1947 Earthmaster Model C

The Aerco Corporation of Burbank, Ca. was a defense contractor that manufactured components for the wartime aircraft industry that flourished in Southern California during World War Two. When peace was declared they found themselves looking for a product to sell and decided to enter the tractor and farm implement market. It was literally a case of swords into plowshares. The pay was not nearly as good but it would have to do until the Globalist Banksters could cook up the next war.

According to an article that appeared in the October 9, 1947 issue of Farm Implement News, production of the Earthmaster Model C and CH began that year at Aerco’s Burbank plant. This article reads like a press release written by Aerco’s sales department but it contains information that collectors will find interesting. You can read the entire article at www.earthmastertractors.com .

The article touts the Earthmaster as a one to two plow tractor for small acreage farms that offered full feature performance. “ A member of the low priced tractor field, the Earthmaster is a complete tractor in every respect and features a newly developed 2 way hydraulic control system trade named Duomatic which assures positive raising, lowering and depth control of implements.”  These implements included one and two way moldboard plows, mowers, harrows, cultivators, rear mounted scrapers and front bulldozer blades.

Power was supplied by a four cylinder L Head Continental N 62  engine, Bore was 2 ⅜” with a stroke of 3 ½” producing 14.5 horsepower from the 62 cubic inches of displacement. The transmission offered 3 speeds forward plus reverse. The governor allowed engine speeds of 1800, 2000 and 2200 rpm for 9 possible forward speeds. The engine was cooled by a thermosyphon radiator with a 14” fan.

The sources that I have found online generally agree that it’s hard to pin down facts about Earthmaster company history and production of tractors. Relevant documents seem to have disappeared. Aerco was acquired by Adel Precision Hydraulics in the mid to late forties. This was followed by a sale to S.L. Allen Co. the maker of Planet Jr. farm implements who owned the rights from 1950 to 1955. Turner Mfg. Co. located in Statesville, NC. was next followed in turn by the Latham Feed and Seed Co. of Belhaven, NC who purchased the rights and the stock of parts and may have assembled and sold as many as 43 tractors. Total production numbers for Earthmaster Tractors remain elusive.

Earthmastertractors.com is a website maintained by a group of collectors and enthusiast whose goal is to shine a light in this darkness by collecting and making available online as much information about Earthmaster tractors as they can assemble. The site has already assembled a wealth of information that owners will find of interest. If you can provide additional information, publications or relevant documents, consider visiting their site and making a contribution. Likewise the Ironmule also welcomes any information that visitors can contribute to the discussion at hand.

The Model C shown in these photos was displayed at the Antique Power Steam and Gas Expo at Cumming, Ga. in 2016. It is owned by Mickey Skelton from Buford, Ga. According to the sign attached to the tractor it is one of 51 that were produced in Statesville, NC.

Additional resources:

Standard Catalog of Farm Tractors 1890 - 1980  by C.H. Wendel

www.farmcollector.com  Three Post-War Bonanza Tractor Makers  Sept. 2004