Ronaldson & Tippett Equipment Story

Increasing numbers of imported tractors prompted the company to survey farmers in the Mallee Wheat belt as to their opinion of tractors. Overwhelming acceptance of tractors as established by the survey, hastened their move to full scale production. Another fact revealed by the survey was the multiple use of the tractor, in many cases doing belt work normally powered by the company's main stay the stationary engine.

The first 'tractor' went on the drawing board in July 1924 and was designed by Dave Ronaldson.

The 18-30 Super Drive was built along the lines of the American Illinois Super drive and in the early stages of production, was very high on imported component. During the production life of the Super Drive, the use of the imported Wisconsin 4-cylinder water cooled engine persisted until the last machine rolled off the assembly line. Ironically the same engine was used in another company sales line in the light Brockway truck.

Adapting what was primarily an American 'bred' tractor to Australian conditions proved more difficult than expected, early models experienced overheating in our harsh inland heat. A larger and a more distinctive radiator, was fitted to overcome this problem.

The 'Super Drive' Tractor was reputed as having the slowest multi-cylinder engine on the market, developing full rated power at a low one thousand revolutions per minute. An advanced feature of the tractor was its super drive transmission, claimed to be years ahead of the opposition. R&T engineers had suitably modified the engine to permit the operation on the cheaper heavy fuel oils and kerosene, by means of a patent manifold vaporizing arrangement.

An actual total of around 450 tractors were built between 1924 and 1938 when production was discontinued. The depression years saw many of their tractors repossessed, rebuilt, renumbered and resold, as due to the absence of finance companies, they were sold by the firm 'on terms'. This, it is claimed, almost ruined the company financially. The renumbering of such units may offer part explanation as to a production figure anomaly when sales were boosted by 200, or this may have been to enhance sales volume artificially.

A large unrecognized promotional event was launched in 1927 when a field demonstration was conducted to emphasize the tractor's stamina. For three grueling weeks continual day and night, under the light of a carbide lamp, the Super Drive worked virtually nonstop pulling a broad plough over the near entirety of the Ballarat Common. Only stopping to observe the Sabbath/change oil, this feat was equivalent to 1500 miles ploughing and to offer some equitable sizes, the distance ploughed was said to be 'equal to the stretch from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the Great Australian Bight.'