Sears’ Mail-Order Tractor

By James N. Boblenz
Published on June 30, 2009
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A vintage ad for the New Economy tractor from Sears, Roebuck & Co. in the late 1930s.
A vintage ad for the New Economy tractor from Sears, Roebuck & Co. in the late 1930s.
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A 1939 Economy tractor on skeleton steel wheels. Note that the steering mechanism has been changed on this model.
A 1939 Economy tractor on skeleton steel wheels. Note that the steering mechanism has been changed on this model.
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A better view of the open gear steering on a 1938 Economy.
A better view of the open gear steering on a 1938 Economy.
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Both rear brake levers are visible, along with the PTO (this tractor does not have the drawbar in place).
Both rear brake levers are visible, along with the PTO (this tractor does not have the drawbar in place).
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A 1939 Economy tractor with starter and lights, mounted on Sears rubber tires.
A 1939 Economy tractor with starter and lights, mounted on Sears rubber tires.
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A 1938 Sears Economy on standard steel wheels. This early tractor was patterned on the Farmall F-12. However, an open steering gear allowed debris to accumulate in the grease and cause hard steering.
A 1938 Sears Economy on standard steel wheels. This early tractor was patterned on the Farmall F-12. However, an open steering gear allowed debris to accumulate in the grease and cause hard steering.
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A 1931 Sears Economy tractor.
A 1931 Sears Economy tractor.
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The Economy’s Ford Model A engine with belt-driven governor attached.
The Economy’s Ford Model A engine with belt-driven governor attached.

When you think of economy, you think of something reasonably reliable and relatively inexpensive.

In 1962, when my wife and I were raising our family, we wanted a small, economical car. At the time, we thought a Volkswagen would be the ideal purchase. However, when we visited the local dealer, we found the car to be rather expensive. We tried negotiating the price. “If you want economy,” the dealer told us, “you have to pay for it.” We thought that was a rather unusual comment, so we bought a Mercury Meteor instead. It cost less than the Volkswagen and was much roomier.

But that’s beside the point, which is the Economy tractor. Early on, Sears, Roebuck & Co. was a major player in agriculture. The company’s goal was to provide farmers with reliable, low-cost, efficient machinery, whether horse-drawn or mechanized.

In 1931, Sears developed and marketed an Economy tractor. The tractor was produced for about a year. Then, in 1937, Sears contracted with the Peru Wheel Co., Peru, Ill., to build a tractor both reliable and affordable. Peru proposed a plan using rebuilt Ford Model A engines. The frame and most of the castings were to be produced at the Peru plant.

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