| Collection |
VFM (unaccessioned) General |
| Date |
c1937 |
| Description |
Yellow Caterpillar crawler tractor, model D2 - serial number 10P1595. This is the smallest model made at the time and was built between 1937-1938. It has a diesel motor, but starts with petrol and is an early rear tank model. Later, the Caterpillar Company built side tank models and then went back to rear tank models. A dozer blade has been fitted as has a shield over the radiator in the front, these were not standard.
Caterpillar is an American company and originally all their earthworking equipment was painted grey, but in America a Government order demanded that all construction vehicles be painted yellow, the same colour as American school buses.
This crawler was used in Awatere on Mt. Adde farm and purchased by Vintage Farm Machinery Society Inc. on 18 July 1986 from Ron and Helen Harris for $500.
Mt. Adde has been owned by the Harris family since 1950 when it was taken up by Mr. Clem. J. Harris following the Dumgree Rehabilitation ballot. In 1970 a farming company, Mt. Adde Ltd., was formed comprising Clem, Nita and Ron. Harris; in 1983 Mr. Ronald S. Harris and his wife, Helen, took over the shareholding. The property consists of approximately 324 hectares (800 acres) of flat to rolling country - the balance being hill country. It takes its name from the hill at the front of the farm (with trig on) which was named by Dr. Renwick (first owner of Dumgree) after his first wife, Addelene. [Source: The Awatere Valley Today and Yesterday, published by a Committee of Awatere Valley Women's Division Federated Farmers, November 1988, second edition, page 77]. |
| Object ID |
VFM0.800.0102 |
| Object Name |
Tractor, Crawler |
| Other # |
VFM173 |
| People |
Harris, Clem. J.
Harris, Nita
Harris, Ronald S.
Harris, Helen (nee Collins)
Collins, Helen (later Harris)
Renwick, Addelene
Renwick, Thomas Dr. |
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