Twin City

Twin City
By: Auctioneer Eric W. Mckelson

 Three companies provided the start of one of my favorite companies.  The Moline Plow Co., Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co., and the Minneapolis Steel and Machinery Co.  merged in 1929, to form a single company that could find success. The Minneapolis-Moline Power Implement Co. was the result.  As they moved to the future the continued the Twin CIty tractors that had been produced by the Minneapolis Steel and Machinery Co.  The “gray” tractors were now called Minneapolis-Moline Twin City tractors.  
 John Deere, Massey Harris,  Case, International Harvester, and Allis Chalmers all produced a full line of equipment and were part of  very competitive industry at this time.  The new merger hoped that using each companies strengths could catapult Minneapolis-Moline into a spot of leadership in this market.  
 Although they were trying to develop their own tractor, Minneapolis-Moline kept the Twin CIty name and gray paint job. The Twin City models FT, KT, and MT were updated.  In 1934 the new model JT was released, and sported the “new” pneumatic rubber tires.  Eventually the new tractor the ZT was introduced.  It was a big change with stylish sheet metal and a new yellow paint scheme!  The gray model J sort of disappeared.  The J was the Minneapolis Molines first gray tractor, and it’s last gray tractor!
 This leads to the Model ZB Minneapolis Moline.  When I was a sophomore in high school there was an auction near Oklee with a ZB Minneapolis Moline.   I knew nothing about Molines but I know my dad had a UB Minneapolis Moline so I thought why not a ZB?  Luckily thanks to mom and dad my savings account had a few hundred dollars in it.  The ZB sold for I believe $425 or $450 and came home with me.  Unfortunately for me it was a “good” running ZB, but would occasionally heat.  We used it around the farm to haul a few wagons and such but I never got to use it as much as I wanted.   When I went off to college and after it kind of sat around and the motor got stuck.  It sat at mom and dad’s place for many years now it is at my place. If I ever run into a time where I have plenty of extra money and time I would love to fix it up again.
 Many years ago I attended another sale and there was an old KTA Twin CIty tractor on it.  It had been literally drug out of the woods.  The tires were rotten and several parts were missing and I think it sold for $40!  I don’t know why I didn’t bid!!

How about a little tractor trivia:

1. One of Minneapolis Moline/Twin City’s advertising slogans was, “Dependability of ______ cylinder economy.”
A) 2 cylinder   B)  4 cylinder  C)  6 cylinder  D)  8 cylinder
  2.    The model J tractor initially used a ___________ F- head engine, which proved                                              unsatisfactory.
A)  Hercules    B)  Waukesha   C) Twin City    D)   Briggs/Stratton
 3.    The model JT tractor was tested at Nebraska to ______  drawbar HP.
A)   18hp    B)   22hp    C)   25 hp    D)    29 hp
 4.   The model JT tractor had rubber tires.  This was a good addition because of its  _______  speed transmission capable of speeds of 12 mph.
A)  3 speed   B)  4 speed  C)  5 speed   D)  6 speed
 5.  The model ZT has a new paint job.  The yellow paint was called  _________________.
A)  Mustard Seed   B)   Honey Bee Yellow   C)   Prairie Gold   D)  Flambeau Red
Answers:  1.  B) 4 cyl.  2.  B) Waukesha  3.  A)  18hp  4.  C) 5 speed   5.  C) Prairie Gold