Excerpt from Encyclopedia of American Farm Tractors by C.H. Wendel
In December, 1899, Joseph M. Denning moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa and opened a plant known as Denning Wire & Fence Company. The equipment in the plant had been moved in from Estherville, Iowa where he had formerly resided. By the early 1900’s, Denning owned wire fence factories in Cedar Rapids and Sioux City, Iowa; also in Kansas City, Kansas. Denning held a great many patents on fence weaving machinery and became one of Cedar Rapids’ most prominent citizens. Denning began tractor experiments as early as 1908. Some of the first models used a two cycle marine engine set into a three-wheeled chassis with one rear drive wheel. Eventually, four cylinder, four cycle engines were standard on all models. About 1913, a conventional four-wheel model appeared, and with some modifications remained the standard-bearer until the end of production. On March 7, 1916, the name of the firm was officially changed to Denning Tractor Company. A highlight for Denning was the opportunity to display and operate the tractor at the National Tractor Demonstration held at Cedar Rapids on August 14-18, 1916. The competition from Fordson, Hart-Parr, and other major builders became so stiff that by 1919, Denning’s tractors just couldn’t stay in the market. On May 20, 1919, Denning was forced to sell out to General Ordnance Company with headquarters in New York City. Upon taking over the Denning firm, the tractor was renamed the “ National”, and within a few months the name was again changed to the “ G-O”. Despite the strong financial position of the new firm, they too went into receivership in 1922. After losing the tractor company, Denning set up a plant to make concrete fence posts, but they were unsatisfactory. Bankrupt, Denning spent his final years in obscurity.
Denning made its first public offering with this 6-12 model in 1913. It used a two cylinder four-cycle engine. The lightweight tubular steel frame carried a single plow. A small land wheel to the left side of the driver stabilized the machine. An optional mowing attachment was also available. It consisted of a sickle bar, sickle, and pitman rod geared up to the countershaft on the tractor. As such, it represented one of the earlier examples of a power driven mower. In late 1913, this machine was slightly modified, a four cylinder engine being used. Dry cell ignition used on the two cylinder model was displaced by a Briggs high tension magneto, and horsepower was increased from 12 to 18 horsepower. Price in 1913 was S800.
The Denning Model B tractor was also announced in 1913. It was of conventional four wheel design, featuring the same tubular steel frame as the earlier Model A. This tractor used a four cylinder 4 % x 5 V, inch motor. At its operating speed of 900 RPM, it was rated at 16 drawbar and 24 belt horsepower. A dual ignition system of dry cells and a Briggs magneto provided easy starting. Impulse couplings were not widely used on magnetos at this time, and it was difficult to spin the engine fast enough to generate a satisfactory spark. The Model B weighed 3,500 pounds and sold for SI,200 in 1913; the price included a two bottom plow.
Denning’s Steel Clad Tractor was an early effort at a small lightweight machine. Unfortunately, Denning didn’t have a selling organization like Henry Ford or a mass production factory like International Harvester. As a result, it really didn’t matter how good the product was — if the selling organization was weak, then sales were poor. Likewise, it made no difference how strong the sales organization — if the price wasn’t competitive, selling became a tough job. Risking all they had, hundreds of small tractor builders learned this lesson the hard way.
The 10-18 Model E tractor was introduced by Denning in 1916 — a 3,600 pound machine selling at S800. It was greatly improved over the earlier models. The hooded engine and transmission case enhanced the design and protected the mechanism from dirt and weather. The spring mounted front axle was an innovative feature — probably borrowed from automobile design. Increasing competition forced Denning into receivership in 1919. Subsequently the Denning tractor was marketed by National Tractor Company for a short time, and then succeeded by the General Ordnance Company.
