Building an Empire: The Empire Tractor Corporation

By James N. Boblenz
Published on October 9, 2008
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Carl Hering's Model 88 Empire tractor (No. 4). Hering bought the tractor in South Africa and had it shipped to the U.S.
Carl Hering's Model 88 Empire tractor (No. 4). Hering bought the tractor in South Africa and had it shipped to the U.S.
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A Model 90 Empire owned by Nelson Thorpe, Bloomfield, N.Y.
A Model 90 Empire owned by Nelson Thorpe, Bloomfield, N.Y.
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The Empire's drawbar was anchored midway on the tractor's frame. That prevented backward tip-over when pulling heavy loads.
The Empire's drawbar was anchored midway on the tractor's frame. That prevented backward tip-over when pulling heavy loads.
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Empire used the same data plate on all of its tractors.
Empire used the same data plate on all of its tractors.
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Empire was not in business long enough to amass much bureaucracy. This, in fact, may be the only advertising brochure Empire ever produced.
Empire was not in business long enough to amass much bureaucracy. This, in fact, may be the only advertising brochure Empire ever produced.
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Huber's hydraulically operated two-point fast-hitch.
Huber's hydraulically operated two-point fast-hitch.
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Huber's Model B Global.
Huber's Model B Global.

Empire building is a real challenge. Great Britain may have been the greatest empire builder of all time. With at least one colony in every continent, England could, at one time, rightfully claim that the sun never set on the British Empire. 

But not all builders of empires were so successful. Take the builders of the Empire tractor, for instance. Empire Tractor Corp., established in 1946 in New York City, may have been inspired by the moniker “The Empire State” in naming the line. More to the point, the company’s manufacturing facility was in Philadelphia, and the company was incorporated in the state of Delaware. So, before the first tractor came off the line, the company’s “empire” was already established in three states.

In the years immediately following World War II and the Lend-Lease Program, Empire Tractor Corp. intended to build tractors for the Marshall Plan, a plan developed by the U.S. to help European allies recover from the devastation of war.

Carl Hering, publisher of the Empire Tractor Newsletter, says Empire planned to export production to Poland, France and other European countries, as well as South Africa and South America. However, other than South Africa and South America, no one is sure where the tractors actually went. In any case, the company never intended to sell Empire tractors in the U.S. or Canada.

Empire built a small, general purpose, light duty, 2-bottom-plow tractor using primarily the same drive train components as those used in the famous World War II Willys-Overland jeep. It was built on conventional lines of an earlier period when channel iron and companion construction were common.

Hering says the Model 88 tractor used rebuilt military power components from World War II-era jeeps. It had a 4-cylinder, 40 hp Willys-Overland engine, a Model T-84 Spicer 3-speed transmission, Spicer transfer case with high and low speeds, Willys rear end, steering column and gearbox. It also had PTO, individual clutch-type rear brakes with a stop provided for parking and a rear belt pulley. The fuel tank and an Empire-style seat were mounted on a large operator’s platform. Its simple, basic gauges (ammeter, oil pressure and temperature), ignition switch and starter button also came from the jeep.

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