Monday, May 02, 2022

the 1919 Townsend tractor, is not a steam powered machine


In 1905, Townsend went to work for Fairbanks, Morse & Co. in Beloit, Wisconsin, as an apprentice machinist. While learning the machine trade, he also took correspondence courses and eventually worked as a draftsman and an engineer for the firm.

Fairbanks-Morse had started out manufacturing scales but by 1910 was heavily involved in building gas and kerosene engines and had begun experimenting with a tractor. Townsend became involved in FM’s tractor program and was made head of tractor engineering.

In 1914, FM got out of the tractor business and Townsend resigned from the company. Then, along with his father and other family members, Townsend started a new company — Townsend Tractor Co. — in a small Beloit shop. Two years later his tractor was a success and a larger factory was built in Janesville.

Townsend designed his new tractor with what he called a “boiler frame.” Looking for all the world like a steam traction engine, the large round “boiler” was actually the tractor’s frame, as well as the radiator containing the cooling water for the engine. Engine exhaust was piped through the radiator to exit through the “smokestack” at the front. The exhaust created a draft that drew air through “flues” in the “boiler,” thus cooling the water.

At least during 1918, Townsend’s old company, Fairbanks-Morse, sold his 12-25 model retagged as the Fair-Mor 12-25.

Townsend Tractor Co. struggled through the 1920s, battling both the severe Agricultural Depression and competition from other manufacturers. La Crosse (Wis.) Boiler Co. acquired Townsend Tractor Co. assets in 1931

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