Highway 2A is the major north-south highway running through Wetaskiwin and 50th Avenue is the major artery leading from it to the downtown area. Near this critical junction were placed a seemingly identical pair of McCormick Deering tractors, reminders of Wetaskiwin's agricultural heritage.
Built from 1923 to 1929, the 15-30 was a slightly more advanced machine than the its nearest competitor, the Hart Parr, having a standard upright four cylinder engine and a three speed transmission. The 381.7 ci (6.3 L) valve-in-head engine was able to produce a tested 35 horsepower at the belt at 1050 RPM, somewhat better than the rated 30 horsepower.
Though it reads McCormick-Deering on the machine, these were actually being manufactured by International Harvester, who used the McCormick-Deering name on their tractors for thirty years or so.
Fun Fact: Early model McCormick-Deering tractors were originally painted gray with red wheels. In fact, all model 15-30s and 22-36s left the factory in these colours. On November 1, 1936, International Harvester discontinued the use of tractor gray moving to an all red color scheme, after the 15-30/22-36 models had ceased production.
The McCormick name in farm machinery dates back to Cyrus McCormick, who produced the first successful reaper in 1831. McCormick's company was one of the pieces that eventually became International Harvester. International renamed their new 10-20 and 15-30 tractors as McCormick-Deering in 1923. The McCormick-Deering name was used on standard (wide) front tractors for the next three decades, until it was phased out in favor of the International name.
From Tractor Data