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Hart Parr #3 Tractor

Hart Parr #3 Tractor

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Description
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Charles W. Hart and Charles H. Parr developed a two-cylinder gasoline engine and set up their business in Charles City, Iowa. In 1903 the firm built fifteen tractors (a term coined by Hart and Parr), and the 14,000 pound #3 is the oldest surviving internal combustion engine tractor in the United States. The two-cylinder engine has a unique hit-and-miss firing cycle that produced 30 horsepower at the belt and 18 at the drawbar.
The tractor worked on the George Mitchell farm near Charles City for twenty-three years. Realizing the historic importance of Hart-Parr #3, the Oliver Tractor Corporation (which had absorbed Hart-Parr) purchased the tractor and used it to demonstrate the quality of the firm's products. In 1960, Oliver made a gift of #3 to the Smithsonian.
When it arrived at the National Museum of American History, it was painted solid black and did not have a canopy. Despite its unauthentic appearance, it remained on exhibit for years. In 2003 the Smithsonian agreed to a restoration plan, and a team from Greenville, Illinois, composed of Oliver and Sherry Schaeffer, John W. Tichenor, Doug Strawser, and Todd Stockwell restored #3 to its original color and fabricated a new canopy. The Smithsonian's Larry Jones coordinated the work. Restoration was funded by the Hart-Parr/Oliver Collectors Association.
The restoration project was fully documented both by photographs and by a journal kept by John W. Tichenor. When #3 appeared at the I & I Antique Tractor festival in Penfield, Ill., in 2003, oral history interviews were done with members of the Mitchell family, the Hart family, and the key people who did the restoration work.
Location
Currently on loan
Object Name
tractor
Date made
1903
company co-owner
Hart, Charles W.
Parr, Charles H.
user
Mitchell, George
maker
Hart Parr Tractor Company
Wrang Tang Liniment Co.
Place Made
United States: Iowa, Charles City
Physical Description
iron (overall material)
steel (overall material)
ID Number
AG.60A04
catalog number
60A04
F001212
accession number
230442
Credit Line
Gift of Oliver Corporation
See more items in
Work and Industry: Agriculture
Agriculture
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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Comments

We have the oldest American tractor of the European Union an Hart Parr 22-40 serial number 1781 and with her original thin Andrew Carergie frame beams from de serial index. https://oliverheritage.com/oliver-history/early-hart-parr-tractors/ Only an couple tractors in the world still having these original thin Carnegie beams like the Kinnard Haines in the Diebold collection (the oldest tractor in America). The Hart Parr company changed an lot of these beams in the past (modification). Now the question is does the Number 3 still having her Original very thin frame beams and does is say somewhere in the beams the very old letters Carnegie ? Thanks for the interest Chris from Holland

Chris Clemens

Mon, 2019-06-24 12:22

I believe there is Hart Parr tractor on display in Charles City at The Floyd County Historical Museum.

Joy Ellen Harvey

Mon, 2017-12-04 15:24

I took this picture in my father's backyard. We had the privilege of working with the Smithsonian on the restoration crew. The canopy was reconstructed in my garage using 100-year old railroad timbers that I had ripped for the frame. It was an amazing project!

Sherry Schaefer

Wed, 2013-09-18 16:43

I have an old post card picture taken in Montana circa 1904 take at my Grandfather's ranch. It has a picture of a Hart Parr Tractor in the field. It such a wonderful picture over all with the old homestead, out buildings etc. Thank you

Paula

Wed, 2018-03-07 14:03

Just wondering if the Hart Parr tractor is on display in the museum of American History?

K. Beauchamp

Wed, 2012-11-14 13:08

We do not have the Hart Parr on exhibit. The Museum is closed due to renovation.

National Museum of American History

Tue, 2013-07-16 15:10

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