Electric powered machinery -- other makes

http://www.bungartz.nl/hist-elektra.html

Note: only self-propulsed machinery, no cable drawn ploughs etc. are covered on this page! For Siemens and Bungartz machinery see my other page. Electric powered tiller made by Grunder in Switzerland around 1941. It was powered by a fully enclosed Brown, Boveri motor. Grunder designed this electric powered machine because of lack of oil in Europe during the 1940's. The Grunder could be used with the same attachments as the normal tractors, here it is shown working with a plough. Also visible is how the power was led to the tractor. This is how Grunder imagined the power suppliy to the tractor. Each of the 6 (or more) plots of 1000 m2 could be cultivated. To move to another plot, 1 or 2 pylons had to be replaced. Grunder stated that the cost of electric power was only 1/5 of that of convential fuel, so that the cost of the complete electric installation would be earned back very soon. Balance plough constructed by F. Zimmermann. The electric motor pulls the plough towards each side of the field by means of a chain. Electric powered Töpfer balance plough, built towards the end of WWII by Bungartz representative Töpfer in Teltow, Germany. Power 4½-5 hp at 1400 or 3000 rpm, power supply 380 V. The motor was an AEG, model A4/-2. The machine could work in 2 directions, by reversing the motor, and had 2 speeds by the 2 different speeds of the motor. 100 m of wire could be wound up on the machine. The Töpfer balance plough was further developed after the end of WWII, by Horstmann in Berlin. This is the model E500. Instead of the two speed motor, they chose for a normal gearbox. Only the reverse was still performed by reversing the motor. This Russian tractor is shown in a 1949 Soviet brochure. The electric motor has 39 kW output, the cable has a length of 650 m and connects the tractor to the nearest power pylon. Agria cultivator of 1951, based on the model 1300. Electric caterpillar tractor of unknown make. It makes me think of an English Ransomes tractor? Swedish engineer Forssblad modified a normal tractor to electricity. He mounted a 4 m high pole, ca 60 hectare could be ploughed without moving the transformer. Allis-Chalmers used the base of a normal D-12 tractor to construct an electric driven tractor. Not powered through a wire, but by fuel cells. These cell's electrolite produces elctricity if oxygen and nitrogen is supplied. The 112 batteries containing 1008 fuel cells used in the tractors, produced a 60 V current. This was lead to the 20 hp electric motor. By engaging more or less cells, the speed could be controlled. The test tractor still exists in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., USA, and was on show at the Upper Midwest Allis-Chalmers Club. Here are some details of the Allis-Chalmers electric driven tractor: 1. Radio 2. Speed controller 3. Fuel cells 4. Connection clamps 5. Cupper strips 6. Head lights 7. Gas tubes 8. Gas tank 9. Gas supply 10. Gas exhaust 11. Electric motor 12. Gas tank If all tractors and cars are electro-powered, what happens at the other side of the power plug? (Source: Nieuwe Noordhollandse Courant, 20 July 1991). I found these pictures on the Internet a while ago, it is supposed to be a RWE tractor from 1953. Some Russian electric powered tractors are shown on Youtube (thanks to Kurt Hansson for the tip!): Russia 1950 Russia homemade Russia homemade Russia homemade