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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

propane

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ken in texas

02-13-2008 16:54:12




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In answer to a post that asked why so many of the older tractors were equiped with propane,since the price is so high. My answer was that in the 1950,s the price of propane was much lower than gas,just a few cents a gallon. Anyone as old as me that can remember the price,sure would like to know..




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paul

02-14-2008 23:40:38




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 Re: propane in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2008 16:54:12  
With the pto powered grain driers (Toxowix, Behlen, etc.) it was real popular to have a ~45 hp tractor. Could hook up the drier & the tractor to the LP tank, not run out of fuel while drying corn.

Other than that, not so many up here in MN. See some, but not so many.

--->Paul



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Hayshaker

02-14-2008 13:10:01




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 Re: propane in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2008 16:54:12  
I can remember Dad complaining that the price of propane went from 9 cents o 11 cents right after he converted the 400 Farmall to propane. I think that was about 1963 or 1964.



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James Howell

02-14-2008 09:16:52




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 Re: propane in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2008 16:54:12  
Talked with an "old-timer" a couple of weeks ago about propane (LP) tractors.

He said that his dad, a local John Deere dealer, sold alot of LP tractors because the propane was cheaper than gas.

He said that he remembers propane at 5 cents per gallon.

I can remember pumping gas at 10 cents a gallon working at the Gulf "service" station for $1.25 per hour.

Now I pump gas at $3.00+ a gallon at a "no-service" station.

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Tramway Guy

02-14-2008 08:31:31




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 Re: propane in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2008 16:54:12  
Propane burned much cleaner than diesel or gasoline, oil change intervals were at least 50% greater with LP. And it came out looking like when you put it in.
It was extremely popular in the Southern states, and some parts of the midwest.



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jdemaris

02-14-2008 07:36:43




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 Re: propane in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2008 16:54:12  
I never heard of propane when I was a kid.
Back in the 50s, we camped with sterno stoves and in my area, some people had refrigertors that ran on piped "city gas." My memories of fuel prices are of diesel costing 20 cents a gallon in the 50s, and regular gas at 25 cents. Gas was still around for 25 cents around 1970. I was working at a gas station early 70s when the prices jumped to over a buck and most pumps could not handle the extra digit in the price. Historically, propane has usually had a wholesale price about twice of what crude oil was costing.
In 1950 crude was 36 cents a gallon, so propane should of had an average wholesale price of somewhere around 72 cents a gallon - but I can't verify that. I also assume that it was subsidized and cheaper in farming areas. Crude oil - 1869 was almost 2 dollars a gallon but dropped fast By 1880 it was $43 cents a gallon, 1949 - in 1973 it jumped to 98 cents, 1986 it went down to 48 cents, and in $2007 it hit $1.43 per gallon Today - Feb 13 - NY price of crude is 91 cents a gallon, wholesale propane is $1.35, and retail bulk price of propane is around $3.30.

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GeorgeH

02-14-2008 06:19:55




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 Re: propane in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2008 16:54:12  
In Florida with motorhome for 3 months so going to get propane not too practical. Paid 4.25 for delivery a couple of weeks ago.

Substitute "goughed" for "paid"?



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RusselAZ

02-13-2008 20:41:29




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 Re: propane in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2008 16:54:12  
In 1953 Dad put his M farmall on propane. Propane was 4.5 to 6 cents a gallon. In 1959 he bought a 460 farmall on propane. Price was pretty stable for many years. In 1970 I hauled propane an the price was 11.9 a gallon.

One reason tractors and irrigation engines were a good user for the propane in the summer was to help balance the winter and summer use. As propane (and the other "tanes")are largely a by product of the natural gas fields it had to be either flared, stored or sold.

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IH2444

02-13-2008 19:25:25




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 Re: propane in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2008 16:54:12  
Not to defend propane prices at all but in the 60's a brand new dressed out Chevy impala cost maybe 2,000 ?



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jdemaris

02-14-2008 07:20:24




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 Re: propane in reply to IH2444, 02-13-2008 19:25:25  
Cheapest 1960 Impala was the four-door sedan that retailed for $2590. 1960 2-door Impala convertible with standard engine was $2,847. AC was an extra $468, power brakes an extra $43, power steering an extra $75, power windows $102, special 320 horse turbo-thrust V8 cost an extra $333 (348 with three carbs), etc. A loaded 1960 Impala cost over $4000.



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HENRY E NC

02-13-2008 19:56:04




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 Re: propane in reply to IH2444, 02-13-2008 19:25:25  
I believe that in the 60's a cheve cost more than 2000$ When I came home from overseas in 1956 I bought a brand new top of the line V8 powerglide 4 door HT chevrolet Bel Air at the discount price of 2400$ with radio what you called dressed out amd gas was less than 20 cents per gallon. Never had heard of propane at that time.



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IH2444

02-14-2008 00:22:09




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 Re: propane in reply to HENRY E NC, 02-13-2008 19:56:04  
A 69 Decked out Dodge charger hemi was only $4,600.



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jdemaris

02-14-2008 11:16:16




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 Re: propane in reply to IH2444, 02-14-2008 00:22:09  
You got me looking at my price sheets from Dodge. A new 1969 Charger RT had a base retail price of $3,592 with an auto trans or four-speed manual. The 440 Magnum engine was an extra $268, and the 426 hemi was an extra $648. I was just checking engine prices for 2008, and Ford is paying over $7000 each for new Navistar diesel engines. I wonder what retail is?



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bellyacre

02-13-2008 19:23:20




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 Re: propane in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2008 16:54:12  
My dad bought a Super M LP in mid fifties, I'm thinking LP was like 7-8 cents. Mid sixties when I started driving I was paying 20-25 cents for gas and he was still feeding that LP for 13 cents.



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Garry in OK

02-13-2008 19:16:53




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 Re: propane in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2008 16:54:12  

Early 1960's, central Oklahoma, Dad paid 7 cents a gallon in the summertime.

We had a 1,000 gal tank and the supplier would offload small amounts just to finish emptying the truck.



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Texasmark

02-13-2008 18:36:31




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 Re: propane in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2008 16:54:12  
Had a friend who farmed through that era and into the diesel era. Seems the local dealers were really selling propane hard. So he loaded up his farm with propane red tractors. Then along came diesel and the green dealer sold that hard and badmouthed propane.

The thing was, the badmouthing was well deserved and the farmer knew it!!! BTDT So when the green dealer came back to pick up his diesel demo the farmer ran him off with a trailer full of red tradeins.

Mark

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Jon Hagen

02-13-2008 19:34:54




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 Re: propane in reply to Texasmark, 02-13-2008 18:36:31  
Yes, diesel did finally push propane tractors aside. I would not brag too much on the color though, Red tractors had diesels (late 30's) many years before green ones did (49).



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Texasmark

02-15-2008 08:26:00




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 Re: propane in reply to Jon Hagen, 02-13-2008 19:34:54  
OK! I wasn't there. Just recapping what he told me happened.

Mark



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bobia

02-13-2008 17:51:38




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 Re: propane in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2008 16:54:12  
Moved here in 72 and gave 11 cents for a couple years and then went to 13 griped like heck but didn,t own tank . now own my tank and gave 1.81 cash last fill Gouging us you bet



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Gerald J.

02-13-2008 17:20:04




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 Re: propane in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2008 16:54:12  
About 1973 I was paying 16.9 cents per gallon for house heating, but I decided the seller was not treating me well and shopped around and got it for 13.9 cents a gallon.

Gerald J.



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gene bender

02-13-2008 16:59:00




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 Re: propane in reply to ken in texas, 02-13-2008 16:54:12  
Seems like around 10 cents in late 40s thru the 50s



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