Wheel Horse
Encyclopedia
Wheel Horse was a manufacturer of outdoor and garden power equipment, including lawn
and garden tractors. The company's headquarters were in South Bend, Indiana
.
and various surplus motorcycle and automotive parts were used. In 1947, a four-wheel tractor, the "Ride-Away" model was introduced for garden use. It was also made from crude parts and without a hood
for easy service access.
The demand for garden tractors was rapidly increasing as households with small gardens found them rather inexpensive, practical to use for a variety of chores, and they were economical to maintain. By 1956, the business had become very successful. The company began to build a range of small to large lawn and garden tractors, in addition to a line of riding lawn mowers. A characteristic of the products was their standardization
through the years. The most popular model and year was the R-J58 Wheel Horse 1958, it came without a mowing deck, but one could be added.
A new model was produced in 1958, which included a three-speed transmission. This transmission is called the Uni-Drive transmission that Elmer Pond designed in 60 days. One tractor model was named Rj-58 and included a Clinton B-1290 or a Kohler
k-90 engine. The Rj-35 used a Clinton B-1200 engine with a belt driven transmission
. When equipped with a Briggs & Stratton
2.5 hp engine, the model of the tractor became RJ-25.
The attachments remained the same for the RJ series. From 1956-1957 wheel horse changed the color of the wheels from black into an almond color.
The demand for these little tractors grew so much by the end of 1959 that they could not keep up with production. Sales were over US$
4.5 million.
In 1960 there were significant style changes. However, the engine location immediately in front of the operator and the 12 inches (305 mm) wheels stayed the same. Two models of tractors were introduced this year: the model 400, with a 4 hp Kohler engine and the model 550, with a 5.5 hp Tecumseh-Lauson
engine. These two models were known as the "Suburban" tractors.
In 1965, Wheel Horse introduced two tractors with a hydraulic drive system
, the model 875 and 1075 "Wheel-a-Matics", making them the first hydraulically driven production machines on the market.
To expand snow removal options beyond the dozer blade attachment for its tractors, the company also added snow blower
s to its power products with the "Reo" snow thrower line.
The company's products earned a good reputation in the marketplace. The 1968 Ranger was a high-end 6 hp rider with big rear wheels, "husky front suspension", and featured a two-year warranty
.
In April 1968, Wheel Horse entered the snowmobile market by purchasing the Sno-Flite snowmobile line of CE Erickson of Des Moines, Iowa
. Six-models called "Safari" ranged from 295 to 440 cc producing 18 hp to 30 hp with an optional electric start system, and were priced from $845 to $1,195. Sno-Flite snowmobiles were made by Wheel Horse until 1972, when the linewas sold to Parts Unlimited, who continued support for the products until replacement parts ran out in the late-1970s or early-1980s..
There were eleven models in four lines of lawn and garden tractors by 1974: the 8 hp "economy" A Series with standard 32-inch mower and electric or recoil start, the "compact" B Series with a four-speed or automatic transmission, the C Series offering four models (the C-120 and C-160 automatic, and the C-100 and C-160 8-speed), as well as the top-of-the-line D Series featuring automatics in D-160, D-180, and the D-200 powered by a twin-cylinder, 19.9 hp engine.
The business was acquired by American Motors
(AMC) on May 24, 1974. The company paid $30 million as it expanded into non-automotive markets.
On 1/14/1982 Wheel Horse was sold by AMC to Munn Investments.
In mid-August 1986, Wheel Horse was spun off from AMC and purchased for $8 million by Toro
.
Lawn mower
A lawn mower is a machine that uses a revolving blade or blades to cut a lawn at an even length.Lawn mowers employing a blade that rotates about a vertical axis are known as rotary mowers, while those employing a blade assembly that rotates about a horizontal axis are known as cylinder or reel...
and garden tractors. The company's headquarters were in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
.
History
The business was started in the two-car garage of Elmer Pond in 1946. He began building two-wheel, self-propelled "Walk-Away" garden tractors that were sold under the Pond name. The framework was typically simple angle or channel ironStructural steel
Structural steel is steel construction material, a profile, formed with a specific shape or cross section and certain standards of chemical composition and mechanical properties...
and various surplus motorcycle and automotive parts were used. In 1947, a four-wheel tractor, the "Ride-Away" model was introduced for garden use. It was also made from crude parts and without a hood
Hood (vehicle)
The hood or bonnet is the hinged cover over the engine of motor vehicles that allows access to the engine compartment for maintenance and repair. In British terminology, hood refers to a fabric cover over the passenger compartment of the car...
for easy service access.
The demand for garden tractors was rapidly increasing as households with small gardens found them rather inexpensive, practical to use for a variety of chores, and they were economical to maintain. By 1956, the business had become very successful. The company began to build a range of small to large lawn and garden tractors, in addition to a line of riding lawn mowers. A characteristic of the products was their standardization
Standardization
Standardization is the process of developing and implementing technical standards.The goals of standardization can be to help with independence of single suppliers , compatibility, interoperability, safety, repeatability, or quality....
through the years. The most popular model and year was the R-J58 Wheel Horse 1958, it came without a mowing deck, but one could be added.
A new model was produced in 1958, which included a three-speed transmission. This transmission is called the Uni-Drive transmission that Elmer Pond designed in 60 days. One tractor model was named Rj-58 and included a Clinton B-1290 or a Kohler
Kohler Company
'The Kohler Company is a manufacturing company in Kohler, Wisconsin best known for its plumbing products. Kohler also manufactures furniture, cabinetry, tile, engines, and generators.-History:...
k-90 engine. The Rj-35 used a Clinton B-1200 engine with a belt driven transmission
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
. When equipped with a Briggs & Stratton
Briggs & Stratton
Briggs & Stratton is the world's largest manufacturer of air-cooled gasoline engines primarily for outdoor power equipment. Current production averages 11 million engines per year.-History:...
2.5 hp engine, the model of the tractor became RJ-25.
The attachments remained the same for the RJ series. From 1956-1957 wheel horse changed the color of the wheels from black into an almond color.
The demand for these little tractors grew so much by the end of 1959 that they could not keep up with production. Sales were over US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
4.5 million.
In 1960 there were significant style changes. However, the engine location immediately in front of the operator and the 12 inches (305 mm) wheels stayed the same. Two models of tractors were introduced this year: the model 400, with a 4 hp Kohler engine and the model 550, with a 5.5 hp Tecumseh-Lauson
Tecumseh Products
Tecumseh Products Company is a manufacturer of hermetic compressors for air conditioning and refrigeration products.Tecumseh Products Company has subsidiaries that sell externally and internally to Tecumseh. The Tecumseh corporate offices are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.- History :Tecumseh...
engine. These two models were known as the "Suburban" tractors.
In 1965, Wheel Horse introduced two tractors with a hydraulic drive system
Hydraulic drive system
A hydraulic drive system is a drive or transmission system that uses pressurized hydraulic fluid to drive hydraulic machinery. The term hydrostatic refers to the transfer of energy from flow and pressure, not from the kinetic energy of the flow....
, the model 875 and 1075 "Wheel-a-Matics", making them the first hydraulically driven production machines on the market.
To expand snow removal options beyond the dozer blade attachment for its tractors, the company also added snow blower
Snow blower
A snow blower or snow thrower is a machine for removing snow from an area where it is not wanted, such as a driveway, sidewalk, roadway, railroad track, rink, runway, or houses...
s to its power products with the "Reo" snow thrower line.
The company's products earned a good reputation in the marketplace. The 1968 Ranger was a high-end 6 hp rider with big rear wheels, "husky front suspension", and featured a two-year warranty
Warranty
In business and legal transactions, a warranty is an assurance by one party to the other party that specific facts or conditions are true or will happen; the other party is permitted to rely on that assurance and seek some type of remedy if it is not true or followed.In real estate transactions, a...
.
In April 1968, Wheel Horse entered the snowmobile market by purchasing the Sno-Flite snowmobile line of CE Erickson of Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
. Six-models called "Safari" ranged from 295 to 440 cc producing 18 hp to 30 hp with an optional electric start system, and were priced from $845 to $1,195. Sno-Flite snowmobiles were made by Wheel Horse until 1972, when the linewas sold to Parts Unlimited, who continued support for the products until replacement parts ran out in the late-1970s or early-1980s..
There were eleven models in four lines of lawn and garden tractors by 1974: the 8 hp "economy" A Series with standard 32-inch mower and electric or recoil start, the "compact" B Series with a four-speed or automatic transmission, the C Series offering four models (the C-120 and C-160 automatic, and the C-100 and C-160 8-speed), as well as the top-of-the-line D Series featuring automatics in D-160, D-180, and the D-200 powered by a twin-cylinder, 19.9 hp engine.
The business was acquired by American Motors
American Motors
American Motors Corporation was an American automobile company formed by the 1954 merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company. At the time, it was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history.George W...
(AMC) on May 24, 1974. The company paid $30 million as it expanded into non-automotive markets.
On 1/14/1982 Wheel Horse was sold by AMC to Munn Investments.
In mid-August 1986, Wheel Horse was spun off from AMC and purchased for $8 million by Toro
Toro (company)
The Toro Company is an American manufacturer of turf maintenance equipment , snow removal equipment and water-saving irrigation systems for golf courses, sports fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential lawns, and agricultural fields...
.