Standard
Tractors
Last updated 10
March 1999
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is Copyright 1999 by Mark Bookout. You may not reproduce this text, or
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that you wish to do so.
Standard
Engine Company built quite a few tractors over the years, and these fell into
four categories.
Production
ran from 1925 through 1952.
The First Standard (1925 - 1927)
Called
the Standard Garden tractor, this tractor used a Kinkade engine, some extra
castings to hold the axle, wood handles, twist grip throttle. It was the
syndicate's first attempt at a two wheel tractor, and they wanted to get into
the market as cheaply as possible. Since the Kinkade engine had proven itself
reliable, it was selected to power this tractor. Interestingly enough, there is
no evidence to support the claims in Standard Engine advertising about earlier
tractor designs. This one appears to have been it from the very beginning. You
can see another picture of it here.
The
tractor has a number of design features by which you can distinguish it. Among
these are the front mounted blower, external flywheel, F head cylinder, crank
guide, and spindly wheels (which may have concave rims) with angle iron lugs.
The Monarch Style. (1928 -1952) The success of the first
Standard tractor spurred interest in development of the next generation of it
by the Syndicate owners. To this end, they produced a tractor with a one piece
crankcase, F head cylinder, improved clutch, and greater mass. Rated at 3 1/2
hp, this tractor was also sold as the Standard Garden Tractor until 1933 or
1934, when the name was changed to the Monarch. Early units shipped with
Zenith-Detroit carburetors, later ones used Tillotson carburetors, and still
later ones used Zenith carburetors. This tractor also shipped with either
battery or magneto ignition initially, though a flywheel mag was used for a
period of time in the 1940's, and a base mount Fairbanks Morse mag was used in
1950's production.
The
tractor continued the use of exposed wheel ratchets and a solid axle from the
first Standard tractor for it's entire production run.
A line
drawing taken from some advertising can be seen here.
Note this is an early Monarch style Standard, as it uses the Zenith-Detroit
carburetor. Doubtless you Monarch owners can pick out some of the other
differences. Since this is a stylized drawing, it should not be taken as an
absolute rendition of what the production tractor looked like. For example, the
blower shroud was never produced in the curvy shape which this drawing
portrays.
Most
castings on this tractor will begin with an E, and the serial number plate will
be nailed to the inside of one of the handlebars. The number will also be
stamped on the top surface of the crankcase casting, just in front of the oil
filler plug at the very front of the engine. Tractors with metal handlebars
will have the serial number plate riveted onto the handlebar stretcher.
The Standard Twin (1934 - 1952) Probably the best known Standard Engine Company tractor, the Standard Twin burst on the scene in 1934, after 6 years of development and improvement by a sister company. This tractor can be identified by it's unique nose cowl, two cylinders, massive construction, and round gas tank. The tractor uses pipe handles, may have either rubber or steel wheels, and is likely blue in color (if any paint remains). Approximately 12,600 Standard Twins were built over it's entire production run. You can see a picture of a twin here.
Most casting codes on this tractor will begin with a C. The serial number plate is riveted to the handlebar stretcher.
The Standard built Walsh (1934 - 1952)
The
Walsh tractor production abandoned the pretense of separation from the
syndicate in the 1934 model year. Consequently, the guise of the Walsh tractor
company was dropped, and the tractor entered the Standard Engine Company lineup
for 1934. As the smallest of the syndicate two wheel tractors, the Walsh used
some parts commonly with the K Kinkade tractors.
Most casting codes on this tractor will begin with the letter D. It's serial number plate will be on the back of the gas tank mounting bracket, and the ID number will be stamped into the crankcase as on the Monarch style tractor.