The Centaur Tractor

The 1927 Model 'G' Centaur with automatic governor, extension rims and complete lug equipment weighed 1220 lbs. and cost $484. This Model 'G' was also called the Centaur 6-10. An optional belt pulley mounted on the front of the engine crankshaft was available. Most of the Model 'G' tractors delivered for field use in dusty conditions had a large Pomona air washer mounted on the front. Another interesting attachment was a gear reduction device mounted above the transmission to provide a speed as slow as ? mile an hour for pulling transplanters.

In the year 1929, the Model 'G' was changed and improved with a larger LeRoi engine (Model 'T', 3 3/8 x 4 ?, b x s) adding two more horse power, becoming a 6-12. Gears, pins and chain were strengthened, as were the drive wheels, to accommodate the added power. These changes coincided with a factory name change from the 'Central Tractor Company,' to the 'Centaur Tractor Corporation.' Two parcels of land in the village of Greenwich with all the buildings were sold to the Centaur Tractor Corporation for the sum of One Dollar ($1.00), by C. E. Stuart, president and Mr. A. B. Thomson, secretary of the Central Tractor Company. Also, in this year, Centaur was able to deliver field driven mowers from McCormick Deering, Walter A. Wood, John Deere, and Massey Harris with hitch modifications to plug directly into the Model 'G' drawbar. This tractor apparently sold well. It was advertised, not as a better tractor than others, but as a replacement for the horse. This was meant to attract first time tractor buyers who had small farms. Many of these tractors were exported to France where they were ideal for vineyard cultivating because of the narrow wheel width.

The years 1929-30 were difficult for many manufacturers (particularly those who made farm equipment) with the Depression getting underway. The Centaur Corp. in some way became part of the organized independent manufacturers and distributors company called the 'United Tractor and Machinery Company' of Chicago. The Model 'G' was advertised as the United-Centaur tractor. This organization did not last long.* However, the Model 'G' continued to be built in Greenwich by Centaur.

In 1934, an Edgar A. Cross of Greenwich filed a patent application for an improved type of tractor as follows: 'A purpose is to provide a tractor in which the relationship of the various parts is such as to provide greatly increased visibility for the ground surface immediately adjacent to and in front of the operator.' The patent was granted in 1936 and assigned to the Centaur Tractor Corp. This was the beginning of the 'Klear View' or KV series of Centaurs.

This 'KV-22' was powered by a 4 cylinder LeRoi, 22 HP engine with Eisemann magneto ignition and weighed in at 2200 lbs. An optional power take off belt pulley was available. Because of the unique features of the Klear-View design, the tractor was only 45' high. It was an 'unstyled' KV, i.e. flat fenders and no grille. This model was produced until WW II.