Rumely Oil Pull

Expertly Crafted Half-Scale Model

by Fred Hendricks of Mansfield, OH

Ivan Miller has earned an enviable reputation for building high quality scale model Rumely tractors that are fully operational. His achievements evolved through a dream, as he explained. “I admired scale model Rumelys that were displayed at tractor shows. When I was about 14 years old, Dad and I dreamed of building our own version. Eventually, we set to work and scaled one from a Rumely Model 16-30 that Dad owned. I had considerable steel fabricating experience through my former job that helped with the project. Over the past five years, I have scratch-built four of the same model. Through each build, I have added more detail,” Ivan said.

Contributing Background

Ivan grew up in Holmes County, Ohio. Ivan and Martha Miller, along with their young children, now reside in Baltic, located in the same county. “In our Amish community, my farm experience consisted of working some for a neighbor who had a small dairy herd. But Dad’s metal working tools drew me to his shop rather than farm work. We lived on the same property as my grandparents. My Grandpa had a tractor repair business. He also collected a few antique Huber and Rumely tractors as a hobby,” Ivan says.

Ivan continued, “My tractor interest grew from Grandpa’s collection. I liked working on small engines like Maytag when I was a teenager. That work included engines in the family’s collection and for outside owners. Our family also owns a 1909, 30 horsepower Case steam engine. I enjoy the mechanical work it requires along with operating it on different kinds of equipment at steam engine shows.”

Ivan took advantage of the opportunities the shop offered by building different things. “During my teen years, I discovered a satisfaction from designing and fabricating items from scratch. It was a learning process as everything didn’t always turn out as expected. With each failed project, I gained a little more knowledge for the next venture,” he humbly admitted.

Through Ivan’s 15 years’ employment at a metal fabrication company, he launched a related business. Ivan noted, “Although I have not named my business, it consists of designing and fabricating custom machinery. In addition, I’ll be building scale model Rumely tractors. Since I have operated vintage tractors, I also plan to provide mechanical repair work on them.”

Rumely History

The M. Rumely Company was established way back in 1853 in La Porte, Indiana. Through several mergers the company become known as Advance-Rumely. The company grew into a formidable manufacturer of agriculture equipment for the Great Plains. They were first known for their reliable threshing machines. As the business grew, it transitioned into manufacturing steam engines.

By 1910, Advance-Rumely began building the Rumely traction engine. The first release was a 25 horsepower, Model B 25-45 Oil Pull. The engine was designed back in the days when farmers had high expectations of usefulness and longevity. The two-cylinder engine proved to be easier to start and more convenient to operate than the heretofore steam engine. The machine ran on kerosene, thus christened “Kerosene Annie.”

Rumely acquired designs for a unique orchard tractor from the California firm of Joshua Hendy Iron Works in 1912. The eventual tractor was marketed as the Rumely ToeHold. There is question as to whether the ToeHold version ever went into full production.

As with many growing companies, Rumely experienced financial difficulties. Reorganization resulted in 1915 as the Advance-Rumely Thresher Company. During this phase, a new lightweight Model F 15-30 rated at 15 drawbar horsepower emerged as a plowing tractor. Introduction of a larger Model E 30-60, rated at 30hp on the drawbar was launched the following year.

Ivan’s scratch-built Rumely was patterned off a Model H 16-30 with a drawbar rating of 16hp. It was manufactured from 1917 into 1924. Rumely built a total of 14 models from 1910 through 1930.

The model range of the Advance-Rumely Oil Pull traction engine was modernized in the 1920s with the original steel channel frame replaced by a pressed steel frame. This resulted in a lighter but more rigid traction engine.

In 1924, Advance-Rumely purchased the Aultman-Taylor Machinery Company of Mansfield, Ohio. The acquired company built threshing machines, steam engines, along with gas powered tractors. The market for bigger, heavier tractors was weakening, so the buyout of Altman-Taylor did little to enhance Rumely’s struggling sales.

The Toro Motor Cultivator firm of Minneapolis, Minnesota was bought by Rumely in 1927. This acquisition resulted in the marketing of the Rumely DoAll tractor. Sales of the DoAll tractor were disappointing. And interest in the time-honored Rumely Oil Pull tractors had started to lag.

The Advance-Rumely Company was another casualty of the Great Depression. The firm was eventually bought out by Allis-Chalmers in 1931. Allis-Chalmers ended all production of Rumely Oil Pull tractors but gained their manufacturing facility and extensive dealer network.

Advance-Rumely’s headquarters and production facility in La Porte, Indiana would become known as the “Harvest Capital of the World” with Allis-Chalmers successful All-Crop harvester line. Allis-Chalmers eventually went into bankruptcy with the dismantling of its vast business interest in 1985.

Scale Model Working Rumely

Ivan detailed the construction of his half-scale working Rumely Model H 16-30 as follows:

Through previous experience building this same model, Ivan tweaked his CAD (computer assisted design). Using the CAD, parts for the tractor were fabricated by outside sources. Those consisted of wheel rims that were cut and rolled. The wood framework for the roof and tin covering were also outsourced.

He started with the basic framework. To that he installed the power transmission from a John Deere Model 212 garden tractor. He cut and machined all the pieces such as wheel hubs, steering mechanism and so forth. He then formed and finished the laser plates, like the wheel spokes.

The 1½ horse International, throttle governed engine was totally rebuilt by Ivan’s brother Myron. The throttle governor converted a hit-and-miss engine for continuous running. As a result, it sounds like an original Rumely.

The parts were then welded as needed, cleaned, and prepped for painting. After the parts were painted and cured, they were assembled from the main frame up. Once everything was secured in place, pin striping and decals were applied for a professional finish.

As with most jobs of this caliber, challenges arise. “For me, the most difficult part to engineer was the clutch/brake mechanism. With its size, children often operate the tractor. As a result, the tractor’s movement is activated with a single clutch/brake lever. By pushing it forward over center, the clutch is engaged. Conversely, pulling the lever back over center, the brake functions. This makes it easy for kids to operate,” Ivan says.

As you can tell from the accompanying pictures, the finished tractor is a near clone of an original Rumely. With his high quality craftsmanship, Ivan has orders for two Rumely Model 16-30 tractors. One is requested at 5/8 scale while the second one is desired in quarter-scale.

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Freelance writer Fred Hendricks of Mansfield, Ohio, covers a vast array of interesting subjects. You may contact Fred at fwhendricks@gmail.com