Plows and More Plows – At Least in Printed Ads

Here at Farm Jeep, we have focused on flat fender jeeps. But an ad appeared on e-bay that clearly shows agricultural activities were still an important part of the new CJ5 model in 1955.

The jeep pictured in this ad may be a prototype (note the split windshield)(1), but here we are with Jeep promoting its agricultural implements. Of special interest to us are the graphics used for the two plows. They are identical to those used by Newgren in the late 1940s. It would appear that the original Newgren design was alive and well.

Still a mystery to me

Whenever we have a plow question, we contact our friend Clint Dixon. As always Clint had some interesting facts and history to help us learn more, if not solve our latest mystery.

Clint sent his own ad, staring the new CJ5. Here is what Clint had to tell us –

Not sure if this is newer or older than the ad you found, but I’ll bet they are the same plows.

I have done exhaustive searches and I can find very little information on the Green Manufacturing Company of Bowling Green Ohio, other than they were listed in the Red Tractor books as early as 1950 as manufactures of Jeep cab seals. They also apparently manufactured splined adaptors and various link repair parts for hitches on tractors.

Okay, here is my theory – though I have been unable so far to prove it. I have a hunch that Robert Henry Green started his own ag supply company “Green Manufacturing” after leaving Newgren. If I remember correctly, this was shortly after Bantam took over Newgren under the Monroe Auto Equipment Company umbrella of management. I would be willing to bet that Robert continued to supply Willys with plows under a new name – Greenline.

Several years ago, I did find a website for what was left of Green Manufacturing. I was never able to get any response from anyone there though their site hinted at a history of producing agricultural equipment. I have also seen at least one Greenline plow for sale on the internet, though it was probably from the 70’s or 80’s and was way way too big for a Jeep. The company was apparently sold and what remains now manufactures man-lifts.

Just when you thought the plot could not get any thicker….

So,,,,,

So could some of the Newgren style plows found without tags or labels have been made by Greenline? Did Jeep label their plows? Did farmers care if their new plow had a name? Is a plow that looks like a Newgren and doesn’t have a tag still a Newgren?

And how long did Jeep continue to offer the Monroe lift? More questions to answer.

Here are Clint’s thoughts

I don’t think Newgren plows necessarily have to have the label to be considered a Newgren. I know of several Ford guys who collect Dearborn plows regardless of whether the Dearborn tag is missing or not, also Ferguson guys who collect Ferguson plows with or without the tag. Of course a plow with the original tag is preferred but not absolutely necessary if one can prove the manufacture of the plow.

Now, if Greenline or someone else took over marketing of a plow from Newgren or Bantam or whoever, continued to sell the same identical plow but without the Newgren tag, I don’t really know if it would be considered a Newgren plow once that company had gone out of business. I think it would then be considered to be a Greenline. But, without a Greenline tag or decal, I guess it is hard to say. I do know that Newgren plows were advertised wearing Monroe decals when they were shown in the Monroe literature for the Dodge Power Wagon. The Newgren tags appeared to have been removed. Don’t know if this was just for advertising to boost the Monroe name, or if it was because of the riff between Monroe and Newgren/Bantam at the time.

Clint

Update – July 2021

Barry found himself hunting for information in Bowling Green, Ohio while doing research on a Jeep promotional movie. On a hunch he decided to again tackle the question of who owned Green Manufacturing.

Several online attempts to contact the current owners failed, but a phone call did yield a glimmer of hope. The person who answered the phone had been a long time employee, but didn’t have any knowledge of farm implements being produced. She did say that the company had been bought and sold at least a couple of times since it was Green Manufacturing.

Barry then contacted the Wood County Museum, sending them a copy of the “Greenline” plow ad showing the Bowling Green address. The next day he received a note saying that they had found information about who had purchased the original Green Manufacturing and provided contact information.

Here is what we have learned from Jeff Snook, former owner of Green Manufacturing and now owner/operator of Snook’s Dream Cars (www.snooksdreamcars.com):

Hi Barry,

My history with Green Mfg. did not include any Jeep connection, but here is what I remember hearing.

Bob Green, founder of Green Mfg. somehow was connected with Jeep in the 50s I believe. I recall hearing stories of him making implements. Don’t recall which, but it looks like plows based on your literature. I do recall he made post hole diggers for Jeeps as we continued that business into the late 1990s. But the ones we made were sold through farm implement dealers and not Jeep related. They were all 3-point hitch mounted.

We continued using the Greenline name on our posthole diggers and other implements (wagon gear & scraper blades) until I sold the business. Green Mfg also made hydraulic cylinders (turned out to be the largest part of our business) and I’m sure they evolved as part of the Jeep 3-point hitch connection.

Here is the Green Mfg. ownership history

1968 Robert Green sells to Wilde Manufacturing (Michigan company)

1969 William Snook hired by Wilde to run company

1974 William Snook buys company from Wilde & Jeff Snook comes on board

1989 Jeff Snook buys company from Bill Snook

1998 Jeff Snook sells company

Bob Green stayed on for 5 years as sales manager once he sold the company. He was an old car guy (like my Dad) and was involved in making overdrives for Franklin automobiles. As far as I know, he continued in the overdrive business until he passed away.

As shown, I sold the business in 1998 and all the records are gone, along with most of the folks that were around during that time. If I can find any old employees that might remember, I’ll send them your way.

At last!

Now we have some of our questions answered. We will continue to search for more information, but are happy to know that Robert Green continued to sell the fine Newgren line of implements.

Ventilating windshields were an option on the early CJ5, not an indication of a prototype.

Update – July 2021

At last!

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