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This tractor was
built in 1912. At that time a tractor like this often had to travel from job
to job to do the threshing on many farms. On the rear of the engine was a
platform that the driver and fireman could stand on. Additionally a
set of "Contractors Bunkers" were mounted to carry enough fuel, usually coal
or wood, and water to last at least an hour. This tractor originally
had bunkers, but when it was parked as a stationary power plant for the
sawmill the narrow platform and step made it difficult to fire, so they were
removed. When I purchased the tractor there was also a set of bunkers
included, but they fit a smaller 65 hp Case and were in such poor condition
that they could only be used for patterns and small castings.
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This photo shows the poor condition of the bunkers that were
purchased with the tractor.
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This is the water tank and platform section of the bunkers.
Some parts, such as the draw spring,
hook eyes, grab handles and canopy braces were reused. |
These were the old fuel bins, tool boxes and seats and that mounted
atop the water platform. |
Another view of the new water tank lower section. The
disadvantage of trying to make the bunkers using rivets became
apparent when they sprung leaks and had to be welded. |
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This view shows the new bunkers with the wood bins mounted
on the top of the water platform.
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The fuel bunkers had a tool box that also worked as a seat. There
was also a corner mount for the canopy pole. |
This shows the detail of the seat, note the quarter round moldings
riveted to the edges |
This is the door that could be raised to get a scoop of coal. It was
held in position by a small catch that fit into a slot on the side
of the opening. |
This front view shows the tool boxes, coal door
and nice rounded top edges along the tender. |
Using the old metal to remake new parts was a real challenge. |
Bunkers
constructed by:
Duane Wood,
P.O. Box 115
Wallace, Nebraska 69169 Duane built
these coal tenders, and he did it quickly and at a reasonable cost. He
integrated the new and old parts and made them look as original as possible.
I took what he sent to me and reworked many of the parts to include the
parts from the older original bunkers I had. This involved removing
screws and bolts and replacing them with hot set rivets wherever possible
also utilizing the original metal to make the tool boxes, coal doors and
rounded corners.
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