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JD History Question
To help clear some things up....or add to the confusion, here is what my father related to me:
Ther were several tractors in production, pre WWII that ran on dual fuels.
Due to several facts, cost, in effiecent cooling systems (gasoline burned hotter than the other fuels and produced more power, so the cooling systems could not keep the engine cool). Engines were started on gasoline, when, Then when warmed up, switched to the main fuel. Almost all of these tractors had two fuel tanks, some even used a glass "Ball" brand jar that held one QT. Also, in those days of ration stamps to conserve fuel for the WWI war effort In retrospect, I have learned that it was not gas that was short, it was a genius of our Govt, to help conserve tires, and since farm tractors were still on steel at that time, these other fuels were not rationed.
The main fuel used depended on geographic location and the name of the company marketing the product. Some places used kerosene, some called it farm fuel. Here In NW Indiana, it was called Tractorlene. But they were all similer to kerosene, and usually it was Naptha (sometimes called white gas)
Accorrdingto my source, (God rest his soul), The tractors ran poorly on the Tractorlene, but it was so much cheaper and available that it had to be used, He mentioned the fact that when plowing and hitting tough patches of ground he would switch back to the gas tank and the engine had the power to pull through it. (getting caught doing this was good for a whoopin'. it wasted money and was hard on the tractor, not to mention unpatriotic. After all, using too much gas could lose the war against the enemy!! My how times have changed!!!)
Back to the first question. I would guess that there is some confusion in his writeing, A tractor running on one of these other fuels, in a certain area, may have been called "Deisel". And the chuggung refered to is the rythmic, almost trademarkable sound of an old Johnny Popper. It is this sound that brings back many memories to many people, myself included. Mr Grisham was smart enough to know what he needed for "nastalgia" sales of his books. It worked...on me anyhow!!! I will give him the benifit of the doubt. I do love his work.....The book in question is one of my favorites
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JD History Question
Hey Rubin, I called on my friend last night who owns one of those M-D's. It's been in his family since they bought it new. He doesnt know what model replaced it. Or how long it was in production. He has restored it, mostly paint and sheet metal, but the engine runs fine. He remebers as a child that it was a bit of a dog compared to the gasoline M and the super MTA that they also owned an used to run on a regular basis.
Here is another history lesson I learned while talking to his father while they were showing me all the tractors in the stable.
During and shortly after WWII. New tractors were hard to get. Dealers would get one in and charge an exhorbanant price. The Govt. stepped in and put in price ceilings on tractors.
The scenerio he described was as follows:
The dealer would get a new tractor in, he would then hold an auction.
When the bidding price reached the Govt. limits the dealer would then throw in the auction ring a bale of straw or hay or some other worthless commodity and then sell the package (Tractor and Bale of hay) at a price that would be well above manufacturers suggested list price!!!
I was astounded!!!!!! He said that this was a faily common practice in the mid-west, and that the old IH "B" he pointed to in the corner was purchased that way. He even made a 100 mile trip to Indianapolis to take place in the auction where he bought it.
He told me that due to the war effort, Tractor manufactures had switched most of their production to products needed for the war, which was largely due to Govt. intervention. It seems that the country wes going through some economic hard times (remember the deppretion?) before the war and the govt. contracts actually were a godsend to manufacturers. Building Tractors became a lower prioroty, then shortly after the war, it took some time to get production levels high enough to meet the demand.
I mean no disrespect with the following remark, I am just adding it for to help show the changes in our society over time and what our country has suffered to get the great place that it is today.
Can you imagine, after running the bid up at an action to twice list price on a 15 hp tractor and a sack of oats, and explaining this great deal to your wife??? The thought of that was the first thing that crossed my mind.. Glad I never had to do that.
This has been one fun subject... I love this board!!!
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