Sears Roebuck & Co. Economy Tractor

     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.

     The 1938 model tractor was patterned after the Farmall F-12. It was a tricyle tractor with dual front wheels, large rear wheels, an over the hood steering shaft and front mounted steering assembly. It used a foot clutch and mechanical handbrake on each rear wheel.

     Sears marketed its New Economy tractor in 1938, but as with many new products, it had a few flaws. The major problem was that the over the hood steering shaft conneccted to open gear steering located at the front of the tractor, quite like that on the Farmall F-12 - but the Farmall used a closed worm gear. The Economy's front end gearing is very light duty, and dust and dirt collected in the grease in the open gears at the top, causing hard steering. Worse, the front wheel steering stops were weak. If they broke off, the front wheels could turn a full 90 degrees, a less than satisfactory development.

     By 1939, the entire steering mechanism had been changed. Instead of the over the hood steering rod, a different steering gear box was located near the transmission with a steering rod going forward to a steering box over the front wheel. The Economy used a hardened steel worm gear completely enclosed and running in oil. The new gearbox had adjustable roller bearings to allow for proper adjustment. Otherwise, the tractor was virtully the same.

     Sears offered its Economy tractor without an engine and transmission (butt with a radiator and 4 blade fan) for farmers who might have a suitable Ford Model A engine and transmission on hand. However, the company recommended the buyer purchase a governor, fan belt, carburetor and air cleaner. Sears also offered  a complete belt pulley arrangement and PTO, as well as headlights for night work.

     In a 1939 ad, Sears offered a 2 plow tractor at 1 plow tractor cost. The tractor sold for $495 (about $7,600 in todays terms); the buyer paid freight from the factory near LaSalle, Ill. About 500 Economy tractors were built in 1938-1939, Most of which were sold in 1939.