Ward’s 1928 Model A Ford

By Cindy Ladage One of the things that makes the Half Century of Progress so special is the opportunity to see new and different tractors! There were many brands at the Half Century of Progress 2021.

One of the lesser-known brands were those tractors that were sold through catalogs like Sears and Roebuck and Wards. A group of collectors gathered with Graham Bradley, Bradley, David Bradley, and Thrifty Farmer tractors.

Most of these were sold through the Sears catalog, But Nelson Logan of Marietta, Ohio brought his cool 1928 Model A Ford Wards Utility Tractor kit that fit right into this group like a glove.

This was a kit that converted a Model A into a tractor! It made the Model A into a very useful vehicle called a Thrifty Farmer that was used as both an on and offroad vehicle!

Many stopped to admire Nelson’s tractor with the wagon behind it. Parked right out front of the tent it was an attention grabber for sure. Nelson said that the kit was ordered in 1939 from the Wards catalog.

“It was made by the Peru Plow & Wheel Co., in Peru, Illinois.”

Through Chad Elmore who wrote a book about the company, Nelson received information to put the kit together. “Chad sent me four pages of a Wards brochure with directions on how to assemble the kit,”Nelson said.

The history of the kit is one of friends of family. “A friend of mine bought it from a man that had put it together. It had sat behind a barn. I was set up selling Model A parts and my friend said, ‘I have something you need’’.

Evidently Nelson agreed because it wasn’t long before he sealed a deal. The kit though he said was in rough condition. Out of the kit he could only use the frame, miscellaneous metal part and the rear wheels. “I had to replace the front end, engine, transmission and rear axles. I put the cowl the Model A comes in with the body hood and radiator and shell. I had a lot of parts already because I was into Model A Fords. My dad had them in the 1950’s. He grew up with them and drove them and worked on them,” Nelson explained.

His dad’s Ford Model A fever rubbed off on Nelson. Because he had them, Nelson got them as well and around 1998 or 1999 he got into the hobby too. He purchased the Wards Model A kit in 2006. That same year he retired from his job as a vocational teacher. “I took the kit apart and stored it, then I cleaned out my garage,” Nelson said.

Then he started his restoration of the Model A kit. “Next I restored and cleaned it. I did the chassis the first winter. Then the next winter I did the cowl hood and got ready to paint it. It took two years to do it.”

This display is a two-piece exhibit with both the Model A kit, and the wagon behind it. This wagon though is quite special. Nelson explained a bit about the wagon that sits behind the Model A kit. “The wagon behind it, I bought the tongue from a guy that said it was a tow bar for a Model A”

Soon he found a little more detailed information. “Then, I bought a Sears catalog ad for that tractor and farm wagon and that tongue was part of that kit!”

Nelson sets up his wagon so that it can be assembled and reassembled for easy packing and so that people can see how it travels. Along with the exhibit he shares the ad with information about this fascinating running gear. The ad shares, “Build This Economical High Speed Hauling Unit”. The ad goes on to state, “Now you can have a fine, many-purpose high-speed farm truck and trailer without all outlay of money and very little effort. The Sears Truck-Trailer Kit converts a Ford Model “A” running gear (which you obtained locally) into a roller-bearing, rubber-tired truck for hauling”.

The two side by side, the Model A Ford kit from Wards, and the wagon running gear made quite a cool pair! Nelson Logan traveled to the show to share with other collectors interested in learning about this neat phenomenon at the Half Century Show!

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