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by Tony Thompson
History of Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Co.
In the early 1900’s, Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Company provided structural steel for building bridges, water towers, and flour mills for Minnesota’s largest city, Minneapolis-St. Paul, also known as the Twin Cities. MS & MC was also a contract manufacturer and engine supplier for several other businesses.
Fitting their own engine into a traction chassis created an impressive line of durable heavyweight gas tractors known as Twin City. A 15-30, 25-45, 40-65, and a 14 ton six cylinder 60-90 were offered along with a much smaller automotive styled 16-30. World War I put an end to outside contracts and the company concentrated on military munitions and continued development of a smaller tractor program.
The early to mid-twenties enjoyed a new design of tremendously successful machines including the 12-20 (later rated 17-28), 21-32 (FTA), and 20-35 (later rated 27-44). MS&MC did not mass produce cheaply engineered tractors affordable to the small farmer. These machines were subject to severe duty, turning over vast sections of virgin prairie, building and maintaining thousands of miles of new roads for America’s rapidly developing Twentieth Century. Twin City earned a solid, global reputation through world wide distribution and strategic dealer networks. Full service branch houses claimed “Built to do the work – not to meet a price”.
MS&MC survived the Depression following the war, however, with all this hard-earned success; there was still one glaring omission. The company did not offer a line of tillage implements. John Deere had an impressive line of tillage tools and began production of a general purpose tractor. Massey Harris, Case, and Allis Chalmers had expanded into full line suppliers, and International Harvester emerged as the dominant manufacturer after a favorable termination of Fordson in the famous price wars. Competition was fierce among leading manufacturers.
In an effort to ensure their survival, and become a full line supplier, MS&MC organized a merger in the spring of 1929, blending inventory and tooling with Moline Plow Company and Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company to become Minneapolis Moline Power Implement Company.
History of Minneapolis Moline
The rich history of Minneapolis Moline hinges around the 1929 merger of three companies including Moline Plow Co., Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co., and Minneapolis Steel and Machinery Co. Each of these firms were major players, manufacturing successful products but desperate economical times found them struggling to survive. To escape financial disaster, maneuvering each company’s assets into a single, successful product line became imperative.
Moline Plow Co. was well established in the late 1800’s, building and exporting a reputable line of plows, disks, planters, and offering an attractive line of horse drawn wagons and spreaders. In the early 20th Century, mergers were common and MPC had accumulated enough wealth to purchase Acme Steel, T.G. Mandt, and Monitor Drill Co. MPC was involved with motor car production along with Willis- Knight, however, national recognition was earned through production of their Flying Dutchman Plows and a motor cultivator known as the Moline Universal Tractor.
Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co. began building threshing machines and steam engines prior to 1900. After the turn of the century, efforts to develop gasoline traction engines had begun. Breaking virgin prairie and building new roads for an exploding America prompted the development of big gas tractors like the popular 35-70. Weighing over 20,000 lbs., cubic inches in excess of 1000 and steered by chain, everything about these tractors was huge. After 1920, a trend towards smaller tractors spawned a lengthy production run of three and four plow crossmotors known as 17-30A and 17-30B. The Minneapolis cornshellers and threshing machines continued to be some of the company’s biggest sellers.
Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Co. was organized in 1902 to provide structural steel for building bridges, water towers, and flour mills for Minnesota’s largest city, Minneapolis/St. Paul, also known as the Twin Cities. MS&MC was also a contract manufacturer and engine supplier. As early as 1912, their own engines were fitted into a traction chassis creating an impressive line of durable heavyweight gas tractors known as Twin City. The biggest of the lineup was a 14 ton 6-cylinder rated 60-90. By 1920 the push for smaller tractors was on and the new Twin City 12-20, 20-35, and 21-32 were tremendously successful through the 1920’s.
All three of the previously mentioned companies survived the Depression following World War I, and each firm made reputable products, however, economic hardships that caused financial embarrassments persisted. Competition was fierce among leading manufacturers. John Deere had a proven line of tillage tools and started production of a general purpose tractor. Massey Harris, Case, and Allis Chalmers had expanded into full line suppliers. IHC emerged as the dominant manufacturer after a favorable termination of Fordson in the famous”price wars”. Rumors of a merger turned into reality on May 28th, 1929. Tooling and inventory of MPC, MTM, and MS&MC were combined to form the new Minneapolis Moline Power Implement Company. Deciding what product to retain and which ones to phase out would not be difficult. MPC produced tillage implements that were second to none, MTM had a champion line of threshers and shellers, and Twin City tractors held an undeniable world wide presence. With their survival ensured, lead personnel at MM wasted no time looking to the future and designing modern new machinery. The reputable Twin City name was retained and post merger tractors were referred to as MM-Twin Cities while the new models were being designed. KTA’s, MTA’s, JT’s, and FTA’s were the last use of the Twin City name and various shades of lackluster grey paint.
In a bold move from an aggressive new company, MM launched a historical “style” show in September of 1938, unveiling a bright yellow and red line of deluxe tractors to a stunned audience of 12,000 people. Elaborate, colorful advertising and pretty girls adorned the new model line which included the phenomenal comfort tractor and sport open roadster. MM pioneered the use of LP as a tractor fuel and the R, Z, U, and G model production and solid reputation sprouted like spring weeds. The now famous prairie gold and red paint colors lasted to the end of the 1950’s when new models appeared with power steering, telo-flow hydraulics and amplitorque. Some of the new models included 4-Star, 5-Star, and Jet Star. Further refinements appeared in the early 1960’s. White Motor Corporation purchased part of MM in January 1963 and the new models were painted a lighter shade called energy yellow, the tin work appeared more squared off and front wheel assist became available. The final merger in 1969 had consumed MM, Oliver, and Cockshutt. During the early 1970’s some MM’s were built in Italy by Fiat and White’s management began building tractors with Oliver drive trains and MM engines. By 1974 the MM name no longer existed.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The product line up from Minneapolis Moline was extensive and would require a large book to detail. This brief article’s purpose was to provide some of the rudimentary facts and history surrounding the 1929 merger that created the increasingly coveted and valuable MM tractors that we appreciate so much.
The Twin City 12-20: An Industry Leader
As we progress into the 21st Century Twin City tractors have become highly prized collectibles with industry leading history. Perhaps the most influential design would be the 12-20. This tractor was engineered and advertised for the 1919 market year; however it is possible that ink and paper were moving to design this machine as early as 1917. By October 1918 warehouses at the Lake Street plant were full and 12-20’s were already being delivered to dealers and sold to the public.
This was Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Company’s first lightweight machine and was re-rated to 17-28 in 1926. It was still available through 1935, for a total production run of 17 years. The 12-20 set a designing trend for other Twin Cities and direct relationships between the 12-20 and MM tractors were apparent until 1960. This 5000 lb. machine used a vertical 4 ¼ X 6 4 cylinder 340 cubic inch engine that posted unusually high fuel economy through the use of dual camshafts and 4 valves per cylinder. At 1000 rpms 3 gallons of kerosene would produce 18.5 drawbar hp, and 28 belt pulley hp for a full hour. Two forward speeds of 2.2 and 2.9 mph were used.
When the Company’s books were closed on New Year’s Eve of 1919, 2900 12-20’s had already been sold. Year to year breakdown of serial numbers is nearly nonexistent, but here is what we do know.
Spotter's Guide to the Twin City 12-20
With no yearly breakdown in serial numbers, and many of the serial plates missing it can be very difficult to determine what year a 12-20 is. Using the Industry Leader fact sheet, enough information is available to make some educated guesses on what year some of these tractors may be.
# 10669 survived, and was discovered on a century old farm with a bill of sale showing a delivery date of October 1918. This would suggest that at least 500 of the first 12-20’s are 1918’s. Knowing that 2900 were sold by the end of 1919, you can add 2900 to starting serial # 10201 for a total of 13101. This gives us a reasonable assumption that the rest of 12-20’s up to or near 13101 would be 1919’s.
The early Pierce governor is a tiny unit mounted high above the Holley fuel mixer, and the T.C. governor is mounted near bottom of engine block. The Borg & Beck clutch uses a single pedal that pushes straight down and springs back up when released. Later Twin Disc clutch is an over-center design that kicks on and kicks off with a double pedal. Later tractors had ten spoke front wheels, however, the failure - prone eight spokes on many early12-20’s have been replaced with the stronger ten spoke wheel . Later production 12-20’s used a one piece hand crank. Early 12-20’s had no numerical hp rating cast into lower radiator tank. Sometime after 1919, raised block letters showing 12-20 were cast into bottom radiator tank. Majority of 12-20’s used Holley fuel mixers, however, late production units had Wheeler Schebler carburetors with manifolds more like the later re-rated 17-28’s.
My friend Bob McGhee called one day, announcing the discovery of a 12-20 that had been in a building for many years. Serial # plate was missing (years of vibration can fracture these thin brass plates to pieces), however as he examined the old machine with me on the other end of his cell phone, we were able to piece together many years of history in just a few minutes.
The Story of the MM-Twin City LT
Number three model LT was sold at Aumann’s Thanksgiving weekend antique tractor auction, on Saturday, November 29, 2008. It was purchased by well known collector George Shaff for $42,000.
When Twin City serial numbers were gathered from Minnesota Historical Society in the early 1980’s, records indicated that ten LTs numbering 500001 – 500010 were produced in 1930. All ten of these machines were shipped to Argentina. It was stated that the LT used a 4 ¼ X 5 283 ci. KE engine. However, there were no pictures and no additional text to explain what this mystery tractor was.
In the past, several Twin City-Moline collectors have suggested that LT could have stood for Link Tractor and was an experimental track equipped crawler. The crawler labeled Link Tractor is archived as a drawing that was never known to have reached production. A large company would not spend several hundred thousand on the design and manufacture of only ten crawlers and stop production, so the crawler theory seemed unlikely.
I have studied Twin City tractors for two decades, always believing that the LT was some sort of redesigned MT, radically altered KT, or possibly a half track version because they all used the same engine. A lengthy study of Argentina’s agricultural history shows that numerous vegetable crops were grown along with cotton, sugar cane and the giant tropical grass we all recognize as corn. This discovery only added to the confusion, if Argentina grew much of the same crops as the US, why didn’t we have this mysterious LT tractor here?
More research indicated that during the 1920’s Argentina had become the main market for US machinery exporters. The coastal capitol, Buenos Aires was importing large amounts of road building and agricultural equipment. Additional shipments were taken in at Bahia Blanca and still more were transported inland by river to Rosario and distributed to the rapidly developing farming communities.
Importers Juan & Jose Drysdale & Co. controlled the largest and most complete stocks of machinery and their clientele covered the entire republic. A field force of travelling experts accompanied imported machinery and assisted local agents in teaching farmers how to use the firm’s equipment. Conversations with South American tractor collectors revealed that several Twin City tractors and other machinery had brass ID tags riveted on. The ID tags read; Imported by Juan & Jose Drysdale & Co. Buenos Aires, Bahia Blanca, Rosario.
The necessary time and money for continued research and travel to South America were not available to me, so in 2005 I terminated my search for a LT, reasoning that all ten of them had likely been scrapped and the collecting community would never know what this elusive mystery tractor was.
In 2007, a resourceful enthusiast contacted me, claiming a spotter he had hired found a Twin City tractor in South America. I was asked to identify the machine because something was wrong with it, or as he stated “It just doesn’t look right.” When I opened the photos, I could hardly believe my eyes. There was a half KT, half MT, with a serial number 500003! We discussed the exciting discovery and I learned that the LT would be shipped back to the States and be put up for auction.
So what exactly is a MM-TC LT? To accurately answer that question we must analyze the Twin City tractor line, discuss Minneapolis Moline’s involvement as well as Argentina’s request for an all purpose tractor. Twin City tractors earned global respect after the turn of the 20th Century. Plans to replace the aging two speed models with a new three speed lineup were underway by 1927. In 1929, the Twin City KT, or Kombination Tractor made its debut. This narrow standard tread machine was a general purpose tractor that could cultivate three rows with its arched front axel, rear drop boxes and generous ground clearance. In 1930, a true row crop, called the MT was introduced. This was a wide tread, tricycle front machine that could cultivate very tall crops with the addition of 36 inch rear tires and removal of the drawbar.
If a South American firm wanted an all crop tractor for its productive Argentine farm belt, should they purchase KTs or MTs? Obviously, the decision was made to mate the narrow rear of the KT to the narrow front of the MT, allowing ten of these compact machines to fit into one smaller shipment. Shipping costs would be reduced and the narrow, tall LT (L was between K and M) could be used for tillage, planting, and generous ground clearance would allow the same tractor to cultivate young crops of corn, cotton, and sugar cane. Best of all, this special order tractor could be easily assembled and economically delivered with existing inventories of KT and MT parts. Bear in mind that the newly appointed Minneapolis Moline was handling the Twin City tractors after the 1929 merger and began to incorporate their name into existing Twin City designs. Post merger tractors including Twin City KT, MT, LT, FT, and JT would commonly be referred to as MM-Twin City tractors.
Did You Know?
Twin City Tractor Serial Numbers
Twin City 40-65, 1910 – 1924
Twin City 15 – 30, 1913 – 1917
Twin City 25 – 45, 1913 – 1920
Twin City 60 – 90, 1916 – 1921
Twin City 16 – 30, 1917 – 1919 … 5501 – 6203 , 5 x 7 ½ , 589 ci. … 702 made.
Twin City 12 – 20, 1918 – 1926 … twin cam 16 valve 4 cyl. , 4 ¼ x 6 340 ci. … 9,000 made.
Twin City 12-20 with FE (21-32) engine … 12 made, 1925 only.
Twin City 20 – 35, 1920 – 1926
Twin City also entered motor truck production in 1919 with a 2 ton and 3 ½ ton.
Twin City 17 – 28 , 1926 – 1935 … 11,589 made.
Twin City 21-32 , 1926 – 1928…...302 made
Six experimental 21 -32’s made …..X1 – X6……(3 forward gears)
Twin City 27 – 44 ,… 1926 – 1935 … 839 made.
The following Twin City designs were assembled by MM after the 1929 merger:
Twin City 21 – 32 FT , 1929 – 1934 3,973 made
KT 1929 – 1934 4 ¼ x 5 283 ci…… 2,052 made
LT 1930 4 ¼ x 5 283 ci….10 made , all shipped to Argentina. These special order universals used tricycle MT fronts on narrow KT rear ends.
KTO 1931 only 4 ¼ x5 283 ci……25 made.
MT 1930 – 1934 4 ¼ x 5 283 ci…..420 made
FT-I 1932 – 1934 4 ½ x 6 381 ci…..29 made
KT-I 1932 – 1935 4 ¼ x 5 283 ci…… 9 made
KTA 1934 – 1938 4 ¼ x 5 283 ci……4,542 made
MTA 1934 – 1938 4 ¼ x 5 283 ci……3,045 made
KTA, and MTA evolved into MM U
FTA-I 1935 – 1937 4 5/8 x 6 403 ci……45 made
FTA 1935 – 1938 4 5/8 x 6 403 ci……2,950 made
FTA evolved into MM GT
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