Jaques-Frazer Model T Tractor Page
Jaques-Frazer Model T Tractor
Frame #308, Engine: Rototiller Model
T E, Serial # 1208
A Rototiller collector friend, Bob
Antram, owns this nicely restored Frazer Tractor. Read his Rototiller Story on this Website. He also has numerous
Rototiller attachments and a very informative display of literature and tillers
on a trailer that he displays at various events. I never realized all the
history behind Rototiller until I met Bob and saw his excellent display. I did
get to see this tractor, but did not hear it run or get to drive it due to
inclement weather. I have some additional photos in my photo album.
Frazer Farm Equipment, a subsidiary
of Graham-Paige built the Frazer Model T in York, PA.
Joe Frazer named it the Model T because he said it was going to be the
"agricultural equivalent to the Model T Ford." The Jaques Power Saw
Company in Dennison, Texas,
manufacturer of the Jaques saw attachment for the Rototiller built the tractor
chassis and shipped them to York,
where the Rototiller engines were installed. The engine is the same
Swiss-designed 2 cycle used on the B1-6 and B1-7 Rototillers with the exception
of a counter-clockwise rotation of the magneto due to its location. The data
tag identifies the model number of this version as T-E. The hood, which may
have been optional, was the bottom of the wing tank used on fighter planes. The
tractor came with a three-speed transmission with a high and low range. The
Model T, weighing 1020 pounds, was available in early 1948 for $695 plus $4.22
federal excise tax on the tires. Attachments that were available included a
10-inch plow, 5-foot mower, disc harrow, bulldozer blade, rotary scraper, and
the same tiller used on the Rototiller. Sales were not very high and it appears
the Model T was only made for two years. One source says that less than 5,000
units were produced during 1948. This venture was to help save Frazer Farm
Equipment, but failed to do so. Jaques Power Saw Company made a few changes to
the tractor, which included, using a Briggs & Stratton engine, and dropping
the 6-speed transmission for a 3-speed unit. It was now sold as the Jaques
Mighty Mite. In 1949 Ottawa Manufacturing in Ottawa,
Kansas purchased the tractor and sold it under
the name Ottawa.
Although this is not a tiller and
it is not Zuck owned, I include it because of its connection to Rototiller
through use of the familiar Rototiller engine. Also, I thank Bob Antram for
permission to feature his nicely restored Frazer Model T on my site. He was the
spark that got me hooked on collecting Rototiller and Roto-Ette "old
iron".
Resources for the
information above were articles by Jack Mueller, FRAZER: IN THE GARDEN AND ON THE
FARM, and Sam Moore, A Tractor by any Other Name.
Marion Thompson's beautifully
restored Model T
My tractor was bought in the fall
of 1973 from a farmer who had plowed gardens. I did not know what a Frazer
tractor was. I used the tractor to plow gardens in my small town because of its
compact design and the 2 bottom mounted plow. It was not until 1994 that I
found someone who knew something about the tractor. The men I talked to told me
I have a Jaques Frazer garden tractor built at Willow Run, MI. in 1947. Since
then I have found out that my tractor was built in 1948 at York, PA. - one of 1500 built that year. My tractor was painted red but
in 1995 when I sand blasted it, I found the main frame to be yellow along with
the hood being yellow with a white stripe. The wheels were white too. I have
had quit a bit of comment on the tractor over the past few years. Very few
people have ever seen one before. As of now I have the only 2-bottom 8"
plow that I know about. That will not last long before somebody comes up with
another one.
If you want to contact me, email
me at mdthompson19@yahoo.com
There are more photos of Marion's tractor in my photo album.