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Jordan "Standard" Series
The "standard" line of Jordan Spreaders was introduced in the early 1900s as a step up from the early "scissors style" spreaders. The history of this type of spreader is very hard to produce an accurate time line but all details will be covered here. Early versions of this spreader featured an all steel, riveted chassis. Later models used an all welded one. Also used on early models was the cylinder for the bank sloper, originally it was a small one, mounted all the way at the front, later ones had it mounted in the center and used a cable attached the the cylinder to raise and lower it, the weight of the blade would pull it down, and air pressure would raise it. Later models used a larger cylinder attached in the center of the wing and was attached to a rod, directly to the bank sloper. This spreader had a cab which was now three feet raised above the chassis and provided more visibilty for the operators. Also now a stock item was the pneumatically controlled air locks. These featured a plunger that locks into a gear rack on a cylinder. These were always in the lock position until the operator stepped on a pedal in the cab sending air pressure which raised the plunger. These were very strong and held all the load the wing would be pushing. A single cylinder would open and close the wing which was mounted under the cab. The front blades were also powered by a cylinder. The high snowplow models used a front cylinder mounted at a 23 degree angle and all others used a verticle mounted one. The cylinder was attached to a cable on the high blades, and a chain on low blades that lowered the rear edge of the plow in conjunction with the front at the same time.
Early variations of this spreader featured the vertical post cylinders mounted at the top of the braces just in front of the cab, with the later ones mounted at the bottom. Also on the early models was a vertical air tank, although this was most likely an option for the buyer. Some also featured a lower angle on the nose blade (for the high snowplow models), although not too many had this, thus it may have also been an option. The model 2-200 featured a high front snowplow and also articulated wings. The front snowplow was used in the winter for clearing snow, and can clear very large drifts. It can also be modified for sumertime use, being that the upper half of the blade can be removed and provide better visibilty for for ballast work. The model 2-180 also featured articulated wings, but had a small front blade used for ballast service, and light snow plowing. The model 2-150 used straight wings, and the small ballast blade for use in spreading ballast and light snow. The model 2-250 had straight wings, but had the high snowplow. Spreaders with the articulated wings provided much greater control. These had options for a ditch casting, which could be custom built for each road. This would be used for cutting a unified ditch along the right of way. This would work in conjuntion with the bank sloper (the articulated portion of the blade).
Ontario Midland, Sodus, NY, this is a 2-180, with the front blade long gone, owner told me that this was the way he bought it.
The
standard line also had the option of the carry wing. This would be
when the bank sloper was swung foward and attached to a brace mounted
on the vertical post. This would be used for dragging material and
fill. All of the standard models had the option of ice cutters, which
are thick teeth mounted to a brace that attached to the nose plow,
which could be used to dig out frozen packed solid ice. On the models
with high snowplows, another option was for the door to get to the
truck bearings, you could either have one large one, or a pair of
smaller ones. The diagonal brace on the standard series was the same
on all models, mounted from the vertical post, to the end of the
wing. Jordan also offered some standard series spreaders with other
optional blades, such as a lower style one, common on type A and J
models, which provided more control for what was being pushed as it
was reversible, and also one with a mid height plow, common on type A
models. Some standards also featured rear decks, even with the center
cab. Some of the original standard models were rebuilt from original
scissor style machines, with their chassis lengthened and new wings
and braces added.
A typical 2-200, D&H 35057, ex Rutland X180. From the collection of John C. LaRue Jr.
GBW X-190 doing ballast work. Bob Hainstock Photo
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