10 replies to this topic

[Lauber1]

Well i didnt go to the big Bradley show in Kanakee this yr as i had to work, but i manage to fill the pickup tonite on a little supper date with the wife.

Found a early 50's Hoe-trac with strange looking mower on the front. Guy had repowered it with a newer Briggs, but still had the orginal Clinton to go with it. Also got an early Brigg N for a little bit more.

To dark to get a picture by the time we got home so ya'll will have to wait till sunday for that.

[MH81]

Strange mower? Reel type?
Will wait for pics, but it'll be hard.

[dogsoldier]

HMMM its light out and still no pics
cant wait to see it

[tinbender7]

Super Date with wife and picked tractors, lucky man!

[Lauber1]

alrighty, got it off the truck and here's the pictures.





Nice mostly complete little machine. The replace ment engine does run. You dont see this type of mower often. Its listed as an 18" trimming one in the Wards catalog. According to the 55 Wards book, this would have been the smallest of the full sized walkers you could buy, at $144.50, the mower for another $29.85. Came with a Clinton "700" engine, which i also got. Its fate is unknown, as the plug is broken off in the hole, but the engine is free.




Also got the N briggs at the same place. So on this date night, i got 3 engines and a tractor/mower for $90. Dinner at a nice clean local place in the town we stopped at, which was big omelets and drinks, $14, and i left the girl a $5 tip. pretty good deal any way you went.

[Texas Deere and Horse]

The mower appears to be a rotary sickle mower, never seen one like that. Knowing you, it will look and operate great by the time your done with it, Congrats. Very nice find... And Date night with the better half is always a good thing !!

[Lauber1]

Went out into the back shed this afternoon. Scary place full of all kinds of iron parts and pieces, a few wasps, birds and a groundhog with an attitude. Thought i had one of these hanging up in there to go with the tractor i just got.





Date nites that get you tractors are a double win, but you better mention the tractor from the start. Dont ask me how i know this , just trust me.

[dogsoldier]

thats a nice looking tractor
thanks for sharing.

[Nato77]

So was the Hoe-trac and Simplicity made by the same Co. or Hoe-trac a knock off of Simplicity? Reason I ask is that I have a Hoe-trac and sold a Simplicity they looked almost identical. Looks like you got a pretty good deal, odd attachment haven't seen one like that before. I bet OSHA wouldn't approve of it.

[Lauber1]

So was the Hoe-trac and Simplicity made by the same Co. or Hoe-trac a knock off of Simplicity? Reason I ask is that I have a Hoe-trac and sold a Simplicity they looked almost identical. Looks like you got a pretty good deal, odd attachment haven't seen one like that before. I bet OSHA wouldn't approve of it.

Correct, Simplicity was one of the builders of the Wards products, the other being Midland. Wards seems to have had their own spec's for the tractors, as few true Simplicitys seem built using the Clinton engine. The attachments would fit on all of the machines. Interestly enough i could only find this mower unit in a Wards catalog, nothing like it in the Simp ones.

Going out on limb, i would say this hoe trac is closest to a model D, or an F.

[MH81]

What a cool little attachment. I'll second the OSHA statement above.

on not mentioning the tractor. I bet that's an interesting story if you can remember all of it following the ensuing head injuries from the other half.