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I.H.C. TITAN TYPE D

RARE TITAN D 20 HORSEPOWER TRACTOR

By VERNON GRAHAM

A RARE International Harvester tractor from Australia has been sold at auction in the United States for $250,000.
Australian vintage farm machinery collectors led by Victorians John Edgar and Stuart Landry have been urging the Federal government to take steps to ensure the International Titan D 20 horsepower tractor is returned to Australia.
The Titan D 20 horsepower tractor - which dates from late 1912 and is thought to be one of only five remaining complete models in the world was listed for sale in an online sale run by Aumann Auctions of Illinois.
The closing bid was $US194,250 when the sale finished on April 24.

 

          

UP FOR AUCTION THIS RARE TITAN TYPE "D" TRACTOR               #1

The buyer has not yet been publicly identified.
Both Mr Edgar and Mr Landry believe the export of the Titan D 20 horsepower contravened Australia's Movable Cultural Heritage Act.
They sent pre-sale submissions to Federal Arts Minister Paul Fletcher and other Federal politicians, urging them to take action.
"We have campaigned to have this machine dealt with by the appropriate department and have been unsuccessful although I maintain that it is an illegal export from Australia in relation to the Movable Cultural Heritage Act," Mr Edgar said.
In the same auction bidding for a well-restored Big 4 (four cylinder) Thirty tractor built by the Gas Traction Company reached $US346,500.
Mr Landry from Leongatha South has disputed several claims that Aumann Auctions and others have made about the Titan D tractor.
He believed the correct serial number of the tractor is UB 4133 based on his photographic records.
As well Mr Landry said claims the Dewey family had rescued the tractor from abandonment in bushland at Anakie north of Geelong were also incorrect.
He said the tractor had been in the care of a farmer with a different name from She Oaks for about 50 years until he had to move to a nursing home about 2018.
II don't know who purchased the Titan but (it's) unlikely it was an Australian," Mr Landry said.
He and Mr Edgar were still waiting for an official response from Federal Arts Minister Paul Fletcher.
Mr Landry said the sale was disappointing but had highlighted another departmental failure to implement legislation to prevent the export of items of cultural significance.
He said said the Titan D had been shipped to the US some time during 2020.
The tractor, serial number UB4183, is one of 273 built by International Harvester between 1910-14 and was shipped to Australia in 1912 from the company's factory in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
It is powered by a 20 horsepower Famous engine which is “stuck”, according to Aumann Auctions which specialises in historic farm machinery.
The listing on Aumann's website said the tractor had been returned “home” after being abandoned and almost forgotten for 50 years in Australia.

Item from the Elders Weekly.

 

 

TITAN TRACTOR 1911-14
 

A I.H.C. TITAN TYPE D TRACTOR BEING UNLOADED                      #2
 


Glen Oliver: “Have just had this engine identified. It is a I.H.C. Titan Type D, built between 1911-14. Thanks Brett Green from Tambellup. Steere or Steer in Broomehill had one.The big box on the front of this engine is a cooling tower (a primitive form of radiator) that kept the oil engine cool
 E.W.Steere was taking his engine to Ongerup for scrub rolling. Two others, Inspector Connell and Andrew McDonald, both purchased I.H.C. 25 hp oil engines in 1911 for scrub rolling. Connell taking his to Ongerup also, and A.McDonald's was used on his own farm and some contract work at Carpenter's. He was injured when repairing the engine there, in a acetelyne explosion”

Carolyn Aylmore: that’s A.E. Aylmore…..our Great Grandfather at the back of that tractor.

 

 I.H.C. TITAN TYPE D TRACTOR  ON INSPECTOR CONNELL'S FARM AT ONGERUP                   #3

 

Notes from Glen Oliver.     Inspector Connell's farm (known as Rock Farm) at Ongerup in 1913.

In the background on the left is I.H.C 25HP Titan engine,used for scrub rolling. He purchased it new in Dec 1911, driving it from Broomehill. Cecil Connell married Maudie Eldridge , who ran a boarding house in Ongerup.
 

I.H.C. TITAN TYPE D TRACTOR & CHAFF CUTTER AT ANDREW McDONALDS                  #4

 

Glen Oliver: “It is possible that this is Andrew McDonalds outfit. In 1911 he purchased a Titan tractor and a Andrew and Beaven 'Empire' chaffcutting plant. It had a capacity of 60 tons per day. if you expand this photo you can see the word 'Empire' on the chaffcutter”.
 

Luke Pocock: "My great grandfather purchased it 2nd hand from Katanning Roads Board in the mid 1920s(?)
It is a petrol/kerosene single cylinder engine
 My pop started driving it home, after an 8hr drive just to get to Broomhill it was decided it was too slow so it was loaded on a train to Ongerup and then driven to Needilup.
 It was used to roll down scrub. Then it was parked up for around 80 years until I restored
it.
 It's still here on family farm at Needilup. It was used to clear Anderson farm (Wiklnup) in Gnowangerup area."


 

    ANDERSON'S RESTORED  I.H.C. TITAN TYPE D TRACTOR              #5
 

 

 

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

 

References:                 Article:      Glen Oliver and others

                                  Image:     1             Aumann Auctions
                                                  2             Luke Pocock
                                                  3             State Library of W.A.
                                                  4             Anne Anderson

 


Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2024