Prototype Walking Tractor with Tri-Cut Mower, circa 1956
Add to SetSummary
Norman Swanson built this prototype mower in his garden tool and tractor shed. The mower employed multiple blades -- an improvement from the single-blade Montgomery & Ward mower from which he took inspiration. This was his first mower in a line of prototypes he built between 1956 and 1964. Swanson received a patent for his "Multiple Cutter Power Mower" in 1959.
Norman Swanson built this prototype mower in his garden tool and tractor shed. The mower employed multiple blades -- an improvement from the single-blade Montgomery & Ward mower from which he took inspiration. This was his first mower in a line of prototypes he built between 1956 and 1964. Swanson received a patent for his "Multiple Cutter Power Mower" in 1959.
Artifact
Tractor (Agricultural equipment)
Date Made
circa 1956
Creators
Place of Creation
Keywords
United States, Illinois, Warrenville
United States, Wisconsin, Conover
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
2018.139.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Norman F. Swanson.
Material
Metal
Rubber (Material)
Dimensions
Height: 37.75 in
Width: 48 in
Length: 82 in
Inscriptions
plaque on front: 4 CYCLE - PRECISION BUILT / WARD GASOLINE ENGINE / ALL PURPOSE - AIR COOLED ENGINE / SERIAL NO. M 6944 A / MODEL 1100 M / H.P. 2 1/2 / VALVE CLEARANCES WHEN COLD / INTAKE .008" / EXHAUST .012" / SPARK PLUG GAPS - .025" / FUEL USE GOOD GASOLINE (REGULAR GRADE) / OIL USE GOOD OIL / ABOVE 32 F. - WARD VITALIZED OIL SAE 30 / BELOW 32 F. - WARD VITALIZED OIL SAE 20-30W / BELOW 0 F. - WARD VITALIZED OIL SAE 10-10W / AFTER FIRST 5 HRS. OPERATION DRAIN ENGINE OIL AND REFILL WITH NEW OIL. THEREAFTER, CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL EACH 5 OPERATING HOURS, ADD TO MAINTAIN LEVEL TO FULL MARK ON DIP STICK DRAIN AND REFILL WITH NEW OIL EACH 25 OPERATION HOURS. / REDUCTION GEAR WHERE EMPLOYED USE SAME GRAD OIL AS USED IN ENGINE; FOLLOW SAME CHECKING AND DRAINING INSTRUCTIONS AS GIVEN FOR ENGINE. / AIR CLEANER CLEAN EACH 25 OPERATING HOURS [?] IN THE OIL BATH TYPE. WHERE GAUZE [?] IS USED [?] CLEANING. CLEAN BUT DO NOT [?] / STORAGE WHEN NOT IN USE FOR 30 DAYS OR [?] FROM TANK, FUEL LINE [?] AND [?] GUM DEPOSITS; (B REMOVE SPARK PLUG [?] ENGINE OIL INTO CYLINDER [?] TO SPREAD OIL REPLACE [?] / MONTGOMERY WARD & CO. / CHICAGO, ILLINOIS U.S.A.
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