Staude Mak-A-Tractor

Here's an ad for an outfit that supplied what you needed to make your own tractor out of a Model T Ford. I know many improvised on their own, but if you had $195 and a Ford this would put you on the fast track to hours of enjoyment.

Puzzled by the ad's insistence that it be a roadster or touring car. I don't know why that would be. I thought all Model Tees were built on the same chassis and drivetrain, just had different bodies fitted. Might be wrong. I actually didn't read the article, but I plan to.

Gerrit

Better cars made better crops.

Unfortunately a Staude T want much better than a good
team and a good team could pull more. I shouldnt be
critical, ie got a Staude.

(quoted from post at 13:39:38 05/15/23) Better cars made better crops.

Unfortunately a Staude T want much better than a good
team and a good team could pull more.

[b:985cecca7a]I shouldnt be
critical, ie got a Staude.

Click to expand...

/b:985cecca7a]

You have one? What car was it made from?

1927 T.

I guess I'm not really reading that as an
insistence, but rather a couple of
possibilities. Early on, the model T I
don't think was offered in a truck. That
would of came about in 17 or 18 I think. If
you took the trucks out of the picture,
what other options would be left? The sedan
maybe. I can't answer as to wheel base
differences. As to yes or no to that.
Wouldn't of been much difference other than
length of frame, even if so. Not sure if
that would of even applied to the
conversion. Although the tractor in the
picture looks to be short wheel based after
the conversion, if there was a short wheel
base, and it did apply to the conversion.

There were lots of conversions sold for
adapting the model T to. Even one
converting it into a snow-mobil. Front
wheels converted to sled runners, and the
rear wheels converted to a set of tracks.

The T was made pretty simple. Henry Ford
kind of needed it to be that way, so it
could be assembled in an assembly line
process. And that kind of made it a good
guiney pig for doing conversions on. At a
time before alot of other similar things
were not otherwise being made also.

For what it's worth, alot of the T cars
were converted into trucks when they became
older used vehicles. Trucks were handy, and
it was cheaper to convert one of the older
T cars than it was to buy a new truck off
of the assembly line. Having something a
little bit home made back then, wasn't much
of an issue. Not even being out on public
roadway with it.

Model T's were produced for a span of quite
a few years. More than 10, and more like
15. The car did change a little during
production. But nothing real drastic.
Another good characteristic for these
conversions that went on and were
available.

Model T's were produced for a span of quite
a few years. More than 10, and more like
15. The car did change a little during
production. But nothing real drastic.
Another good characteristic for these
conversions that went on and were
available.[/quote]ttps://forumphotos.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto105737.jpg[/img]

Tried to make the photo look vintage. That's my McCormick-Deering sickle mower back there.

Your opinion is correct. Ford knew that
massive sales was cheap dependant. That's
why the T's were not an expensive luxurious
car. He left that to other auto makers
along with the limited sales.

His goal was to deliver a basic common car
at an affordable price. His goal, he
accomplished. But that left his car itself
a little, well, it just is what it us.

I agree with ya. T's kind of don't reach
minimum speed requirements for modern day
roadways/driving. Still not really safe
even if it did. The bulk of the traffic
these days drive so much faster than even
the speed limit, let alone the minimum
speed requirement.

Wish you lived close (I'm sure you don't).
Cause I'd be interested in the car. Where I
live, you can pretty much get to anywhere
you want to go at slower speeds with not
much traffic so long as you limit your
route to taking secondary roadways
(backroads). Once you get into small town
city limits around here, speed limits are
rarely above 30.

Wish you lived close (I'm sure you don't).
Cause I'd be interested in the car. Where I
live, you can pretty much get to anywhere
you want to go at slower speeds with not
much traffic so long as you limit your
route to taking secondary roadways
(backroads). Once you get into small town
city limits around here, speed limits are
rarely above 30.[/quote]



I'm on the right side of the country, little place called Maryland. Around here, driving 2X the speed limit is pretty common for many drivers. And the daily wrecks and carnage bear witness to those driving tendencies.

Anyway, I've had fun with the car. It's a solid driver. I searched for a few years before settling on this one. The big money has been spent on it by previous owners so I didn't have to do too much. I did add turn signals, among some other things. They sell a kit for that.

My thinking is that another Model T owner will eventually buy it. A couple potential buyers who don't know these cars recoiled in horror when I explained how to drive it. They couldn't get away fast enough.

"Uhhh, those pedals? What are they for? Where's the gas pedal?"

Couple tours are coming up with the club now that the weather is good. I'll join them, always fun to head down the road with a group of antique cars. I think it's a little safer, too.

Gerrit