History

A Brief History of the makers of Colt from Old Abe News Vol XIII, NO 1 Winter 1997

The Colt Manufacturing Company is recognized as the originator of the hydraulic drive compact tractor. The Colt Manufacturing Company had its beginnings on February 1, 1962 at a small plant on East Ward Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The product of two brothers, Warren and Wally Johnson, first efforts produced two models of mechanical drive tractors, but these were almost immediately dropped in favor of an original hydraulic drive tractor that was developed before production began.

The brothers introduced their first tractor in 1963--the first hydraulic drive unit on the market ever. Two models were made at this point, a 7 hp model and a 9 1/2 hp model. Patents were applied for and granted.

The Winneconne Development Corporation of Winneconne, WI entered the picture in late 1962, in attempts to induce Colt Manufacturing to relocate to the Winneconne area. The move to Winneconne was made that winter, and the plant and office were opened for business March 1, 1963.

During the 1964 model year, three models were produced, a Deluxe, a Super and a Rancher, ranging from 10 to 12 hp, with the only differences in models showing up in tire sizes. The Rancher was the first Colt model to exhibit a high clearance profile, with the use of 8.00 x 16-inch rear tires. these 1964 models were painted burgundy with black frames.

Little else is known about this early endeavor. We do know that the Johnson brothers had interest in hydraulic power as applied to drive trains, and did indeed pioneer production in this area. They are recognized as the true originators of the hydraulic drive compact tractors.

Case bought Colt in October of 1964, and operated that company as a subsidiary division of the Case Company. First production efforts were almost identical to the Colt models, with the addition of the Case name and our favorite bird, displayed in chrome plated splendor, out there between the headlights on units shipped to Case dealers.

Also in 1967, Case tried something new. A "2+2" model was built in prototype to test the market through Colt outlets. Built at first only for the Colt market, one unit was made in Case paint colors for an executive. The tractor was basically a model 195 (or later on, a 442), with the frame stretched 16-inches to make room for a utility box and a two-person bench seat. Front fenders helped to make this unit quite unique. Soon recognized as a hot market item, the 2+2 model as renamed "Case 2+tools" or T-90 and was sold in limited quantities. Of this model, Schlapman says, "The market was too distant from the home owners for the dealers, probably a case of "too much too soon", and the project was dropped.