PLOUGH BOOK SALES,
BELMONT VICTORIA
Web address: http://www.ploughbooksales.com.au/

DECEMBER 1945- Appears to be the first mention of the "KELLY and LEWIS" company intending to build tractors.

"The chairman. Mr. K.P. LEWIS told shareholders at the annual meeting the idea was to float a new company to do this. Land had been purchased at SPRINGVALE (VICTORIA) for a new foundary + factory."

(Opposite page shows pilot model of CHAMBERLAIN tractor during tests at WERRIBE,)(see CHAMBERLAIN notes for information)

AUGUST 1946- "LANZ tractors, KELLY + LEWIS to make similar pattern." "A standard 20-40 H.P. model will be made by the new company with a single cylinder, two stroke, crude oil engine, capable of doing the work of 10-12 horses."

NOVEMBER 1947- Shows another page and a half, showing full specifications.(similar to that of the prewar LANZ N. model.)

Also shows distributors in VIC, NSW, SA, WA, TAS, NEW ZEALAND.

APRIL 1948- Cross-section model of K.L. tractor shown at SYDNEY show.

AROUND MAY 1948- The first K.L. advert appeared, things such as "orders are being accepted now for K.L. BULLDOGS for delivery when available". Although JANUARY 1948 shows a photo of the factory only partially built.

DECEMBER 1948- Full page story, + photo of first K.L. BULLDOG tractor off assembly line, production expected to be in full swing in early 1949. "By the middle of 1949 production rate will be stepped up to 1,000 units per year."

"A transmission assembly has been running on test in the factory for the equivalent of three years service under more than normal loads, without any sign of stress."

APRIL 1949- shows the factory had an official opening on March 18. "70 sub-contractors in several states were providing parts for the tractor." "Only the ball bearings were imported."

JULY 1949- The LANZ BULLDOG reappears alongside the AUSTRALIAN made K.L. BULLDOG tractor. Advertising the LANZ BULLDOG 25 + 35 H.P. models alongside the 40 H.P. K.L. BULLDOG.

OCTOBER 1949- (MELBOURNE SHOW) The imported L. N. + P. model LANZ BULLDOG (25,35,45 H.P.) stand alongside the AUSTRALIAN made K.L. BULLDOG tractor.

APRIL 1950- K.L. BULLDOG + LANZ BULLDOG 25 H.P. model L exhibited at SYDNEY show, distributors were - "DANGAR, GEDYE + MALLOCH, Ltd. (NSW).

MAY 1950- Australian tractor test released on the K.L. BULLDOG tractor. (test No. 12) Total time engine was run to perform tests was 35 hours. MAX BELT H.P. 44.2 / MAX DRAWBAR H.P.41.0

RATED BELT H.P. 38.5 / RATED DRAWBAR H.P. 30.8

BORE- 8.86 inch /STROKE- 10.24 inch.

FUEL CONSUMPTION- max load at 599 rpm, 43.1 H.P. 3.32 gallons per hour, other figures vary down to as little as 0.75 gallons per hour. During test H the fuel tank developed a slight leak at a seam, and the tank was replaced. No other repairs or adjustments were made, "On examination after the tests, no failures or defects were observed."

ENGINE NOTE 142, if A3142 was the tractor tested, it has recently been exported overseas.

JUNE 1950- Full 2 page add, comparing single + multi cylinder engines + photos. Also showing letters from enthusiastic owner’s of mainly prewar LANZ BULLDOG tractors.

OCTOBER 1950- (MELBOURNE SHOW) LANZ + K.L. BULLDOG tractors exhibited. "The K.L. BULLDOG to be seen running around the circular track, wended its way round and round completely unattended, and performed in this manner right throughout the show period."

MARCH 1953- pretty much the same adds until now, but this one being near the last mention of the K.L. BULLDOG tractor.

OTHER NOTES INCLUDE-

AUSTRALIAN MONTHLY MOTOR MANUAL- MARCH 1951 shows the following. (prices are in pounds not dollars=)

CHAMBERLAIN 40K- 1350 (POUNDS)~

CHAMBERLAIN 40KA- 1450

DEUTZ 50 H.P.- 2315 \ 35 H.P.- 1750

FERGUSON PETROL- 580 \ KEROSENE- 594 (GREY FERGY)

FORDSON E27N KEROSENE- 720 \ Diesel- 1160 (P6 Perkins)

FIELD MARSHALL- 1095

H.S.C.S. STEEL HORSE- 1395

HANOMAG R40 DIESEL- 1625

K.L. BULLDOG- 1395

NUFFIELD MARK 3- 910 \ MARK 4- 1025 \ DIESEL- 1251

OLIVER MODEL "77"- 1025 \ "88"- 1350 \ "902"- 1635

RENAULT- 895

SIFT- 1895

TURNER- 1325

TWIN CITY GTB (KERO)- 1575

(These prices do not include freight charges,which country dealers would have to add on to price.)

A new price quoted for a K.L. BULLDOG in NSW on 16-2-1953 was 1650 POUNDS.

It appears the CRB (country roads board)

SEC (state electricity commission)

VR (victorian railways), all had at least

One K.L. BULLDOG each, as at least one of each has surfaced.

The first production run of around 20 tractors was completed in late 1948. The first tractor (or tractors ?) being completed just in time for the MELBOURNE SHOW (usually around the last week in month of SEPTEMBER). The tractor production side of KELLY + LEWIS was never a big venture, employing no more than 40 people and producing up to a maximum of 4 tractors per day when parts, raw materials etc. were available. Etc.

ENGINE No. is also stamped behind main fuel tap on cylinder block. (If cylinder block is original)

The original owner of A3070 had been frustated by the delay of the tractor in 1948, when it became available in 1949 he promptly took delivery in MELBOURNE and drove it himself the 130 miles to NATHALIA (VIC).

From tractor No. A1319 and up the governor side flywheel was changed from the round hole type to the more square type.(see photos section). The parts book also shows the connecting Rod was altered from tractor No. A1093 and up. From tractor No. A1415 and up the drawbar was altered, compare the 2 types and you will soon see the difference.

WHO MADE THE CYLINDER BLOCKS ?- All K.L. BULLDOGS seen so far have casting No. 81815 on right hand side lower down than fuel pump and is very easy to see, and would appear they were all made in Australia.

WHAT CASTINGS WERE MADE IN TASMANIA ?- It is thought the cylinder blocks were cast there, but it is possible other parts were as well. (one of the brochures talks of castings made in TASMANIA)

WHO MADE THE CRANKCASES ?- Very early tractors such as A3053 have a K.L. made crankcase, if you see an early tractor look at crankcase behind governor flywheel at about 11 oclock position and you will see 80062 cast into housing. (see photo section)

Most crankcases have D2001/223 written in thick long lasting white paint just below grease nipple for eccentric shaft behind governor flywheel cover just to the rear of exhaust outlet (see photos section) these crankcases seem to be made by LANZ.

OIL PUMPS- Early tractors had their own oil pump instead of BOSCH type, but most would have been changed to BOSCH pumps, as they gave trouble.

WHO MADE THE GEARCASES- Most Gearcases seem very difficult to find a casting No. on, but A3685 which is probably now in GERMANY has it’s casting No. starting with 8---- half way down left front of casting. (near handbrake drum) Some Gearcases were thought to be supplied by LANZ, (along with various other parts)

Most parts cast by KELLY + LEWIS (or here in AUSTRALIA) seem to have a raised casting No. starting with 8, some items to find them on include- cylinder block, exhaust casting, fuel + oil caps, flywheels, rear hitch casting (see photo section for location of Gearcase No. just in front of where rear hitch casting bolts on)

The steering wheel used on the K.L. BULLDOG tractor was the same as used on the Army Bren Gun Carrier, early CHAMBERLAINS used the same, and would have been Army surplus at the time.

(These steering wheels could have also been produced locally when army surplus supply ran out ?)

Part of a sales brochure reads- "Here in this vast plant equipped with every modern mechanised facility, K.L. BULLDOGS are assembled only after every engine has been individually inspected, run in and tested on hydraulic dynamomoters."

"Castings are supplied by the company’s own highly mechanised Tasmanian foundry."

The original owner of A3026 drove the tractor home to Balliang (VIC) from MELBOURNE, the fuel tank leaked (cracked at a seam) and was replaced, soon after the new tank did the same, another new one was fitted and no further leaking occurred. Early on in it’s life the Piston cracked and was also replaced under warranty, and after that the tractor gave years of trouble free service.

Other things a lot of people say include-

Some tractors repeatedly broke crankshafts,and a LANZ one had to be fitted to overcome the problem, the same goes for Pistons, hot bowls, and fuel tanks.

Some of the later tractors were accidentally overbored in the cylinder, and left the factory with an oversize Piston from new.

I have also been told of a few tractors that leaked water from water header tank from new, and had to be replaced under warranty. Although many of the surviving tractors are incomplete, there would be about 90 in running condition + at least 10 being exported overseas in recent years. With the highest engine No. being A3868 it is still thought production did not get to 900, but it is said they only geared up to make 1,000 tractors overall. Anything you may hear of, or know to add to notes here would be most welcome. A more accurate figure of when production ceased is not known as yet, this is "1954", but it is also said the last tractors were made up out of left over parts, but this could have been after production ceased.? I do not have any original records etc. to confirm any more dates, but they should be about.

COMPLIED BY - CRAIG PINK
RMB 250 BEEAC DREEITE ROAD
VIA COLAC VICTORIA 3249