Saturday, June 26, 2021

The Moline Universal Model D Tractor

 


The Minneapolis-Moline Company was formed by the 1929 merger of the Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Company, the Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company, and the Moline Plow Company.  You will find tractors in our museum built by all three of these companies prior to the merger, including a Moline Universal Model D.

Moline Plow Company of Moline, IL purchased the Universal Tractor Company of Columbus, OH in 1915.  Prior to that, the MPC had been building plows which were designed for and sold with the Universal 10-12 motor cultivator.  MPC produced  models B & C, which used a two-cylinder opposed engine.  The model D featured a 4-cylinder engine with pressure lubrication and electric start and had one headlight and one implement light.  A number of implements from sickle mowers to plows and discs could be mounted directly on the tractor, or other implements could be towed behind the tractor using the carrying cart and hitch. Universal tractors had the engine in the front powering the front wheels.  




The D did not have rear wheels of its own, but relied on the implement or carrying cart to provide the rear wheels.  Steering was done by an articulating pivot point behind the engine & front wheel section.  The tractor had a long wheel base, resulting in a large turning radius.  The transmission had one forward and one reverse gear. 

This video has more information on the Moline Universal Tractors









Saturday, May 15, 2021

Our 22nd Season

 


We start our 2021 season with the addition of a Case DO orchard tractor. Orchard tractors are more commonly found in the orchards and vineyards of California than in Minnesota. 

The Case D series was manufactured from 1939-1954.  It is rated at 31 HP drawbar, and 35 HP PTO.  A total of 14,396 Model D were built in one of four versions:

 Standard Tread - D

Row Crop - DC

Industrial - DI

Orchard - DO



The museum entrance is through  the tractor parts sales area at the west end of the museum building, inside the security fence. 

Museum hours are:
Monday-Friday: 9 am to 4 pm
Saturday: 9 am to noon. 

If you have questions about the museum, or making a reservation for your group, please give us a call at 320-235-4341 or 800-537-5582.