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T.J. Turley Co. Ideal

Kapok

Kapok

Active member
Found this searching near a 60's era elementary school building. As far as I've been able to Google, the T.J. Turley Co. was a manufacturer of farm equipment in the early 20th century. Not sure what their "Ideal" product was. Maybe a harvester or tractor. I'm always amazed where I find certain things.

This looks to be brass and measures 3 3/4" by 1 1/2 ". Anyone ever seen one like it?
 
The information I found says that in 1922 T.J. Turley was appointed manager of the J.I. Case Plow Works Co. southeastern division. It also states that for many years before that he was an implement dealer for J.I. Case Plow Works. Maybe "Ideal" was the name of his dealership.
 
Flinthunter, can you post the link where you found this?

I also found this interesting article from "The Harvester World" 1910 on Google Books
 
Here are a couple links to Turley and Case.

http://books.google.com/books?id=S6fmAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA86&lpg=RA1-PA86&dq=t.j.+turley+ideal&source=bl&ots=-9M50VhxzY&sig=3N6ZLknzvgp0gUfNnpRi16_1B-I&hl=en&sa=X&ei=PCRIUr-EM4SGyAGmmYH4Bw&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q=t.j.%20turley%20ideal&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=tjY6AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA47&lpg=RA1-PA47&dq=t.j.turley+case+plow&source=bl&ots=02Rx5E02wm&sig=hzkaWiUgZQZ5Em7rU1VurZBWW-w&hl=en&sa=X&ei=uSRIUqzHLorgyQHlqoHYAg&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=t.j.turley%20case%20plow&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=S6fmAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA86&lpg=RA1-PA86&dq=t.j.+turley+ideal&source=bl&ots=-9M50VhxzY&sig=3N6ZLknzvgp0gUfNnpRi16_1B-I&hl=en&sa=X&ei=PCRIUr-EM4SGyAGmmYH4Bw&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q=t.j.%20turley%20ideal&f=false

Here is another link to Turley and Ideal fertilizer/tobacco/grain.

http://books.google.com/books?id=gz4HAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA412&lpg=PA412&dq=t.j.+turley+ideal&source=bl&ots=WPuM6VjKo0&sig=c5jOkb7RRaAxsQjhtLBdvI18SF0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1iJIUvWAMOSQyAGJ3oDICw&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=t.j.%20turley%20ideal&f=false
 
Thanks, Flinthunter. Google Books is an awesome resource.
 
i live in Owensboro and will try to find out a little more for you but it will probably be later in the week before i get a chance. we did have an Ideal milk co. here but not sure if thats what the one on you tag is.
 
Ideal was a brand of large power mowers and grounds tractors for maintaining
golf courses,school grounds ,parks,and estates. The tag being found in a school setting
would make perfect sense.
 
Sawmill, how did you find this out? Any info about the date range for when they made these implements? Thanks for all your help, guys.
 
Kapok

I actually used to work on a few of the old Ideal machines during the early 60's.
They were built from about 1918 to the eary 1960's. They were bought out by another company,
but I can't remember which one. The tractor unit just had two large wheels ,handle bars,and a large
cast iron motor. It pulled a set of gang reel mowers with the seat on the mower part. The other
type mowers were riding type reel mowers ,plus a couple large walk behind models. Ideal built a
variety of grounds maintenence equipment ,and some small farm type stuff.

The tractor resembled an old Bolens 2 wheel walk behind model. They had lots of attachments and
were quite popular at one time.
 
Thanks, Sawmill. I wonder why there's no info out there about them. I deep-searched Google and only came up with very early info about the company. Anyway, it's all interesting!
 
Kapok

I found some information. The Ideal tractor mower was patented by Ransom Olds in 1914.
It was sold to the Indian Motorcycle company in 1945. Google Ransom Olds museum for
more information. The last one I seen,was at Elisabethtown,Kentucky,while working in my
uncles shop. Indian went bankrupt in 1953,the mowers I worked on looked like they were
50's models . The tag you have is a dealers tag. For some reason Ideal was a popular trade
name for farm type stuff. Some tractor dealers sold everything from tractors to milking machines.

By the way there was a lot of dairy equipment sold with the Ideal name. Taz seems to have it
nailed ,but I would research that dealer too. Deering was particular about keeping the Deering
part of their trademark included in all advertisements. There is still a few of those old Deering
Ideal mowing machines sitting around farms here.
 
You guys are awesome. Thanks a lot for the info.
 
checking the old city directories it looks like the t.j. turley co. was in business from 1901-1964.
 
Thank you for the research, Chuck. Sometimes we take it for granted that other people look up stuff and give us advice, etc. So, thanks!
 
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