A rare attachment. B series L&G trencher

I picked this up from Clist last week. A trencher for a B series L&G.
It has set outside for along time but doesnt look to have much use. The cutting teeth and sprockets look great




Edited by split51 - 01 May 2012 at 11:35pm

Saw your post on SimpleTractors. Thats one awesome find. I thought your username looked familiar. I go by Chris727 over there.

Here is a Link to 'B' Series Attachments  'Trencher"  on SimpleTractors:

A cursory look at the pix, and limited detail, but from what I see, it very well may be a GroundSaw. 

If you do a web-search, you'll find that the Groundsaw brand name appears as a current product company, but many years back, there was a totally different company called Hawk-Bilt, out of Eagle Grove, and later Vinton, Iowa. They manufactured some of the earliest chain-trenchers... the two stoutest units were fitted to either B-10's or IH Cub Cadets. 

An interesting note here-  Vermeer BOUGHT IH Cub Cadets, and fitted them with GroundSaw trenchers, and re-branded the unit with Vermeer colors.  Vermeer still manufactures trenchers at their Pella, Iowa facility.

http://www.simpletractors.com/attachments/trencher.htm

Paul Funk's GroundSaw trencher site has some great info:  http://www.cubcadetman.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=7&Itemid=61

Noel Black, of Rutledge, Tennesee has a collection of GroundSaw trenchers, I believe his are earlier than Paul's by a year or two.  Eric Tyler, in New Hampshire also has a few-  these three guys could answer most any historical or what-about question you'll encounter.

I'm familiar with them, because I helped these guys rescue a few.  They're amazingly light...

... in comparison to a D17 with loaded tires, backhoe, and front end loader with a bucket full of wet manure...

It is a hawk-bilt groundsaw trencher. Here is what is left of the decal on the top.