Steam In Transition: A History of the Nichols and Shepard Company and the Port Huron Engine and Thresher Company
(Page 3 of 9)
May/June 2001
Charles O. Olsen,
Like most manufacturers, Nichols and Shepard management
recognized the importance of this evolution and new market. In 1910
they hired mechanical engineer P. R. Hawthorne, who had previously
built gasoline tractors for the Fairbanks Morse Company and
International Harvester Corporation. What Hawthorne unveiled was a
sound prototype available in three sizes: a small 20-42 horsepower
model; a mid-size 25-50 model and the giant 35-79
tractor.9 Incidentally, horsepower of either the steam
or gasoline variety, was measured at the drawbar and the pulley.
Therefore, the largest Nichols and Shepard gasoline tractor
developed 35 horsepower at the drawbar and generated 70 via the
crankshaft pulley, which was the derivative for the operation of
belt driven machinery. These tractors proved to be very reliable
and were especially popular with farmers in the American and
Canadian prairies where soils were extremely tough to cultivate.
Overseas accounts in Europe and South America opened up new markets
and helped contribute to annual production totals of 1,500 grain
threshers and 700 steam and gasoline tractors annually through
1912.10
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Nichols and Shepard continued to build its fine line of steam
engines, gasoline tractors and threshing machines during the 1920s.
However, the sales of steam engines and large gasoline tractors had
slumped industry wide due to the introduction of smaller four
cylinder tractors produced by a host of manufacturers. Henry Ford
and International Harvester led the path to this
market.11 Nichols and Shepard never realized the
potential of the market for small tractors and continued to
manufacture the same line of machines until 1929. It appeared that
the company never experienced financial hardships during its
lifetime. The Board of Directors held a meeting in 1929 to discuss
a proposed buyout by the Oliver Farm Equipment Company of Charles
City, Iowa. Oliver's offer was accepted, and the company was
sold. The management of Oliver disbanded the entire line of steam
and gasoline tractors of Nichols ands Shepard, and replaced them
with their own models, which consisted of the small four cylinder
variety. These tractors were marketed under the name Oliver-Hart
Paar, which had been derived from a takeover of Hart-Paar in 1916.
The popularity of these tractors, along with other implements
garnished a fine reputation and Oliver prospered through the Great
Depression until 1960 when the White Motor Company bought Oliver.
The history of another Michigan tractor manufacturer now
begins.
Port Huron
The earliest beginnings of the Port Huron Steam Engine and
Thresher Company have their roots in the city of Battle Creek. In
1851, a blacksmith named William Brown undertook custom
blacksmithing and foundry work. Soon overwhelmed with requests,
Brown constructed a small building and hired a few men to assist in
the work orders. Brown named his facility the Upton Manufacturing
Company. Gradually, Upton secured jobs related to the lumber
industry and agriculture as well.12
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