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Harvey Firestone Congradulating Ab Jenkins
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CJohnS MI View Drop Down
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Joined: 27 Jun 2010
Location: Lapeer MI
Points: 326 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CJohnS MI Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Harvey Firestone Congradulating Ab Jenkins
    Posted: 09 Sep 2010 at 9:49pm
"Some of Jenkins’ 1933 runs were on Harvey Firestone’s farm in Ohio. Firestone and Allis-Chalmers developed a pneumatic tire for tractors, but found a difficult time selling farmers on the concept, so Allis-Chalmers’ Harry Merritt hired Oldfield and Jenkins to race the pneumatic-tire-equipped tractors to enthrall farmers and convince them of the benefits of the tires."
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Mojo View Drop Down
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Points: 107 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mojo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Sep 2010 at 11:56pm
I believe the Nebraska tests did more convincing than anything.

mojo/Mike
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Points: 326 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CJohnS MI Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2010 at 6:21am
Originally posted by Mojo Mojo wrote:

I believe the Nebraska tests did more convincing than anything.

mojo/Mike


Convincing on what - the benefit of balloon tires? To have a set of those first Firestones today - man that would be something!

I'm surprised that no one has researched that tractor and built a replica. In fact, I'm surprise AGCO hasn't done that. If they ever get serious about rebuilding their reputation, this part of their heritage would be a good place to start.

Have I mentioned lately what I truly think of AGCO?
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JayIN View Drop Down
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Points: 1982 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JayIN Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2010 at 7:08am
Marvin Klutzke has a tractor like that with the original tires on it. I saw it when I was near West Lafayette, Indiana at the Little "K" wheat harvest in July this year. It was in the moving van truck on Friday. I dont know if they unloaded it later, but it was VERY IMPRESSIVE !! By the way, thanks for a great day! My daughter and I really enjoyed it!
sometimes I walk out to my shop and look around and think "Who's the idiot that owns this place?"
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Points: 874 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kip-Utah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2010 at 10:36am
I spent a very enjoyable afternoon with Ab's son, Marvin just a few months prior to Marvin passing away. According to Marv, his dad said driving that U over 60mph was like stradiling a stampeeding buffalo. It was easier piloting most of his land speed record cars such as his famous "Mormon Meteors" than keeping that tractor pointed forward! Kip
HANSEN'S OLD ORANGE IRON. Showing, Pulling, & Going!!
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Kip-Utah View Drop Down
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Points: 874 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kip-Utah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2010 at 12:06pm
Harvey Firestone was a close friend of Henry Ford, so used several Fordson Tractors on his farm, but in about 1936 he also bought a couple of A-C Allcrop combines to use with these "off-brand" tractors. It's interesting how many of these early industrial giants had close personal relationships with each other. Kip
HANSEN'S OLD ORANGE IRON. Showing, Pulling, & Going!!
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CJohnS MI View Drop Down
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Joined: 27 Jun 2010
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Points: 326 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CJohnS MI Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2010 at 4:09pm
Those friendships forged brand loyalties that lasted the best part of a century. It kind of kept the outside competition well, out.

I'm sure the FTC would call that collusion or something similar today...

It would tickle me pink to see someone build a replica of that tractor. Those balloon tires were as they say, "a game changer".
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Brian Jasper co. Ia View Drop Down
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Points: 10508 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian Jasper co. Ia Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2010 at 4:30pm

That must have been interesting to see a tractor pulling a plow, then be unhitched from the plow and start buzzing around a race track at those speeds.
"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford
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AllisChalmers37 View Drop Down
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Points: 1846 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AllisChalmers37 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2010 at 5:02pm

Sweet, I know it says 65.45 mph but at first glance it looks like 6,545 MPH.
1937 WC, 1950 CA, 1959 D14, 1967 190XT, 2006 Ram 3500
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