall out,instead of being packed in.Probably the only advantage to changing the gearset around versus just flipping the whole housing over is keeping the fill/drain holes in the correct positions.

 

[Brad in Germany]

Here's one that used a Ford Model A engine and had a very long, spindly chassis. The chassis looks like it was just made out of a couple of sewer pipes welded together! Anyone know who made it or recognize the logo on the side of the hood?

Brad in Maryland



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[Elmo Rodge]

Thieman?