Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Does anyone know who the original manufacturer might have been for this old Craftsman tractor?

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The tractore is a 1954 Hiller Yard hand sold through the Sears Fram catalog.  It was made by Hiller aircraft company in Redwood City California.  The cream colored one has what appears to be the orginal power products engine on it.  The red one with the homeade bumper on it is not close to an orginal nor does it appear to have the correct engine.  I have one and a little information but not much.

The tractor you have, is built by Hiller Products,from Redwood City , California. The engine is a predecessor to Tecumseh. It's a Power Products engine. around 1.7 hp. Air cooled. They built a few hundred in '54. Not many left from what I can find on the internet. Due to the vibration of the engine, most were probably junked long ago. Sears version of the Hiller were yellow. Same tractor, just a specific paint scheme for Sears, who sold them in their '54 Catalong. There are two catalogs that came with the tractor. One is the owners manual, and the other is the engine  manual. My tractor happened to come with both publications. It was originally sold with a 3 gang mower. even though it's a low powered tractor, it's flywheeel was huge. I saw with my own eyes, the tractor ran into the garage wall, and literally, with a person on it, started to climb straight up, and the engine wouldn't quit. Until she hit the kill switch, it was hopping up and down, trying to climb the wall. An amazing sight. It's a very unique tractor, and if you still have yours, I'd write, or go to the Hiller Manufacturing site, in Redwood City, California, the manufacturer.  It's as unique, and odd as anything I own. It's an attention grabber wherever I take it. I pull it to tractor shows, behind my antique Ford hotrod pickup truck. Hope this gives you a little help............Jim