Chamberlain was a brand of

tractors A tractor is an engineering vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery such as that used in agriculture, mining or construction. Most common ...

from

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, produced initially by Chamberlain Industries Ltd. While Bob Chamberlain was working as a tractor mechanic in Victoria he designed a tractor and built a prototype tractor around what he believed farmers wanted. It became the basis of the 40K model tractor. The Western Australian Government having heard of Bob Chamberlain's plan to build tractors persuaded the Chamberlains to use an ex-munitions factory (); in

Welshpool, Western Australia Welshpool is an inner southeastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located mostly within the City of Canning and partially within the Town of Victoria Park. The area is one of the main industrial areas of Perth, along with Kewdale, Kwina ...

. Thus the first Tractors rolled off the production line in 1949. The first Chamberlain tractor produced was the model 40k which had twin-cylinder, horizontally opposed engines. They weighed about four tonnes and were considered to be ideal for the needs of Australian farmers.A history of Australian Tractors
/ref> In 1953 Chamberlain started to produce diesel powered tractors such as the GM diesel powered 60DA and later the 70DA, as well as the 55DA, which was powered by an Australian built diesel engine. A few years later the production of kerosene powered tractors was stopped. In 1955 Chamberlain developed the

Perkins Perkins is a surname derived from the Anglo-Saxon corruption of the kin of Pierre (from Pierre kin to Pierrekin to Perkins), introduced into England by the Norman Conquest. It is found throughout mid- and southern England. Another derivation com ...

diesel powered Champion models and as a publicity stunt in the same year Chamberlains entered the new diesel powered tractor in the around Australia Redex Trial as a rescue/recovery vehicle. It became known as "Tail End Charlie" The tractor in question was fitted with modified cab, bench seat and high speed gears (allowing it to reach speeds of up to 110 km/hour). Initial attempts to enter the event were met with disbelief, and it was only officially recognised as a recovery vehicle for one leg of the trial. Tail-End Charlie is reputed to have completed one stage of the trial while towing as many as six other entrants that broke down on the way. In a subsequent trial, the powers that be relented, and the Chamberlain machine completed the whole course. In subsequent years, Chamberlain produced a range of iconic larger tractors suited to broadland farming in Australia. These tractors are now popular for heritage tractor pulling contests, and feature their own national championships. An expansion and refit of the Welshpool Plant was undertaken in 1978. The Welshpool manufacturing site was redeveloped and a new office complex built in 1982, however by 1986 due to significant decline in demand, the manufacture of the famous Chamberlain tractors ceased.

John Deere Merger

In 1970, the John Deere Company of America purchased a controlling interest in Chamberlain. During the 1980s, Chamberlain became a fully owned subsidiary of

John Deere Deere & Company, doing business as John Deere (), is an American corporation that manufactures agricultural machinery, heavy equipment, forestry machinery, diesel engines, drivetrains (axles, transmissions, gearboxes) used in heavy equipment, ...

, thus trading as Chamberlain John Deere.

Chamberlain tractors on display at the 2007 Perth Royal Show

Image:Chamberlain_40K_and_Champion_6G_Tractors_at_2007_Perth_Royal_Show.jpg, Chamberlain Champion 6G Image:Chamberlain_6G_Champion_Tractor_at_2007_Perth_Royal_Show.jpg, Chamberlain Champion 6G Image:Chamberlain_Diesel_Tractor_at_2007_Perth_Royal_Showjpg.jpg, Chamberlain 60 D.A. Image:Chamberlain_40K_Tractor_at_2007_Perth_Royal_Show.jpg, Chamberlain 40K

References

External links

Chamberlain 9G Tractor Club
{{John Deere John Deere Chamberlain Tractors Companies of Australia