Bolens/Montgomery Wards Info

[HeadExam 1,783]

In another post and on other forums many questions surround Bolens and Montgomery Wards garden tractors, mainly what they they were, and when they were built. So lets start from the beginning. it seems everyone agrees that the date Bolens first built a Garden Tractor for Montgomery Wards was 1959, okay.

In 1958 Bolens introduces the first Ride-A-Matic (not the first year for a Bolens rider though), the model 220, The RAM was powered by a Kohler K161-28118E and was rated at 6.6 hp.

In 1959 Bolens introduces the Model 230 Ride-A-Matic with the same engine, but rated at 7 hp and being a manual start. The first Montgomery Wards Squire 7 was probably this one.

In 1960 Bolens introduces two Ride-A-Matic models, the Model 230-01 and the Model 231-01, again with the same 7 hp Kohler engine, probably with electric start, and definitely a Montgomery Wards tractor Model Squire 7.

In 1961 Bolens introduces the Model 233-01 and 234-01 Ride-A-Matic with the same 7 hp engine, the 233-01 having a manual start. Again definitely a Montgomery Wards Squire 7, but still not a Tube Frame or based on a Bolens 600.

Before we go any further it must be noted that the early Ride-A-Matics utilized a variable-speed belt system for the transmission, a drive system that was first developed for the walk-behind models. Later Ride-A-Matics models were built with forward, neutral, and reverse gears. That said in 1962 Bolens built two Model 600 models, the 180-01 manual start that was powered by a Briggs and Stratton 142302-019801 and the Model 181-02 electric start with the Briggs and Stratton 142302-019701 6 hp engine. Both Models were 3 speed transmissions. However Bolens also built two Ride-A-Matics that year as well, the Model 235-01 manual start, and the Model 236-01 electric start, both were powered by the same 7 hp Kohler engines on the earlier Ride-A-Matics and employed the later type Ride-A-Matic drop and go transmission.

I hope that clears things up and establishes that the first Montgomery Wards tractors were Bolens built RAMs and the last Bolens built was the model(s) 600, concluding that the Simplicity Squire 725 or 7-1/4 was introduced late in 1962 for the 1963 year. However the problem with that is that the Simplicity 725 which was what the Montgomery Wards Squire 7-1/4 was based on, was ONLY built in 1961 and 1962, so the 1963 Montgomery Wards Catalog showing a Simplicity built Squire 7-1/4 was showing a tractor that was out of production, at least it was for 1963.

I welcome any input or corrections to this information.

In the Bolens built Squire 6 ad it says in the first paragraph that this tractor is built with the SAME quality was as the larger 725, 7-1/4 hp tractor but with a Pow'rKraft 6 hp engine, a Briggs engine.

[Triumph66 1,256]

Alain,

Thanks for the above info. Here's something else from my post to add to the growing information being gathered.

Here's a link from boyscout862 from a '64 farm catalogue showing the Simplicicity and Bolens models. Also a couple of walk behind mowers are included. A great period brochure too.

http://gardentractortalk.com/forums/files/file/4273-mongomery-wards-1964-farm-catalog/

I know that Gilson produced MWs tractors too. I think Simplicity and Gilson became the main suppliers in the 60s. The one common thread that everyone agrees is that there's very little information about pertaining to MW products. MW brochures and literature are very thin in the ground. It would be great to have some definitive documentation on this brand which is new to me.

Here's a add for Gilson from that era

[HeadExam 1,783]

Sorry Andrew, I can't get the download from GT talk. At the end of my previous post I noted that in Montgomery Wards 1963 catalog they were selling the Simplicity 725 as the Squire 7-1/4, that tractor was produced in 1961 and 1962 only by Simplicity's own records. I know they also sold it in 1962 because it mentions it in the 1962 ad with the Squire 6 pictured. The yellow and white (sometimes blue and white or red and white), Gilson Brothers built Montgomery Wards came later, maybe 1965 or so. I'm not sure what tractor Montgomery Wards sold in 1964.

And this from Brian (AKA) Texas Deere and Horse, seems to solve the 1964/1966 mystery:

1964 still saw even more changes for Montgomery Wards. Gone from the lineup was the Bolens built tractor. Simplicity supplied their new LandLord based “Squire 9†Garden Tractor and also the “Squire 6†Lawn Tractor based on the Simplicity Broadmoor. M/W also offered a Garden Tractor called the “Squire 7 ¼HPâ€, built by Quick Manufacturing using a Springfield Garden Tractor, but having a Cast Iron grill and different hood. Quick Man. Also provide M/W with a full line of attachments they built for their tractor. The 1965 M/W lineup was basically the same as 1964.

1966 brought more changes to the M/W Garden Tractor lineup. Simplicity built the "Squire 10 Deluxe" Garden Tractor. Quick Manufacturing provided 2 Garden Tractors, the “Garden Mark 10†and the “Garden Mark 8â€. Both tractors were based on the Springfield Tractors with grill and sheet metal changes only. Simplicity still offered the Power-Trac 2 wheel tractors thru M/W.(GTTalk, 2013)

It would then appear that the Gilson Brothers yellow and white Squire 10's and 12s of 1967 were next on Montgomery Wards evolutionary ladder. It is after this that we get a better picture of Wards tractors up into the mid 1980s, but the early years are quite confusing as I have heard the name MotoMower as a builder of some M/W and they may have been a product of Quick MFG too.

[Triumph66 1,256]

Alain,

I have PM you.

Cheers