c. 1929 Advance-Rumely Oil Pull Model W Super 20-30 Tractor

Display Condition: Restored at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum
Engine: Horizontal, 2-cylinder, oil-cooled
Fuel Type: Kerosene
Displacement: 6.1 L (371.5 ci)
Bore and Stroke: 148 x 178 mm (5.8 x 7 in)
Power: Drawbar - 14.9 kW (20 hp); Brake - 22.4 kW (30 hp)
Transmission: 3-forward, 1-reverse
Weight: 3007 kg (6,630 lb)
Original Cost: C $1,219 (estimate)

In 1848, Meinrad Rumely emigrated from Germany and, in 1852, opened a blacksmith shop in La Porte, Indiana. By 1895, the M. Rumely Company expanded to include steam traction engines in their product line-up. Their most famous tractor series, Rumely Oil Pull, began in 1909. Oil Pull tractors had many advantages over conventional tractors because they were among the first tractors to be fueled by kerosene, which was cheaper and more plentiful than gasoline. Initially the Model W used a solid disc flywheel, but it had the unfortunate effect of amplifying engine noises, therefore many of these tractors were retrofitted with spoked flywheels.  

In 1848, Meinrad Rumely emigrated from Germany and, in 1852, opened a blacksmith shop in La Porte, Indiana. By 1895, the M. Rumely Company expanded to include steam traction engines in their product line-up. Their most famous tractor series, Rumely Oil Pull, began in 1909. In 1911 and 1912, the company purchased the Advance Thresher Company, in addition to several other agricultural companies, and was renamed the Advance-Rumely Company by 1915.

Oil Pull tractors had many advantages over conventional tractors because they were among the first tractors to be fueled by kerosene, which was cheaper and more plentiful than gasoline.

Rumely advertised oil cooling as the best type of temperature control. With oil cooling, they said, there was no chance of freezing, no overheating, no boiling away, no evaporation, no lime scale to clog the radiator and no rusting of parts. They claimed oil cooling both preserved the metal and kept every part of the cooling system open.
Initially the Model W used a solid disc flywheel, but it had the unfortunate effect of amplifying engine noises.  Therefore many of these tractors were retrofitted with spoked flywheels.

Chronology:
1848 - Meinrad Rumely emigrates from Germany.
1852 - Meinrad opens a blacksmith shop in La Porte, Indiana.
1895 - The M. Rumely Company starts making steam traction engines.
1904 - Meinrad passes away. His sons continue to run the company.
1909 - The Rumely Oil Pull series begins.
1911 - The M. Rumely Company purchases the Advance Thresher Company.
c. 1915 - The company is reorganized as the Advance-Rumely Company.
1931 - Allis-Chalmers takes over Advance-Rumely
1995 - This Model W 20-30 is added to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum Collection.