Who Built The "Chrysler" (CO-OP?)Tractors???

[Farmwithjunk]

There was also a "PLYMOUTH" tractor. The name was misleading though. Absolutely nothing to do with Plymouth cars.

I know where an old Co-Op still exists. Owner is nothing less than certifiable. I'll see if there's any way I can get a picture. (no clue as to the model #)

 

[dgl24087]

Found this auction for Sat. Dec. 9, lists a 1940 CO-OP B Series, wide front, Chrysler engine. December 9 Auction

 

[dgl24087]

Also found this on Yesterday's Tractor website, just type CO-OP in search box.

"The tractors where built by The Duplex Machinery Company of Battle Creek Michigan. The Drive train however, front to rear were from Dodge Trucks, right from the chrysler industrial engine to the rear end. "

Don't know how accurate the info is though, there were also references to Norseman and OMC as being the manufacturer. I wonder if they were basically trucks converted to tractors much like the Model T's were?

 

[dgl24087]

Also found this on Yesterday's Tractor website, just type CO-OP in search box.

"The tractors where built by The Duplex Machinery Company of Battle Creek Michigan. The Drive train however, front to rear were from Dodge Trucks, right from the chrysler industrial engine to the rear end. "

Don't know how accurate the info is though, there were also references to Norseman and OMC as being the manufacturer. I wonder if they were basically trucks converted to tractors much like the Model T's were?

I found another reference to the tractors being manufactured by Co-Operative Manufacturing Corp. of Battle Creek, Michigan.

 

[74clueless74]

For a brief (lol) rundown of the prewar CO-OP see my posts in the engineads (smokstak) Tractor Talk forum under the 12-02-06 thread "crysler tractor".
The story is that the farm coopt'vs members wanted a "modern" tractor (electric start, lights, available off-the-shelf parts, good road speed to trailer crops to town quickly, etc) and Dent Parrett executed designs (OR Dent shopped his own design to the coopt'vs; accounts differ on almost every point).Remember it was 1934/35, in the depression, money was short for development of new designs; the CO-OP #2 and #3 were designed to use the Truck running gear, it wasn't any kind of a "conversion" like the kits sold in the teens and 20s for Model T's and A's, to make them into "tractors". They're considered the first 35MPH tractors, and while I doubt they held up under extreme loading they seemed to do very well on light and medium work.
By 45/6 other makes were more modern, and the coopt'vs quit prod, but others continued the design (Custom Tractor Mfg Co/Harry A Lowther Co at first, who built Customs, and sold as Lehr, some Wards, Jumbo, Simpsons Jumbo, Love, Friday (those last two are fascinating, themselves)Closson, Wilson, apparently OMC, which was sold in Canada as Norseman, and two other Canadian names, Rockol and Regal.
My own guess is that one of these, or some other "one-at-a-time" builder made these Chrysler-badged tractors as a lark, or maybe as a gimmick for some local Chrysler/Dodge truck dealer; I don't think there was any "official" connection to the Chrysler Cptn.