The photo of this tractor attached to a 16 row spring Tyne combine has recently come into the possession of the Milang & District Historical Society. The photo is dated 1925 but no other information of its locality was included. The tractor is a Moline Universal Model D, 9/18 made by the Moline Plow Co., Moline, Illinois, U.S.A.
These tractors were front wheel drive with articulated chassis and could be as illustrated in the photo, the front section coupled direct to the implement. This model was tested from the 14 th July to the 17th July, 1920 in America at the Nebraska Tractor Tests.
The 4 cylinder petrol engine was rated at 1800 r.p.m. and featured a remy electric governor/generator combination and a holley carburetor. Whilst rated at 9 drawbar h.p. and 18 belt h.p., in the official test, it developed 17 drawbar horse power.
The late Bert Michelmore once said to me that he remembered seeing one of these front wheel drive Moline Tractors working at Milang North (Echo Park Road area) when he was a young boy.
In 1924 there were only 882 tractors in use on South Australian Farms and by 1928 there were 2503 tractors in use in S.A.
If anyone has any information regarding this century old scene, our Historical Society would like to hear from you.
Allan McInnes
President
Milang & District Historical Society Inc.
0437800811