Speedex S-19 Garden Tractor Article

LAGC I July/August 2008 I Vol 2 Iss 4
Featured Tractor: Speedex

Article 1: pg 22-23
Speedex, S-19… Tough Enough!
By A D Juarez

I must confess that I am a lawn and garden collector by default. That is partly because I
have found that there is little trade in value for old riding mowers as I have upgraded to
larger, more powerful ones. Though I am not mechanically inclined, I enjoy reading how
all those talented, backyard mechanics restore mowers. In contrast, my equipment is old,
not pretty, and still in daily use.

In 1971 I moved my family from the city of Chicago to a five-acre plot in rural Crete
Township, Illinois. The move was a result of our decision to live in an area with clean air,
good schools and room to feel free of the hassle of the big city. We built a home on five
acres of farmland.

The land was waist high in brush, but the builders knocked down enough of the growth to
allow us to plant a lawn around the house. This still left a lot of land to clear. In 1971 we
purchased a used 8hp Speedex S-19 with a Briggs and Stratton electric start engine and a 36"
mower deck, for $200 from a local resident. Fortunately, the Speedex Tractor Company,
then in Ravenna, Ohio, offered several other laborsaving attachments for our rider. We
ordered a 42" sickle bar mower and used it to clear the remaining brush from the property.
A single blade plow and disks followed as we began to garden.

Our 200-foot driveway became a challenge during the Illinois winters. Consequently, we
added a 42" snow blade to our attachment lineup. I am happy to say that the combination
of 16" rear wheels along with the blade attachment kept our driveway snow free through
the deepest accumulations. We did replace the metal pan seat with a padded one as the
metal got very cold when plowing in near zero temperatures.

We have owned that Speedex for 37 years. We replaced the engine three times after having
the first two rebuilt twice. Our Speedex is a working machine and we use it year around. It
is not pretty, but it is the toughest machine I have ever owned.

Since buying the S-19 we have added a 1972 Gilson-built Wards, model 33185A, with a 42"
mower deck from an uncle's estate, a 1961 International Harvester Lo-Boy with a 60" belly
mower, and a commercial 48CWB John Deere walk behind mower (of undetermined age)
with a Kawasaki engine, 54" mower deck and a Sulky attachment. We bought the John
Deere in 2001. All equipment is in working order and in use.

At one point in time we had three children at home who thought mowing was great fun,
but as they grew up and moved away we were left with a stable of mowers without
operators (thus, my status as collector by default). My son, Marc, is still with us and
considers the Speedex his and uses it during all four seasons. He keeps it in great running
shape. We still have all of the original tires on this tractor and the sheet metal gets painted
every now and then. Other than replacing the seat, no major modifications have been
made to it. The mower is simple to repair and parts are still available. I think the Speedex
will outlast me! If that rider was manufactured today, I would buy another one, but I
doubt that I could buy it for $200!

Editors Note:
I got this letter about a week before this issue went to press. Mr. Juarez sent such an
interesting letter that I felt it was perfect for this issue. It is amazing how rugged the
Speedex has remained after all the years of continuous use!
- LAGC

Article 2: pg 24-29
Speedex, S-Series
By Mike Hamper

You may recall an article I wrote on the history of the Speedex Tractor Company of
Ravenna, Ohio (LAGC Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 1). It was an informative piece in which I
introduced its founder, Harold Pond, and provided some information about the history of
the Speedex Tractor Company, its founder and the early tractors: the 2-Wheel Walk
Behinds, the 1939 through 1942 Model B tractors and the 1942 - 1946 Model Farm and
Garden (FG's). This article will briefly cover the S-Series tractors that were introduced in
1959 and manufactured through 1972.

The S-Series tractors, (also referred to as the round-hooded tractors) were considered a true
innovation in small yard tractors. Speedex was the first to introduce the floating
under-belly mower with their tractors in 1959. Many attachments were offered during
these years to help small growers, and others, maintain their grounds and small farms.
Some of the attachments offered were, 36- and 48-inch mower decks, a 42-inch sickle bar,
six- and 10-inch earth plows, single and tandem discs, cultivators, furrower blade, a blade
for front and rear attachment for snow or earth moving, a snow blower, and a small pull
behind trailer that the operator could empty from the seat.

The Models of tractors evolved through the production years starting out with the Model
S14 with a 5 3/4hp Briggs pull-start engine and the Model S23 with 9hp pull-start Briggs
engine. The Model S14 tractor was made from 1959 through 1968 with small improvements
that later included a starter/generator. The Model S23 tractor was made from 1959
through the middle of 1966. In July of 1966 it was replaced by the Model S24 tractor,
which sported a 10hp pull-start Briggs engine and combination starter/generator option.

Another tractor introduced in the mid 60's was the Model S17, which had a 7hp Briggs
engine with a starter/generator and was made from 1968 through 1972. All of the tractor
models mentioned had a 2-speed, Speedex designed transmission. Forward and reverse with
high and low range speed was accomplished by changing the engine and transmission belt
from the small to the larger pulleys. The models S18 and S19 were introduced in 1966 and
both were made through 1972. The S18 and S19 tractors were almost identical. The only
exception was the type of engine offered; the S18 came with an 8hp Kohler engine and the
S19 came with an 8hp Briggs engine. Both the S18 and S19 had a new type of transmission,
made by Peerless, that had four speeds forward and one reverse (Peerless). The new
transmission increased the homeowner's ability to maintain their yards with a welcomed
increase in speed.

It is worth mentioning that all these tractors had the early decals, which we refer to as the
"football-type". The decals were used from 1959 through 1972. Toward the end of
manufacturing, Speedex introduced a design change in the hoods and fenders of these
tractors. This was the beginning of the "flat-hooded" tractor design. These early flat-hooded
tractors were being introduced while the last of the round-hooded tractors were being
manufactured. Speedex was known to use up their available inventory of parts. All the
tractors made through 1972, including the early flat-hooded models, carried the
football-type decals.

The last big change in the S-Series was the introduction of a 3-speed, plus a reverse
transmission, which was available in the S24 model only. It is worth noting that during the
production years of the S-Series tractors, Speedex was making small improvements, small
additions, and always looking for ways to better their products. The design change caused
some tractors to have small differences because Speedex continued to use up their
inventories. This created a very interesting and challenging situation for collectors and a lot
of forgiveness in the exactness of restorations. Look for future articles of the next
generation on Speedex Tractors.
- LAGC

This is a picture of my 1967 Speedex S-24. It had been sitting next to a barn, just down the
road from my parent's house, for a long time. When I first saw it, I assumed it was a big,
tired Panzer tractor. While moving my parents to another location, I decided to check this
tractor out once and for all. Thinking it would be my final opportunity to purchase this
tractor, I stopped by to ask the owner how much he wanted for it. He quickly informed
me that his tractor was not a Panzer, as I had thought, but a Speedex. After looking closely
at the Speedex and seeing the simple clutch setup, I knew that I had to have it. The
gentleman demonstrated by stepping down on the pedal causing the whole engine and
hood moved forward to tighten the belt! Pure genius! A deal was made! I spent the
following winter restoring this beauty!

As a result of the Pond family business, we now have two giants in the lawn and garden
tractor industry…Speedex tractors and Wheel Horse tractors. The Pond family were truly
talented Pioneers of the business.