[AT] Bready tractor = Father's Day

[Doug Tallman]

Dave, I dug out some bready literature so I don't have to guess. The 
torque converter was made by Schneider Manufacturing of Muncie IN, thus 
the term the Schneider system. I've got a copy from Garden Supply 
Merchandiser magazine from Sept 53 announcing its introduction. I 
thought the 60 date was a little late, they didn't last that long!. I 
haven't had a chance to recheck the numbers on mine with the model 14. I 
have parts breakdowns for most of the tractor that I'll copy for you. I 
normally go to Wellington. I also go to the Ashtabula Co show near 
Williamsfield over the 4th of July if you go there. I would expect to 
see the guy doing the Bready history there also. Doug Tallman



Dave Merchant wrote:
> This is about 1000 times more info than I had about it before.
>
> I suspected that the design might have been a lemon, usually the case
> with a "rare' tractor. However, the Fire Department apparently used
> it successfully for plowing snow at the fire station for at least a few years.
>
> It has the Briggs, data plate on the engine is in bad shape, but
> can make out the "14". Will try to read more info off it.
> Engine is "unstyled", squared off shroud instead of the later compound
> curved stamping. Rope starter, not a recoil. No hood.
>
> It is green + yellow, in the JD pattern, nice to know I can leave it original.
>
> I'm not planning to do anything with it immediately, have other projects
> (work on the house, and need to split an NAA) in process.
> I eventually would like to get it going as a butt buggy.
>
> Did they use off the shelf internals in the tranny, or make all their own?
>
> Any idea what the "Schneider System" is? Says that on the gas tank sticker.
>
> I'd be interested in copies of the literature, or at least the exploded 
> tranny view
> if it wouldn't be to difficult, I'd reimburse, but not worth a big effort.
>
> Do you go to the Wellington show?
>
> Thanks
> Dave Merchant
>
>
> At 08:36 AM 6/8/2008, you wrote:
>   
>> Dave, what you bought is a Bready Pow-R-Flo. They made them with 3
>> different engines. The Briggs engine should have been a model 14 which
>> was only 5 HP. If you can get the engine numbers I could date it. They
>> also used a Kohler that was rated at 6 1/2 HP and a Clinton that was
>> rated at 3.5 or 4. I've got some factory literature on the models and an
>> exploded view of  the trans. The model TC does stand for torque
>> converter. Does yours have the hood? Although they show a hood in some
>> ads, they also advertised them without the hood. We've never seen one
>> with the hood. The good news is this is a fairly rare tractor. The bad
>> news is they were junk from the get go! A buddy has been researching the
>> Bready company and has located and talked to the son of the man that
>> designed it. They had so many problems they were coming back faster than
>> they could fix them. The son claims his father had a mental breakdown
>> over it and spent several months in a mental hospital and never fully
>> recovered. I've got one with the Briggs that only pulls itself part time
>> and one with a Kohler that I've never had running. The original color
>> was green and yellow. Doug Tallman
>>
>>
>>
>>     
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