D15 II, CO-OP experts needed, Family history....

I've been doing some detective work this weekend.  Searching for family history about my Uncle Alberts (Unk) D15 series II.  I have some feelers going out amongst the extended family looking for pictures or info.  

I have some questions about D15 II's, but first a little history and info (bare with me)....

From what I have been able to piece together from the stories, Unk started with a CO-OP tractor (the farm actually started with horses, but we won't go back that far)  I'm searching for pics of the CO-OP so I can figure out what kind it was, because as of now, we don't know of any pics of it.  

Anyway, in the mid to late 60's, Unk traded in the CO-OP for a brand new Allis D15 series II.  We are not sure of the year at this point, from the best Dad can figure out, it was probably 66 or 67?  I know from looking at my books that the series II were made from 63-68.  Dad was about 5 or 6 he thinks when Unk got the tractor, so his memory's are few, but he remembers it.   This tractor was purchased from the Bar-H-Ranch in Stone Lake, WI (now Bar-H-Implement, but still in business).  This tractor had a belt pulley.

Then later (70's) Unk finally got another D15 II, though this time a used one.  It was purchased from the same place, Bar-H.  We can prove it came from Bar-H because there is a circular red reflector on the back of the toolbox on the fender, which has Bar-H info written on it,  its funny, we actually just noticed this this past summer after all these years.   Dad still has this tractor.  It has a front end loader on it.  Unk used this one to load the manure from the cows in the spreader.  Before he got this tractor, he would load it all by hand.  The info for this tractor is as follows:

1968 D15 II

Ser# 15 25323

Eng # 160-16544R

Ok, now for some questions.  Dad can remember some of the differences between the two D15's.  

First is the flipper that locked the break pedals together on the first D15, which we refer to as Unk's D15.  

The second difference he can remember is the bracket for the top link of the 3 point.  It was a piece that had a series of holes in it to adjust the link.  Dad can remember this because Unk would use these holes to store the hitch pin for the hay wagon, etc... when not in use.  This tractor did not have a 3 point system on it though, as Unk never had any 3 point implements.  Nor did Unk have any Allis Snap couple implements.  The things he had were a hodge podge of old implements that were pulled with the draw bar.  There was a 2 bottom plow on wheels.  green, maybe an oliver. 

One thing that can ID this tractor is a small hole that Unk drilled in the belt pulley so he could attach a small piece of chain which was attached to the tractor.  This piece of chain stopped the pulley from spinning, when it was not being used.  

Which brings up another question.  Why would the pulley spin if not engaged?  There are more stories that go with this, most revolving around Unk not being the best mechanic (sorry Unk). LOL!  When he got the tractor, the bely pulley was not on it, and he put it on.  Could it be it was never installed correctly from day one?  Two thick of oil in there? (I'm not really sure how that works, as Dad's D15 has no pulley)

Do the two differences (break pedal flipper and top link bracket) help to figure out what year tractor it was?  Did the tractors that came with factory 3 point still have a snap coupler?

Anyway, thought you all might like some stories, and maybe you can help with the mystery?  I'll keep you updated if I find any more info or if any pictures surface! Thanks!

The break pedal things aren't fitting into my puzzle.  Dad's D15 II is a late one, a 1968 as per the serial number I posted earler.  Actually a really late one, 96 from the last.  But this tractor does NOT have the flipper to lock the break pedals together, and it has the funky lever and cam lock to lock the breaks. (which earns it's name as funky as it sometimes locks to far and needs to be pried loose to become unlocked, we'll have to fix that some day)  Anyway, 

My Dad distinctly remembers Unks D15 II to have the flipper between the pedals, and we know that this tractor was earlier than my Dads (though not by how much at this point)  I'll talk to dad and see if he remembers the ratchet style lock.  Anyone got a pic of this so I can show him?

As far as we know, Dad's has never had the breaks changed or anything.  If it was, it had to have been before unk got it.  Could the breaks be changed? Are they interchangeable is what I mean I guess?

Or is there any reason Dad's would have came with the early break lock, instead of the later kind?

Both tractors are series II's.

Both are Gas tractors.

Both Wide front.

Oh and I meant to add that Dad thought there were 3 holes in the top link bracket on Unks tractor like I mentioned, where Dad's tractor never had this part.

On another post about D15II's I see mentioned front hub's and rims.  Where the late ones had 6 bolt rims and the early ones had 5.  Dad's has 6 bolt hubs, I'll see if Dad knows if Unks tractor had the same or not.  When was this change made?

Thanks again!

I can't believe it!  The message got through the family, and CO-OP pictures surfaced!  I'm just amazed, because Grandma always says that there were no pics of the CO-OP that she knew of.  But here they are!

I know this is off color, but I thought you all would appreciate the old family pics, and this CO-OP was traded in for the first Allis D15 II, so it's kinda on topic.....

This is the tractor in front of the machine shed at the farm.  The kids would be my Dad's cousins.

And this photo is Unk himself pulling a wagon of hay into the barnyard.  Those pine trees are much larger today!  That would be Renee Coleman on the fender, a niece.

So, can anyone ID what kind of CO-OP this is?  Where is a good site to lean about CO-OP's?  I'll have to become an expert on them now....  I'll have to know what kind of tractor I'm looking for....

A few more old photos surfaced!  Thought I'd share with you, seeing two of them have "Unks tractor" (D15 II) in them.  I find them very cool....

First is Unk on the frist D15 II

I'm not sure what the decal is under the D15 in the front?  I'll have to see if Dad knows....  You can see the chunk of chain holding the belt pulley from spinning like I was telling you all about earlier, in this pic.  This was taken in July of 1970.

Second is a pic of the CO-OP in the background, while they were bagging oats we think in 1961 or 62 we think.  Those are realtives of mine.

And third is Unks tractor again in Oct of 1979 spreading manure.  Thats Unk and a relative behind, and the relatives son on the tractor, and Sassy digging in something in the foreground.

edit: I was talking with Dad last night, and he corrected me who was who in this pic so I changed that in this post.  Also Dad was telling me how this turd hurse was a pain in the you know what!  It was an old horse drawn one that was driven off the rear wheels, and it was always breaking down I guess.  Which the pic proves, LOL!  Then Unk went to an auction and got another, which ended up being worse than this one, and never even did get to use it.  Before finally getting another one.    

Hope you all enjoy.

Thanks,

Yep, after studying the pic some more, and doing some reading up in Co-op's, I see that it is a E3.  (you can see it says E3 on the side of the battery box).  Another mystery solved, and I know what kind of tractor to look for now.   So.... if anyone comes across a co-op E3 cheep, I'm looking, LOL!  

Does anyone here know if there are any differences between years on E3's, or if they were all the same?   Just wondering if there may be a specific year range I need to be looking for.  From what I have read so far, they are all the same, but I havn't read much yet...

And anyone know of any ACTIVE co-op websites, or forums?  The ones I have been to so far aren't hardly alive.  We take for granted this site (even with it's bugs) sometimes.  Thanks again Darin!