General Information

Serial #

VAO 5165191

Part Number

1

Total Parts

3

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

METAL FRAME, BODY & PARTS/ RUBBER WHEELS, HOSES AND PARTS

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

322.0 cm

Width

167.0 cm

Height

155.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Agriculture

Category

Power sources

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Case

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Wisconsin

City

Racine

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

British Columbia

Period

Original owner (Mr. Selvern, now deceased) owned the tractor until 1985, when it was purchased by a Mr. Levesque.

Canada

Used in Oliver, British Columbia

Function

The tractor is a motorized vehicle used to pull and actuate other vehicles or implements that are not power-driven. Tractors are primarily designed for agricultural work: for cultivation, spraying, and harvesting operations. The first tractors, developed in the mid-nineteenth century, were steam-powered and were not very mobile: their main purpose was to power threshers and other equipment. The development of gas-engines in the late 19th century, and their integration into tractors, gave the machines more mobility and flexibility. Robert C. Williams writes in "Fordson, Farmall, and Poppin' Johnny: A history of the farm tractor and its impact on America" (1987) that "Of all the farm implements, the tractor has had the greatest impact on rural life...In one generation between 1920 and 1950, most farms in the United States changed from dependence on draft animals to dependence on mechanical power."

Technical

The VAO series was introduced in 1942. Its production ceased during the war and resumed from 1944 to 1953. The motors were built by Continental Motors until 1947, then their production was taken over by Case. Orchard tractors were used to cultivate under fruit and nut trees, in order to prevent weeds and grass from growing, thereby competing for nutrients and moisture. The most significant technological advance for this tractor was the "orchard shield and cowl". Depending on how much shielding the farmer needed, metal sheets covered the tractor in order to prevent edges from catching low hanging branches. Also, the operator's seat was quite low so only his head and the steering wheel protruded.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Mfr's plate reads: "CASE/ VOA 5165191 [engraved]/ MANUFACTURED BY/ J.I. CASE COMPANY INC./ RACINE. WISCONSIN. U.S.A./ TRADE MARKS REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. AND IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES"/ Logo on right side of manufacturer's plate is of an eagle on a globe and inscribed in it reads: "CASE"/

Missing

Original seat cushion is missing

Finish

Tractor has not been restored. Original paint color was orange, however, it is very rusty. Original paint colour can be seen under the shroud and cowl.

Decoration

N/A