Post by sc397 on Aug 29, 2016 8:57:05 GMT -8
Brought home a tractor last Saturday. 1948 Empire made in Pensylvania from Army Surplus Willys Jeep parts.
EmpireNut by Rick Jones, on Flickr
The company was founded by Frank Cohen and had its main offices in New York City, at least in the beginning, and manufacturing facilities in Philadelphia, PA, at 3700 Main Street. During WWII Mr. Cohen, through several companies he owned, manufactured and provided military components and materials to the European Allies and the U.S .Government. After the War and needing to use his factories for peace time purposes, Mr Cohen conceived the idea of building a farm tractor that could be used to help War devastated countries get crops back in the ground and food back on the tables.
Components for the Model 88 Empire were purchased from the U.S. Government after WWII. The later Model 90 (88-90) tractor used the civilian 134 cubic inch Willys engine with the improved Warner Gear T90 transmission, single lever PTO, the Model 18 Spicer transfer case and the Willys rear drive differential. A final drive was again used to lower the speeds to the rear wheels and individual disc-type rear brakes were used. Engines and components were now being purchased from Willys Overland.
The Empire tractor was originally made for exportation only with no intention of selling in the U.S. or Canadian markets. In exchange for not selling any tractors in these markets and compete with other US tractor companies, Empire was able to purchase war surplus rebuilt engines and components from the U.S. Government at low cost. The Empire was to be sold to the U.S. government for use in the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (U.N.R.R.A.) program after World War II and to other foreign countries.
In October 1948 an involuntary petition in bankruptcy was filed with receivers being appointed by month’s end. In early 1950 the assets of Empire Tractor Corp. were sold with all creditors being satisfied. The 1,294 Model 90 Empire tractors in inventory at that time were sold through distributors and dealers in the United States and Canada for about $700.00 each. This 1,294 plus the 5,369 tractors exported brought total Empire tractor production to an estimated 6,663. The Delaware Charter for Empire Tractor Corp was declared inoperative in 1951.
EmpireNut by Rick Jones, on Flickr
The company was founded by Frank Cohen and had its main offices in New York City, at least in the beginning, and manufacturing facilities in Philadelphia, PA, at 3700 Main Street. During WWII Mr. Cohen, through several companies he owned, manufactured and provided military components and materials to the European Allies and the U.S .Government. After the War and needing to use his factories for peace time purposes, Mr Cohen conceived the idea of building a farm tractor that could be used to help War devastated countries get crops back in the ground and food back on the tables.
Components for the Model 88 Empire were purchased from the U.S. Government after WWII. The later Model 90 (88-90) tractor used the civilian 134 cubic inch Willys engine with the improved Warner Gear T90 transmission, single lever PTO, the Model 18 Spicer transfer case and the Willys rear drive differential. A final drive was again used to lower the speeds to the rear wheels and individual disc-type rear brakes were used. Engines and components were now being purchased from Willys Overland.
The Empire tractor was originally made for exportation only with no intention of selling in the U.S. or Canadian markets. In exchange for not selling any tractors in these markets and compete with other US tractor companies, Empire was able to purchase war surplus rebuilt engines and components from the U.S. Government at low cost. The Empire was to be sold to the U.S. government for use in the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (U.N.R.R.A.) program after World War II and to other foreign countries.
In October 1948 an involuntary petition in bankruptcy was filed with receivers being appointed by month’s end. In early 1950 the assets of Empire Tractor Corp. were sold with all creditors being satisfied. The 1,294 Model 90 Empire tractors in inventory at that time were sold through distributors and dealers in the United States and Canada for about $700.00 each. This 1,294 plus the 5,369 tractors exported brought total Empire tractor production to an estimated 6,663. The Delaware Charter for Empire Tractor Corp was declared inoperative in 1951.