Hey John,
It is good to hear from you! Yes, the Detroit is working well, I put new brakes all the way around yesterday. Probably the last time, I want to trade for a new truck sometime this year. Need more tax write off, and being 11 years old, I am a little outside of my 3 to 5 year replacement schedule. Still it is a good truck.
I have also spent considerable time talking with Doug about these things. From what I can figure out, I suspect all the 1930 tractors were developed in South Bend. I don't know if the 3-5 plow tractor was built there or not, but as time goes by, evidence surfaces. It is something that comes a little piece at a time. I am certain the Altgelt brothers were intensively involved, but there is little info on them. Perhaps once we get a museum someone will come forward with some documents that will help. I would like to have access to journals or diaries that the South Bend, or Charles City engineering staff might have kept. But, I fear the families probably thought this was trash and throwed it away long ago. But, something like that would be a real treasure!
One thing we did discover was the tractor used in the Nebraska test for the 2-3 plow tractor was actually a Rowcrop which was converted to a 2-3 plow tractor for the test. My guess is the 2-3 plow tractor had not been built at that time, so, a production model was pulled off the line in Charles City, and either changed there, or sent to the experimental dept. in South Bend for refit. Well, that has to be accounted for in serial number lists, as it documents that at least 76 2-3 plow tractors were built, the production records show 75, and don't account for those built in South Bend. Well, at least there is no notations of this on the records. Most things are well noted on the production cards.
I suppose we are studying anthropology, digging up bones!!!
Have a great day!!!
Andy