Cockshutt 30/Farmcrest 30 question

[D K Ervin]

I have recently acquired a 1948 Cockshutt model 30. The 30 I have is an older restoration with the Cockshutt decals on the side of the hood and Cockshutt plate on the grille. I am new to the world of Cockshutt, but have done some research online, however I still have a few questions about the model 30. I know the 30 was sold as the Co-Op E3 and also the Gambels Farmcrest in the United States. Unfortunately, I do not have any sales history or know any history of that tractor upon purchase and may never know. I also am aware that there are little or no records of the tractors that were rebranded.
1. Were all Cockshutt 30 tractors rebranded either Co-Op or Farmcrest when brought to the US, or did Cockshutt keep its name on some of the model 30 tractors when exporting them from Canada to the US? I am pretty certain it is not a Co-Op but it does fall between the years it could have been branded a Gambles.
2. Where could I acquire Gambles Farmcrest decals if and when I decide to repaint the tractor? I understand my only chance of identifying it myself as a Famrcrest is to hope I can find original decals under the paint. I have searched online but can only find Cockshutt decals when it comes to the model 30.

 

[farmer52]

What does the nose plate show? Cockshutt? Co-op? Gambles?
Keith McClure is the best source for decals - www.cockshuttdecals.com

 

[D K Ervin]

Cockshutt

 

[rrlund]

There are plenty of Cocksutts in the northern states. There used to be a dealer here in Stanton Michigan.

 

[J.Wondergem]

Cockshutt

Then that is highly likely what is was, unless that happened to get changed too .

 

[JOCCO]

my understanding is cockshut made tractors for coop and gambles. Painted coop orange and different decals. Of course oliver made tractors for cockshutt too.

 

[rrlund]

my understanding is cockshut made tractors for coop and gambles. Painted coop orange and different decals. Of course oliver made tractors for cockshutt too.

I'm sure no the expert on those, but I don't think any of them even had a tag did they? I thought I'd read one time that all they had was a stamped serial number somewhere and that they all ran together, Cockshutt, Coop or Farmcrest. Seems like the only way to tell the difference was the color, decals and grill strip. I thought I remembered too that the Farmcrest had a blank grill strip. Don't trust my memory anymore though, I sure don't.

 

[JOCCO]

I'm sure no the expert on those, but I don't think any of them even had a tag did they? I thought I'd read one time that all they had was a stamped serial number somewhere and that they all ran together, Cockshutt, Coop or Farmcrest. Seems like the only way to tell the difference was the color, decals and grill strip. I thought I remembered too that the Farmcrest had a blank grill strip. Don't trust my memory anymore though, I sure don't.

RR I have seen cockshut 60 or 70 with tag on motor Oliver corporation and so on, not sure if motor had been swapped. No idea on coop tractors. Except for a few parts if one had a gambles or coop he would not be in the dark on parts. One Cockshutt 60 I had said Cockshutt on the axle not Oliver plus the grill strip decals were different and there is a question on gauges if they say Oliver or not. I have seen some coop e3 I could have picked up oh well to many tractors.

 

[Gambles]

The Cockshutt and Gambles tractors had the Cockshutt nose strip. The Coop tractors had the Coop nose strip. There were no Gambles nose strips made, but maybe some day I’ll experiment with making one, as I have a genuine Gambles tractor and have the photos (somewhere) to show what it was when I acquired it.
Of course, if I’m wrong, Phil will correct me.

 

[Gambles]

The Cockshutt 30 could instantly become a Coop E3 or a Gambles Farmcrest with a change of the paint and POSSIBLY changing the front nose strip.
There was no factory tag that mentions if it was a Cockshutt, a Coop or a Gambles. The serial number was hard stamped into the left side of the frame, but not the name of the company who had their hand into marketing it.
Numerically, I humorously suspect that there are more Gambles Farmcrest tractors hitting the tractor shows now then when they were manufactured.
To prove how easily it was to go from one brand to another, here is a photo of a nose cone that I have from one of my Cockshutt tractors. The "Coop" paint is easily seen. If you look closer, you can see the Cockshutt 30 logo underneath the letter "C". So this one left the factory as a Cockshutt and magically transformed into a Coop.

 

[J.Wondergem]

I have recently acquired a 1948 Cockshutt model 30.

I have recently acquired a 1948 Cockshutt model 30. The 30 I have is an older restoration with the Cockshutt decals on the side of the hood and Cockshutt plate on the grille. I am new to the world of Cockshutt, but have done some research online, however I still have a few questions about the model 30. I know the 30 was sold as the Co-Op E3 and also the Gambels Farmcrest in the United States. Unfortunately, I do not have any sales history or know any history of that tractor upon purchase and may never know. I also am aware that there are little or no records of the tractors that were rebranded.
1. Were all Cockshutt 30 tractors rebranded either Co-Op or Farmcrest when brought to the US, or did Cockshutt keep its name on some of the model 30 tractors when exporting them from Canada to the US? I am pretty certain it is not a Co-Op but it does fall between the years it could have been branded a Gambles.
2. Where could I acquire Gambles Farmcrest decals if and when I decide to repaint the tractor? I understand my only chance of identifying it myself as a Famrcrest is to hope I can find original decals under the paint. I have searched online but can only find Cockshutt decals when it comes to the model 30.

I've only seen one Gambles tractor at the Gambles store in Cedar Springs Mi. when I was a kid. Seems to me It was called a Farmcrest and was painted three colors. Red, cream and some blue. It set behind the store for most of the summer, then disappeared. I don't remember if someone bought it or they returned it.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

I have recently acquired a 1948 Cockshutt model 30. The 30 I have is an older restoration with the Cockshutt decals on the side of the hood and Cockshutt plate on the grille. I am new to the world of Cockshutt, but have done some research online, however I still have a few questions about the model 30. I know the 30 was sold as the Co-Op E3 and also the Gambels Farmcrest in the United States. Unfortunately, I do not have any sales history or know any history of that tractor upon purchase and may never know. I also am aware that there are little or no records of the tractors that were rebranded.
1. Were all Cockshutt 30 tractors rebranded either Co-Op or Farmcrest when brought to the US, or did Cockshutt keep its name on some of the model 30 tractors when exporting them from Canada to the US? I am pretty certain it is not a Co-Op but it does fall between the years it could have been branded a Gambles.
2. Where could I acquire Gambles Farmcrest decals if and when I decide to repaint the tractor? I understand my only chance of identifying it myself as a Famrcrest is to hope I can find original decals under the paint. I have searched online but can only find Cockshutt decals when it comes to the model 30.

I've never seen a Farmcrest at any shows around here so don't know about the nose strip. Cockshutt also produced 30s called the CCIL for the Canadian farm coop.

 

[P Heisey Harleysville, PA]

I have not seen any blue paint on any factory original GAMBLES FARMCREST 30 tractors. The paint scheme should have been exactly the same as a COCKSHUTT 30 Tractor.

COCKSHUTT DID have a limited USA direct dealer network in specific areas of the country...... This was in addition to the USA NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY COOPERATIVE, Bellevue, Ohio (1944-1952) that was owned by 12 USA regional farm supply cooperative organizations..... This network of cooperatives had significant distribution thru their MANY local stores. Many of these Regional Cooperative organizations continued selling COCKSHUTT Tractors and equipment (after CO-OP) 1952- 1962 thru territory distributorship agreements with COCKSHUTT.

There are no official records, however, I believe that between the USA sold more CO-OP E3 labeled tractors than ALL world wide COCKSHUTT 30 labeled tractors during the 1947 thru 1952 period.

Phil Heisey
215-256-8651

 

[J.Wondergem]

I have not seen any blue paint n a factory on GAMBLES FARMCREST 30. The paint scheme should have been exactly the same as a COCKSHUTT 30 Tractor.
COCKSHUTT did have a limited USA direct dealer network in specific areas of the country...... This was in addition to the USA NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY COOPERATIVE, Bellevue, Ohio (1944-1952) that was owned by 12 USA regional farm supply cooperative organizations..... These cooperatives had significant distribution thru their MANY local stores. Many of these Regional Cooperative organizations continued selling COCKSHUTT Tractors and equipment (after CO-OP) 1952- 1962 thru territory distributorship agreements with COCKSHUTT.

There are no official records, however, I believe that between the USA sold more CO-OP E3 labled tractors that ALL world wide COCKSHUTT 30 labled tractors during the 1947 thru 1952 period.

Phil Heisey
215-256-8651

I think your right about no Blue color. I can't hardly picture the tractor sitting out there.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

my understanding is cockshut made tractors for coop and gambles. Painted coop orange and different decals. Of course oliver made tractors for cockshutt too.

Oliver produced the Cockshutt branded tractors up until Cockshutt began producing their own. 1946 I think with the 30.

 

[db4600]

I have not seen any blue paint on any factory original GAMBLES FARMCREST 30 tractors. The paint scheme should have been exactly the same as a COCKSHUTT 30 Tractor.

COCKSHUTT DID have a limited USA direct dealer network in specific areas of the country...... This was in addition to the USA NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY COOPERATIVE, Bellevue, Ohio (1944-1952) that was owned by 12 USA regional farm supply cooperative organizations..... This network of cooperatives had significant distribution thru their MANY local stores. Many of these Regional Cooperative organizations continued selling COCKSHUTT Tractors and equipment (after CO-OP) 1952- 1962 thru territory distributorship agreements with COCKSHUTT.

There are no official records, however, I believe that between the USA sold more CO-OP E3 labeled tractors than ALL world wide COCKSHUTT 30 labeled tractors during the 1947 thru 1952 period.

Phil Heisey
215-256-8651

Just an observation. Growing up in the 70s there was a strong showing of the 500 series Cockshutt as well as the early red series in central Minnesota. There are plenty of earlier red models as well and a few rebadge Olivers of later vintage along with Cockshutt implements that are still around. While I can’t remember a dealer location the abundance tells me there was. There are some Co-oPs around as well, but probably not as abundant. I don’t know the dealership history of Co-oP, but is it plausible they were sold through co-ops and farm stores? Gambles Hardware was also around and we do see a showing of Farmcrest peek out yearly at shows.

 

[P Heisey Harleysville, PA]

Just an observation. Growing up in the 70s there was a strong showing of the 500 series Cockshutt as well as the early red series in central Minnesota. There are plenty of earlier red models as well and a few rebadge Olivers of later vintage along with Cockshutt implements that are still around. While I can’t remember a dealer location the abundance tells me there was. There are some Co-oPs around as well, but probably not as abundant. I don’t know the dealership history of Co-oP, but is it plausible they were sold through co-ops and farm stores? Gambles Hardware was also around and we do see a showing of Farmcrest peek out yearly at shows.

There were TWO Minnesota Cooperatives and TEN more that owned stock in the 1944 year established USA NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY COOPERATIVE , INC., Bellevue, OH. in Nov. 1947.....The ones in your state were: MIDLAND COOPERATIVE WHOLESALE, Minneapolis (7.02% ownership) and FARMERS UNION CENTRAL EXCHANGE, St Paul (6.74% ownership). In total, the 12 FARM CO-OPS made a large foot print in certain states/areas where there was a concentration of locations that handled CO-OP/COCKSHUTT FARM MACHINERY. The NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY COOPERATIVE was dissolved in late 1953. Many of the stockholders continued in the machinery business selling the COCKSHUTT BRANDED tractors and equipment until 1962 and beyond when the COCKSHUTT FARM EQUIPMENT was purchased by WHITE TRUCK and made a division of OLIVER Corp.

Phil Heisey
215-256-8651

 

[J.Wondergem]

There were TWO Minnesota Cooperatives and TEN more that owned stock in the 1944 year established USA NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY COOPERATIVE , INC., Bellevue, OH. in Nov. 1947.....The ones in your state were: MIDLAND COOPERATIVE WHOLESALE, Minneapolis (7.02% ownership) and FARMERS UNION CENTRAL EXCHANGE, St Paul (6.74% ownership). In total, the 12 FARM CO-OPS made a large foot print in certain states/areas where there was a concentration of locations that handled CO-OP/COCKSHUTT FARM MACHINERY. The NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY COOPERATIVE was dissolved in late 1953. Many of the stockholders continued in the machinery business selling the COCKSHUTT BRANDED tractors and equipment until 1962 and beyond when the COCKSHUTT FARM EQUIPMENT was purchased by WHITE TRUCK and made a division of OLIVER Corp.

Phil Heisey
215-256-8651

Thanks Phil. That's interesting.

 

[P Heisey Harleysville, PA]

Thanks Phil. That's interesting.

THANKS Jack!

I made "one mistake" on my last post.....The YEAR was " late 1952"... when the NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY COOPERATIVE, INC. was dissolved................... NOT 1953.

Phil

 

[J.Wondergem]

THANKS Jack!

I made "one mistake" on my last post.....The YEAR was " late 1952"... when the NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY COOPERATIVE, INC. was dissolved................... NOT 1953.

Phil

We moved to the farm when I was 8 and that one was the only one I ever saw.