High-quality black-and-white photographs of large old machines and tools

[cmarlow]

Somehow I think that is an original condition machine. The lugs, treads, or spades were usually supplied in a case and added later to suit the ground the machine was working on instead of being bolted on at the factory. Any of the old timers I asked about the iron wheel tractors always said how much better the pneumatic tires were and told me even with the big spades on the iron wheels they would still get stuck. Many of these old tractors were used more as an engine to drive other machinery like threshers instead of used for pulling ploughs. The old guys told me they often hitched the horse to the threshing machine to pull it from one farm to the next and thought they were doing good if the traction engine could move itself. Sometimes they had to use horse to move the engines too. The spades did prevent the engines from sliding toward the threshers or mills as they worked so there is that to it too.
Not being old enough to have ran one I have to trust what my Grandfathers told me about them.

[Pa1963]

I'm guessing they left the lugs or cleats off the traction wheels when they restored it to prevent damage tot the driveway surface

Early Hoyt-Clagwell prototype?

[suther51]

My father grew up on several hardscrabble farms. On one they had an old farmall 10-20 with iron wheels. If it hit soft enough ground with heavy enough load he said that it would just start digging with those wheels till the diff hit the ground. If things went well it would slowly chew its way out. If not they went n hitched up the mule to help pull it out.
Eric

[Toolmaker51]

My father grew up on several hardscrabble farms. On one they had an old farmall 10-20 with iron wheels. If it hit soft enough ground with heavy enough load he said that it would just start digging with those wheels till the diff hit the ground. If things went well it would slowly chew its way out. If not they went n hitched up the mule to help pull it out.
Eric

"...one day when the oil barons all drip dry...

[Jon]

Crane used for moving gun barrels at the U.S. Naval Gun Factory, Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C., c.1909

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...e_fullsize.jpg

[Jon]

Lanz tractor. Described as "6-cylinder, 1918".

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...r_fullsize.jpg

[cmarlow]

Looking at the picture the cylinders and heads seem to be bolted to the block in 2 cylinder units.
I am having a hard time imagining what this big of a machine was made for, but by the picture dated 1918 I suspect it was for dragging artillery around. I also suspect this is a captured piece of equipment.
Lanz was a German company, does anybody recognize the uniforms or weapons the soldiers have? The soldier on the right has his shoulder patch and rifle.

[Toolmaker51]

Yikes what a behemoth. 6 cylinders indeed, maybe for each wheel. Or a single engine and oil drum sized pistons...

[suther51]

The size of that tool box might tell you some thing about the maintenance.
Eric

[Toolmaker51]

The size of that tool box might tell you some thing about the maintenance.
Eric

That's just for cherry picker, retrieves tools from box on port side, even larger! Roof over driver doubles as oil drain pan, dare I say?