Old timer, of Australia: I'm not sure these tractors came to America, but the Chamberlain product line was originally designed & manufactured in Perth, Western Australia. They were a...

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

I'm not sure these tractors came to America, but the Chamberlain product line was originally designed & manufactured in Perth, Western Australia.
They were a pretty basic machine but good value for money. They had a very wide spread dealer network established around Australia, the aftersales service was excellent.
In their development, as faults arose, they were modified, rectified quickly, gaining our locally made product, great popularity in the agricultural industry.
This old guy is parked up in some ones front yard, I pass it every day. I have a certain affection for them since I worked for a Dealership in the period from when the John Deere company bought them out, thus producing Chamberlain John Deere, CJD it became known as here.
At the time there were several of the big names from USA vying for it because of its well established dealer network Australia wide.
I was a service manager for 11 years, the new born tractors were a blend of JD ideas & Chamberlain production facilities. Everything was made here in the Perth factory, from castings to parts, except for the engines, which were from Germany, Manhiem, I think.
This one pictured is quite an early one pre JD involvement. They used Perkins engines from U.K.
The blended tractors were called Sedan tractors, including sealed cabs with air conditioning.
Again with totally new products, there were teething troubles, & the John Deere quality continued in this product in many modifications. As service manager, I earned my chaff in organising these mods, many of them retrospectively. They became another tractor of good value for money.
They had the bells & whistles of equal sized John Deere machines, which were also sold here, but with a more modest price tag & styling.
Getting back to this old girl, a Chamberlain Champion model, it was quite a speedy machine on the road.
There was an enthusiast years ago who restored one of these to use on the road. Around then, there were round Australia trials for various motor cars, Redex was one such product sponsor / promoter.
This enthusiast entered her in this epic trial, & because of its limited speed, was always behind the fleet, often assisting vehicles who got into trouble. It was affectionately named Tailend Charlie.
I think there's a website for it on the net.
I've been retired from that part of my career for 25 years, but I still have a soft spot for Chamberlain & John Deere. As a Western Aussie, I've always been proud of our locally built product of Agriculture, & also the involvement with the birth of the JD transition.
Where by Perth was the National H Q of the CJD enterprise, at first, it has since relocated the head office to the eastern states. Sad but understandable.

I am curious as to whether the Chamberlain product ever reached USA? Pre or post JD involvement??

(Download)

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Nice shots to go with an enjoyable tidbit!

Buildrt Loc: Sarasota Fl

Very interesting. I've never seen one.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Bunko.T wrote:

I'm not sure these tractors came to America, but the Chamberlain product line was originally designed & manufactured in Perth, Western Australia.
They were a pretty basic machine but good value for money. They had a very wide spread dealer network established around Australia, the aftersales service was excellent.
In their development, as faults arose, they were modified, rectified quickly, gaining our locally made product, great popularity in the agricultural industry.
This old guy is parked up in some ones front yard, I pass it every day. I have a certain affection for them since I worked for a Dealership in the period from when the John Deere company bought them out, thus producing Chamberlain John Deere, CJD it became known as here.
At the time there were several of the big names from USA vying for it because of its well established dealer network Australia wide.
I was a service manager for 11 years, the new born tractors were a blend of JD ideas & Chamberlain production facilities. Everything was made here in the Perth factory, from castings to parts, except for the engines, which were from Germany, Manhiem, I think.
This one pictured is quite an early one pre JD involvement. They used Perkins engines from U.K.
The blended tractors were called Sedan tractors, including sealed cabs with air conditioning.
Again with totally new products, there were teething troubles, & the John Deere quality continued in this product in many modifications. As service manager, I earned my chaff in organising these mods, many of them retrospectively. They became another tractor of good value for money.
They had the bells & whistles of equal sized John Deere machines, which were also sold here, but with a more modest price tag & styling.
Getting back to this old girl, a Chamberlain Champion model, it was quite a speedy machine on the road.
There was an enthusiast years ago who restored one of these to use on the road. Around then, there were round Australia trials for various motor cars, Redex was one such product sponsor / promoter.
This enthusiast entered her in this epic trial, & because of its limited speed, was always behind the fleet, often assisting vehicles who got into trouble. It was affectionately named Tailend Charlie.
I think there's a website for it on the net.
I've been retired from that part of my career for 25 years, but I still have a soft spot for Chamberlain & John Deere. As a Western Aussie, I've always been proud of our locally built product of Agriculture, & also the involvement with the birth of the JD transition.
Where by Perth was the National H Q of the CJD enterprise, at first, it has since relocated the head office to the eastern states. Sad but understandable.

I am curious as to whether the Chamberlain product ever reached USA? Pre or post JD involvement??

I'm not sure these tractors came to America, but t... (show quote)

Very nice images!!!!Bunko
Do you have any full profile images? I'M curious because of what looks like tandem rear axels.

dustywing Loc: North East WI

Thank you for the great set and the story.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Manglesphoto wrote:

Very nice images!!!!Bunko
Do you have any full profile images? I'M curious because of what looks like tandem rear axels.

Now you got me wondering! I thought it was backed up to another tractor!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Interesting. Maybe someone will clean and paint them.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

DaveO wrote:

Now you got me wondering! I thought it was backed up to another tractor!

EDIT: Actually in the last photo you can see a front tire from the other vehicle.

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

Manglesphoto wrote:

Very nice images!!!!Bunko
Do you have any full profile images? I'M curious because of what looks like tandem rear axels.

Aha, never thought of that. No, that's the back end of a David Brown tractor facing the opposite direction.
Back ends together.
The David Brown was an English tractor, not very big. I did have some experience with them for a while, but not my favourite product.
There was quite a bit of obsolete farm machinery in the yard.

Interesting you mentioned tandem rear axles. Some of our ingenious farming fraternity, a very resourceful bunch of people, when there's a desire for more oomph in power. It was popular to tandem up two tractors, with a support yoke between them, removing the front axle of the rear machine, operated from the rear machine with controls synced between the two. Very popular at one time. Then the advent of big true 4 WD machines appeared & the rest is history.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Interesting--I’m always interested in old tractors. If these ever made it over here, I’m not aware of it.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Nicely done.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

DaveO wrote:

Now you got me wondering! I thought it was backed up to another tractor!

LOl Okay Dave Thats probably what it is

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Bunko.T wrote:

Aha, never thought of that. No, that's the back en... (show quote)

Wow then my thought wasn't completely out of line.
Btw, the David Brown made it to the U.S. , it wasn't very popular here either , parts were a bitch to get.

infocus Loc: Australia

Bunko.T wrote:

I'm not sure these tractors came to America, but the Chamberlain product line was originally designed & manufactured in Perth, Western Australia.
They were a pretty basic machine but good value for money. They had a very wide spread dealer network established around Australia, the aftersales service was excellent.
In their development, as faults arose, they were modified, rectified quickly, gaining our locally made product, great popularity in the agricultural industry.
This old guy is parked up in some ones front yard, I pass it every day. I have a certain affection for them since I worked for a Dealership in the period from when the John Deere company bought them out, thus producing Chamberlain John Deere, CJD it became known as here.
At the time there were several of the big names from USA vying for it because of its well established dealer network Australia wide.
I was a service manager for 11 years, the new born tractors were a blend of JD ideas & Chamberlain production facilities. Everything was made here in the Perth factory, from castings to parts, except for the engines, which were from Germany, Manhiem, I think.
This one pictured is quite an early one pre JD involvement. They used Perkins engines from U.K.
The blended tractors were called Sedan tractors, including sealed cabs with air conditioning.
Again with totally new products, there were teething troubles, & the John Deere quality continued in this product in many modifications. As service manager, I earned my chaff in organising these mods, many of them retrospectively. They became another tractor of good value for money.
They had the bells & whistles of equal sized John Deere machines, which were also sold here, but with a more modest price tag & styling.
Getting back to this old girl, a Chamberlain Champion model, it was quite a speedy machine on the road.
There was an enthusiast years ago who restored one of these to use on the road. Around then, there were round Australia trials for various motor cars, Redex was one such product sponsor / promoter.
This enthusiast entered her in this epic trial, & because of its limited speed, was always behind the fleet, often assisting vehicles who got into trouble. It was affectionately named Tailend Charlie.
I think there's a website for it on the net.
I've been retired from that part of my career for 25 years, but I still have a soft spot for Chamberlain & John Deere. As a Western Aussie, I've always been proud of our locally built product of Agriculture, & also the involvement with the birth of the JD transition.
Where by Perth was the National H Q of the CJD enterprise, at first, it has since relocated the head office to the eastern states. Sad but understandable.

I am curious as to whether the Chamberlain product ever reached USA? Pre or post JD involvement??

I'm not sure these tractors came to America, but t... (show quote)

Great shots and interesting story. Enjoyed both greatly.

steve49 Loc: massachusetts

Cool story. I bet the farmer could get that thing running with a few basic parts.
Some of those old tractors go forever.