As Good as Gold

Sheppard built an experimental 6-cylinder tractor, but never brought it to the marketplace. It served its working life on a farm near Hanover.

To better fill farmers' needs, Sheppard added orchard/grove tractors to the mix as well as tractors and cars used in mining applications. The company manufactured a full line of farm implements, including 2- and 4-row cultivators, mounted corn planters, pull-behind corn planters, 2-, 3- and 4-bottom plows, disc harrows, cultipackers, sickle bar mowers and loaders. Also in the offering were diesel engines to power hay balers, combines and other farm equipment.

Sheppard produced conversion kits for Farmall Model M tractors. From company promotional materials: "The kit contains everything needed for complete conversion to FULL diesel power in less than a day. You can continue to use all your present Model M implements … conversion does not alter the frame in any way."

Although no conversion kit was advertised for B.F. Avery tractors, a B.F. Avery Model R converted to use a 2-cylinder Sheppard Diesel engine was a premier show piece at the Maumee Valley show.

Interestingly, every model tractor, most agricultural implements and many of the power units and generators produced by Sheppard were exhibited at the show. There were 16 tractors, two conversion units, 10 miscellaneous pieces of equipment, one mining tractor and trailer and 12 different power units/generators. Ignoring high gas prices, exhibitors came from Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Oregon. Given the fact that the Sheppard was an unusual tractor for its time, produced for just 10 years, it was quite a display of items from a wide geographic area.

Although Sheppard no longer produces farm equipment, production of other mechanical devices continues at the Hanover plant. That's an accomplishment, too.

- James N. Boblenz grew up on a farm near New Bloomington, Ohio. He now lives in Marion, Ohio, and is interested in antique farm equipment, particularly rare and lesser-known tractors and related items. E-mail him at JBoblenz@aol.com