At this year’s seventh annual Illini Farm Toy Show, there was a new toy on display. Larry Lauritzen from Ohio, Ill., had the recently released turbine tractor model on display.

This rare tractor had been produced for the I&I Tractor and Antique Engine Club by the International Harvester Club, for the 59th anniversary of the tractor. The toy model was just released in October 2010, Larry said.
The good news is not only is the model of this tractor available, but for those who long to see this tractor in person, the IHC HT-341 has been on display at the I&I facilities since the 2002 Historic Farm Days/Red Power Roundup.
Darius Harms of the I&I Club shared, “The museum at the I&I Historic Farm Museum is a museum with a lot of farm items from the 1800s. We also have the unique IH341 piece that is a one-of-a-kind. The original was produced, then the tractor was wrecked and the tractor was redone and the number was changed to IHC HT-341. The toy set was produced.

“The IHC HT-341 is housed by the museum and it is a rare occasion that one gets to see this tractor. It was previously in storage at the Smithsonian, but now is full-time on loan from the Smithsonian here at the I&I Historic Farm Museum.”

Besides the tractor, Darius said there are farm tools, corn shellers, threshing machines and more. “It is a pretty large museum. We also have a ladies’ room with items from the home, as well.  A visit is worthwhile to see these items along with the IHC HT-341 and the Hart Parr #3, the first successful gas-powered production tractor in the world,” he added.

 The I&I website shares some information about this model: “IH fans will be able to see one of IH’s most unique concepts, the HT-341. On display in the Smithsonian Agricultural Exhibit in Washington for many years, this tractor pushed the boundaries of technology forward. Built in 1961, this little tractor was powered by a small gas turbine engine built by Solar Aircraft Co., a subsidiary of International Harvester and a major supplier of turbine power plants.

“This type of turbine engine was used in Auxiliary Power Units onboard jet aircraft to power the air conditioning and other systems while on the ground, plus supplying power to start the main jet engines. The turbine produces a maximum 85 hp, operating at a constant 57,000 rpm, requiring considerable gear reduction before connecting to the hydrostatic transmission.

“The entire power plant and gear reduction unit weighed in at 90 pounds. Hydraulic motors connected to each rear wheel completed the driveline, eliminating the traditional differential and gear arrangements. Several factors prevented the HT-341 from reaching commercial production. Gas turbine engines are able to produce great amounts of power from a very small package, but high fuel consumption is their downfall.

“When added to the difficulty of adequately filtering the massive amounts of air required by the turbine engine, and the noise produced, it was not a practical machine. Although the turbine engine tractor never made it into production, advances in hydrostatic transmission design and several other features later found their way into IH production tractors.”

To visit the I&I Farm Historic Farm Museum, check out www.antiquefarm.org for details.

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.