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Show GfiGID MICE OF BATESTRACTORS "2Iow is it possible for a machine with the unusually low center of gravity that la evident In the Bates Steel Mule to hay sufficient clearance for usage on rough ground?" was asked of A. Obcrg of the Pacific Nash Motor company, local Bates Steel Mu)o tractor distributors, at a recent demonstration being' conducted by Mr. Oberff. i "That's just the boauty of the Bates ; Mule," answered Oberg. You will notice ! that, although tho model D Is built unusually un-usually low and with a very low center of gravity,, upon closer examination you will find that it has a ground clearance of nearly fourteen inches, which is more than ample for plowing In an orchard, vineyard or on a rocky hillside. Tho draft comes directly in the center of the machine ma-chine on to a swinging drawbar and, therefore, no side draft can exist. "The average tractor," he explained, "whon working on hillsides, has a tendency ten-dency to work downhill, or, if so placed that both the front wheel and back wheel i run in the furrow, tho tilt of the tractor i brings so much more traction to one rear driver than to the other that very little available power is left for actually pulling. "In the Bates Steel Mule, however, both drivers are on the solid ground and, because be-cause there is no side draft, the plow .is hitched so that thero is no tendency to pull the tractor downward. Instead, there is a tendency to keep it uphill, thus maintaining main-taining the "same conditions as on level ground and maintaining full power at tho drawbar at all times. "It Is not unusual," concluded Mr. Oherg, "for those who first see the Bates ' Steel Mule in operation to jump to the conclusion that there is not enough clear-anee clear-anee for practical work on account of the low-swung frame and tho sturdy appear ance of the tractor but these conditions have all been piven careful consideration by the manufacturers, . and tho Hates tractor possesses much more clearancA than is found in most any make of tractor." |