Sandusky Tractor - Andy Michaels

[Will Cummings]

I recently read the several-week-old post about the Nilson tractor that included the name of Andy Michaels, and I thought that I would include my memories here.

About 1969 Andy posted a notice in the Gas Engine magazine asking for help restoring a large Sandusky tractor. It caught my attention because the Sandusky tractor was built near where I live and up until that time I never knew that old equipment was built in my area! I was about 11 years old at the time. Obviously I wasn't much help to Andy with technical details, but I did go down to the local library and research a fair amount of company history for him. Andy always answered my letters, which meant a lot to a young kid like me! Andy also invited me ( from Ohio ) to come see the tractor and the local Culbertson tractor show. To my great surprise my parents agreed and the next summer ( July, 1970 ) we took the longest vacation that I ever had during my growing-up years. I look back at the thought of my parents, 2 kids, and a '64 Falcon full of tents and coolers on an almost 3-week camping trip to Montana in the heat of summer without air conditioning and probably with very little cash... Wow!

We met Andy in the horse-drawn covered cook-wagon at the Culbertson tractor show. He was very courteous and gave us a tour of the show that afternoon. After supper at Andy's home we camped the night at the showgrounds. The next day Andy took us to his ranch to see the Sandusky tractor, which was still in the restoration process. He had a long row of 50 or more old tractors and trucks stretching out from his shop. The two I remember most were a Twin City truck and also a 5-ton International truck that used the same engine as a 10-20 McCormick-Deering. During our conversation we mentioned our need of a magneto for our 18-36 Hart-Parr and Andy went to a shelf, pulled one off and gave it to us! Andy also took us for a ride past the "outdoor collections" of a couple other old tractor collectors who had some really rare pieces. It was a day that I will remember forever. I notice in the previous posts some suggestions that Andy was fond of his bottle, but since I was 12 years old at the time I didn't notice this possibility.

After that years went by without any contact between Andy and I, then about 1990 I was sick and had some time off from work. I wrote Andy a last letter to see if he still remembered me. An assistant in a local Montana nursing home wrote me a brief note back saying that she had read the letter to Andy and that he still remembered the "kid" from Ohio. Sometimes I hear someone express doubts about the future of the old tractor hobby because not very many young people are involved in it, but if we all gave a little time to cultivating the interest in young people as Andy did for me we can be assured that our favored old equipment will be cherished long after we are gone!

I have always been curious how many Sandusky tractors are left... I have seen one in Minden, NE, heard of one in New York, and heard of another somewhere in Montana that is in very rough condition after being pulled out of a river. It is good to hear that the tractor Andy restored remains with his local club of which he was proud. I know that Andy fabricated pistons and connecting rods for his Sandusky, modeling them after another Sandusky tractor "up in Canada", but I don't know whether this Sandusky tractor that was up in Canada is one of the tractors listed above or if it is another one of which I don't know the whereabouts. This past summer I fulfilled a 35-year dream and visited the Reynolds museum near Edmonton, and the Western Development museums in Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, and the Battlefords. I saw lots of wonderful old equipment, but didn't see any hint of a Sandusky.. can anybody tell me of any other Sandusky tractors?

I have included a picture of myself next to Andy's Sandusky ( before restoration ) in 1970 - sorry that it's not a very high quality picture but it's the best that I have!

Thanks, Will Cummings

[Michael E. McCracken]

The Erie County Heritage Socioty Sandusky,Ohio has one can't tell you the size off hand

[Malcolm Robinson]

Hello Will,

Attached is a photo of the Sandusky tractor, taken at Culbertson, Montana in the summer of 1996 when I last visited there, I also had the pleasure of eating in the cook wagon too.

Malcolm Robinson.

[Craig A]

What a GREAT photo Malcolm!!!
Watch this spot for the newly restored one owned by Jim Erdle!!!
What a BEAUTY!!!!!!!!!!
This 15-35 Sandusky tractor was freshly restored just in time for the 2005 "Pageant of Steam" show held annually at Canadaigua, NY.
Jim sent me some pics and I asked if I could post them and said "Post away"..........so I'm "posting away."
So now that you have seen TWO of these.......you've seen them all................I've been told.
Craig

[Ironman]

I haven't seen it in quite a few years, but there used to be a Sandusky tractor that was shown at the Rock River Thresheree in Edgerton, Wisconsin. It is quite possibly the same one that Jim Erdle owns now. I remember taking pictures of it in the early to mid 1970's at the Edgerton show, but I would have to do a LOT of digging to locate my pictures. I used to be quite a shutterbug, and therefore I have many thousands of pictures boxed up and tucked into several areas throughout the house.

[Will Cummings]

Malcolm,

Thanks for contributing the newer photo of the Sandusky at Culbertson; as I mentioned I haven't seen it 35 years. It looks like it's time for a little "freshening" of the restoration.

Will Cummings

[Will Cummings]

Craig,

Thanks for including the nice photo of the Sandusky E in NY; although I had heard of this tractor I didn't know that it had been recently restored. Any chance of getting a couple more photos from different angles?

It is interesting to notice the major difference in the way the frame is constructed ahead of the belt pulley. The tractor in NY has a squared-off channel-iron section, whereas the tractors at Culbertson and also at the Pioneer Museum in Minden, NE have the channel frame set at an angle. I have a piece of Sandusky literature that also shows the frame set at an angle; this literature includes a reference to 1915 so it is probably from 1916 or later. The Sandusky in NE is #1381 and the sign indicates that it is a 1916 but I don't know what source of information they used to date it's manufacture. Do we know a serial number for the NY Sandusky or have any clue whether it is older or newer than the others?

Thanks,

Will Cummings

Here is a picture from a 1913 ad in "The Country Gentleman" on Sandusky. Tried scanning the whole ad but it didn't come out very well. This is one of the prototype models. It says, 4 cylinder 5x6&1/2 motor, Kingston carb, Delco jump spark ignition and Bosch magneto, 6000lbs, 8'4" wheelbase, 5'3" high, 12' long, hardened steel cut gears. Also, has a power plow lift operated by pressing a foot pedal whether moving or standing still! I did an article on the small Sandusky tractors 3-4 years ago or more for Antique Power magazine. Only about 3-4 of those around also.
Rick.

[Craig A]

Ironman kindly sent me a HUGE version of the first photo. EVen at that there's a limit what can be done with a photo but here's another version.

[Denis Rouleau]

Here are 2 ads from 1917 featuring the SANDUSKY Tractors"

http://buzzcoil.brinkster.net/r-z/19170330sanduskya.jpg

AND

http://buzzcoil.brinkster.net/r-z/19170330sanduskyb.jpg

Enjoy!
Denis Rouleau

[20minnie]

Great story Will. Well the tractor was made in Sandusky, Ohio by the Dauch Co.. Started production of the 15-35 in 1911. This model was also known as the Model E. The Erie County Historical Society has a 1917 model E. The motor was a 4 cylinder kerosene burner. The motor was made by Dauch. This was one heavy tractor at over 8,000 lbs. The next model was the 10-20 model J. this was lighter at over 4,000 lbs. It had a fully enclosed cab. Production of this Model begun in 1917.

Dauch had Factory houses set up in Sioux Falls, Fargo, west coast and in most Midwestern states. They also offered a free tractor service plan, which was free advice and help when needed.

Tractor production stopped in 1920. There is another picture on Smokstack from Ed Dina on 2-15-2005 of a Sandusky he had just finished restoring.

[Jeff Wahl]

Some pictures of the 15-35 model E Sandusky tractor from an original catalog I used to own. Neat!

[Jeff Wahl]

A few more...

[oilpulled]

Will Cummings;
What a story (2006)! I'm glad this thread is current. Very nice other pictures, too. The Rock River Sandusky is now the one in New York. It was a fine tractor. It was sad that we lost it and two Fairbanks + more from the old RR show. I knew Andy Michaels slightly, having seen his TC truck at Rollag and much later at Root River and having purchased a Cat 60 radiator from him after thieves cut the tubes out of mine. Andy was a fine person and, Will, you can sure thank him and your family. We all thank you as an 11 year old for doing what one kid in 1,000 would not have done!

[Jeff Wahl]

And now some pictures from a Sandusky 10-20 Model J tractor catalog. I've seen one of these in Connecticut I believe, a real beauty!

[sodbuster]

Originally Posted by Malcolm Robinson

Hello Will,

Attached is a photo of the Sandusky tractor, taken at Culbertson, Montana in the summer of 1996 when I last visited there, I also had the pleasure of eating in the cook wagon too.

Malcolm Robinson.

I took pics of this same tractor in 2007, but it was parked near the fair grounds in Plentywood Montana.

[sodbuster]

a few more of #1497.

[Kent McMakin]

Here's the Sandusky at Pioneer Village, Minden, Nebraska.

[J.Wondergem]

Thanks for the stry Will. I enjoyed it.

[netractors]

Hi, I am a new member, My name is Ken. I found this site by googling Sandusky model E tractor. My great grandfather bought new in around 1917. I have been looking for photos of a model E so I can build a 1/16 scale model.

I don't have any photos of the one great grandpa bought. I know it was sold for scrap in 1936 after setting for about ten years. They filled it with cold water and cracked a cylinder head. The Sandusky was replaced with a McCormick 22-36.

Sandusky must have had an early and late model E? I have noticed some with what I think is the exhaust pipe exiting from both the left and right side running behind the fender.

Any more information on the Model E would be really helpful!!

Thank you!!!!