Doe Triple-D
Encyclopedia
The Doe Triple-D or Doe Dual Drive is a make of tractor
produced by Ernest Doe & Sons in the 1950s and 1960s in Ulting
Essex
. Its two engines and 90-degree articulation made it one of the most unorthodox tractors ever built.
in need of high-power
tractors had few options. Essex farmer George Pryor developed an ingenious solution to the problem by creating his own tractor. He did this by purchasing two Fordson
tractors, removing the front wheels and axles
and linking the two by means of a turntable which provided the steering action powered by hydraulic rams. This left him with a double-engined four-wheel—drive tractor capable of producing more power and outperforming any of the conventional tractors on the UK market at the time.
The first Doe Triple-D used two Fordson Power Major units producing 100 hp, the later Triple-D 130 used two Ford 5000 tractors increasing the power output to over 130 hp and the Triple-D 150 was based on Ford Force 5000 tractors producing 150 hp.
The vast majority of Triple-Ds were sold in the UK, but a number were exported to the United States
and elsewhere.
Other disadvantages stemmed from the use of two engines, this made controlling the tractor more difficult because of the need for two gearboxes. There were two engines and gearboxes to maintain and repair and the probability of breakdowns was increased.
Triple-Ds are worth a great deal due to their relative rarity, even unrestored Does can demand extremely high prices at auction.
The Triple-D is also available in a 1:16 Scale model produced by Universal Hobbies
Tractor
A tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction...
produced by Ernest Doe & Sons in the 1950s and 1960s in Ulting
Ulting
Ulting is a small village located in the remote countryside of the county of Essex, England. It shares its borders with Langford and Nounsley, and is part of Maldon.-History:...
Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. Its two engines and 90-degree articulation made it one of the most unorthodox tractors ever built.
Development
During the 1950s farmers in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in need of high-power
Power (physics)
In physics, power is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. For example, the rate at which a light bulb transforms electrical energy into heat and light is measured in watts—the more wattage, the more power, or equivalently the more electrical energy is used per unit...
tractors had few options. Essex farmer George Pryor developed an ingenious solution to the problem by creating his own tractor. He did this by purchasing two Fordson
Fordson tractor
Fordson was a brand name used on a range of mass produced general-purpose tractors manufactured by Henry Ford & Son, Inc, from 1917 until 1920 when it was merged into the Ford Motor Company, which used the name until 1964...
tractors, removing the front wheels and axles
Axle
An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to its surroundings, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle...
and linking the two by means of a turntable which provided the steering action powered by hydraulic rams. This left him with a double-engined four-wheel—drive tractor capable of producing more power and outperforming any of the conventional tractors on the UK market at the time.
Commercial production
Local Fordson dealers Ernest Doe & Sons agreed to build an improved version, the first one was completed in 1958 and called the Doe Dual Power, later changed to Doe Dual Drive and abbreviated to Triple-D.The first Doe Triple-D used two Fordson Power Major units producing 100 hp, the later Triple-D 130 used two Ford 5000 tractors increasing the power output to over 130 hp and the Triple-D 150 was based on Ford Force 5000 tractors producing 150 hp.
The vast majority of Triple-Ds were sold in the UK, but a number were exported to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and elsewhere.
Disadvantages
The main disadvantage with the Triple-D was the lack of suitable implements for such a powerful tractor, this meant that Ernest Doe & Sons also had to develop and build a range of implements to sell with the tractors.Other disadvantages stemmed from the use of two engines, this made controlling the tractor more difficult because of the need for two gearboxes. There were two engines and gearboxes to maintain and repair and the probability of breakdowns was increased.
End of production
By the late 1960s several companies had developed single-engined tractors capable of producing over 100 hp, this competition put the Doe out of production after over 300 had been built.Legacy
The Triple-D often makes appearances at agricultural fares such as the Epworth Festival of the Plough in Epworth, Lincolnshire and LeSueur, Minnesota Pioneer Power Days show where it is always a crowd favourite, popular due to its unorthodox build.Triple-Ds are worth a great deal due to their relative rarity, even unrestored Does can demand extremely high prices at auction.
The Triple-D is also available in a 1:16 Scale model produced by Universal Hobbies
External links
- Ernest Doe homepage
- Tractorshed profile
- YouTube footage of Does ploughing at Epworth
- Image of a Restored Doe Triple D - on the Tractor and Construction Plant Wiki
