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The serial number on the frame rail will be 3 digits and most likely less in value than 350. Model A Panzers were all red, powered by an 8 1/2 hp Model 23 Briggs & Stratton engine and had cast iron pulleys on both the engine and jack shaft. Clinton engine models: models 300,300-350,A-300,VS-300,500: models 650,700,B-700,500, models 760,B-790,C-700,VS-700,800: models 860,890,A-800,A-860,A-890. CLINTON: E65, A, H, V, VS100, VS100-1000, A200, AVS200-1000, K-J200, VS200-2000, A, J, VS300, VS3000, J350, A, AVS, BVS, CVS, VS400, AVS400-10000, VS400-10000, VS400-2000, 401-502, K-J500,6K590, 700, B, C, D700-1000, K700-5000, K-J700, VS700, 800, A, V, VS1200, 12 4. Having both pairs of model & serial identification numbers (one pair for the product, one for the engine) is very important when ordering replacement parts or whenever service is needed. NOTE: Handheld products, with integrated engines, do not have a separate engine ID number. The engine, just the engine, was finally completed in 1952, 20 years after it was begun. A front page headline of The Dalles Optimist, his local newspaper, proclaimed 'Lowry Sexton Completes Exact Model Of DeWitt Clinton, Early Engine.' The tender and three coaches where added over the next decade.

• Clinton Engine Serial Numbers History
• Clinton Engine Serial Numbers Chart
• Clinton Engine Serial Numbers Lookup

Merry Tiller History

In about 1966 new, stronger handles were fitted, now attached to the chaincase by a single bolt, through welded on brackets. Serial numbers had restarted with an M prefix for Majors, P for Professionals and a T prefix for Titans. The Titan looked similar to the Major but shared few components, having a different, all roller bearing chaincase with three sets of chains, a stronger hitch casting, different chassis, larger 5HP engine and two sets of belt pulleys for changing speeds. The Professional continued with a new, stronger hitch casting and the same handles as the swiveling type fitted to Titans and optional on Majors. In about 1968 the engine on the Major changed to the Briggs & Stratton type 80200. Still a 3HP unit it had a pulsa-jet carburetor that fitted on top of the fuel tank, which was now behind the engine. The extension tines had swaged tubing instead of coupling tubes to join them together. These machines sold in large numbers and by 1974 the Merry Tiller was 'Britain's Top Seller'. The use of plastic transport wheels and, in about 1976, a 4hp engine for the Major seem to be the only changes in a decade. Other models had joined the lineup, the Titan GT with its all geared transmission, the Trident and the weird and wonderful Twin Six which was two Merry Tillers tied together. The 5hp 'Super Major' replaced the Professional about 1976. The Wizard and identical Cadet with a single transport wheel and lightweight tines, were also introduced at this time. Two different Wizards were made, a 5hp version with a heavy angle iron chassis and a 3hp version with a lightweight angle chassis.

A radical re-design was carried out in 1978. New handles, chaincase, belt guard, a folded steel chassis and smaller transport wheels altered the look. The Titan now had a reverse gear in the chaincase. The GT got the new chassis and a 7hp engine. Sheet metal 'cowls' on top of the engines came in. Other minor modifications meant that few components from earlier models were carried over. The Trident and Twin Six had been dropped. The makers name changed to Webb for a short time.

The final models differ from the 1978 lineup in a number of ways. In 1983 a new lightweight pressed steel 'chassis' was fitted over an angle iron one, hitch castings and handles changed again, and a plastic belt guard was used. The Wizard name had been dropped, the 3hp Cadet gained folding handles and a new model the Spartan, basically a Major with a 5HP engine had been added to the range. The Super Major had a reverse drive belt as standard. (Earlier Majors had reverse as an accessory). The 5HP models had an extended hitch. The 7hp Titan GT was discontinued. An all new 5hp Titan GT with independently clutched rotor shafts to give skid steer, was advertised in 1983 brochures but not listed in price lists and probably never reached the public, so the Titan toped the Merry Tiller range. In about 1984 Atco took over production when Wolseley decided to concentrate its activities on plumbing and domestic boilers. Wolseley Plc are now the largest plumbing sundries supplier in Europe. The engine cowl, by now a complex pressing, did not survive the Atco takeover. Atco had joined the Qualcast group and some modified Cadets were sold as Qualcast B66 rotivators using an updated version of the Suffolk engine that was used on the first UK Merry Tillers. The end of British production came around 1990.

Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure the above history is correct, records on Merry Tiller production are patchy. If you spot any mistakes please let me know. Also do any of Wolseley/Atco's Merry Tiller component suppliers still exist?. Contact me by email

Jim Haynes has put together a great rundown of the history of the Panzer tractor. It's posted at his web site (Dandy Sales). Click on the link below to read the story.
http://www.dandysales.com/history.html

If you have anything to add, please let Jim know or send a note to info@panzertractors.com.

Clinton Engine Serial Numbers History

The Model A was produced in College Park, Md. in 1954. Model A tractors will have a serial number stamped on the right side of the frame rail just aft of where it slides in to the front casting. As far as we can tell, approximately 350 tractors were produced in College Park, of which we have documented less than 50 to still exist. Copar was not good at keeping records, and most likely did not build the tractors in sequence. The serial number on the frame rail will be 3 digits and most likely less in value than 350.

Model A Panzers were all red, powered by an 8 1/2 hp Model 23 Briggs & Stratton engine and had cast iron pulleys on both the engine and jack shaft. The jack shaft had the location 'College Park, Md.' and 'Mod A.' cast in to it, where later models had Laurel, Md. Advertising literature shows it had 6x16' tires on the rear, although at least one confirmed original Model A has 8x16' tires on it.

Because they were made of cast iron and succeptable to cracking, the jack shaft casting and pulleys may not be a reliable way to identify a Model A. I have a Model A with a cast iron engine pulley and serial number stamped in the frame, but because the tractor was used extensively for mowing, it has a replacement jack shaft casting and a large pulley made of aluminum. The rims had been repainted with yellow paint and had 8x16' turf tires on it. However, when I took the tires off the rims, it was clear the original rim color was red.

When production switched to Laurel, Md. in early 1955, the company began referring to them as a Model T102. Because of existing stock and repair parts, newer models of 3 and even 4 wheel Copar Panzers can have a jack shaft casting that says College Park. Jim Haynes (Dandy Sales) and I have had a lot of debates, and have agreed that only tractors produced in College Park should be called Model A. All others were built in Laurel and are called by their T100 or T200 model designations.

For example, I have a 3 wheel Copar Panzer that looks exactly like a Model A. It has a serial number of 1947 stamped into the frame, but it is to the right of the tool box and not on the frame rail. It also has an aluminum engine pulley. Even though it says Mod A on the jack shaft housing, it also says Laurel, Md. Because of this, it is a T102 and not a Model A.

If you want to identify your engine, there is a great source of serial numbers for Model 23 and 23A B&S engines online at http://www.asecc.com/data/briggs/data4.html

I've added a picture of the info from that page below. Click on the thumbnail to view.

Updated September 21, 2014

The T100 series was the evolution of the Model A. The T102 was produced starting in 1955 at the Laurel, Md. plant. The 100 series has a single front wheel and is almost identical to the Model A except for aluminum engine and drive pulleys and yellow wheels and jack shaft housing. In 1957, a dedicated 4 wheel model called a T205 was introduced. This lasted until 1960 when Virginia Metalcrafters bought Copar and discontinued the line (see notes on the T220). The wide front end was initially sold as a kit that adapted to existing 3 wheelers, so the steering shaft came out the right side and behind the front casting. Later T200 series tractors had improved front end geometry / design and the steering arm came out betwen the frame rails in the front.

The T50 was the first in a line of 'small' panzers, starting in 1957and running through late 1958. They have a couple of features of note:

• There is no bushing where the steering shaft meets the front aluminum grille housing. This 'feature' often causes the steering shaft to corrode and not function. This was improved with an oil-lite bushing in the T55 front grille housing.
• No fenders on the rear wheels. Fenders were added later as a clamp-on option.
• A 4hp model A1200 Clinton engine was standard. This engine proved to be troublesome for both vibration and hard starting, and was replaced with a 4hp model 1290 on the T55 in late 1958. They experimented with the Kohler K90 4hp engine, and there are reports that some tractors were equipped with that engine as well.
• A plate under the engine extended to the left side of the chassis and supported the right angle gear drive.
• There was no isolated engine plate - the engine bolted directly to the frame. This caused a vibration problem that resulted in a separate isolated engine plate on the T60 and up models.
• They were originally painted red / yellow / white.
  More info to follow!
  

Clinton Engine Serial Numbers Chart

Clinton Engine Serial Numbers Lookup