Ronaldson Tippett Gas Producer

The Ronaldson Tippett Gas Producer was made by an Australian firm, Ronaldson Bros & Tippett Pty Ltd. They were a manufacturer of Agricultural machinery, oil engines and, for a short period in the 1930s, tractors. Founded in 1905 the Australian Holding corporation took over in 1970 and closed it down.

Promoted as working at “one quarter the cost of kerosine”, this was a pretty big rural piece of equipment. In 1924, they produced the Ronaldson-Tippet 18-30 “Super Drive” tractor along the lines of the American Illinois Super Drive tractor. The tractor featured an imported four-cylinder water-cooled petrol/kerosene Wisconsin engine. Later Ronaldson and Tippet developed a modified manifold. This allowed their tractors to run on light crude oil and a suction gas-powered version capable of running on waste timber or mallee roots. 450 Super Drive tractors were built before production ceased in 1939.

One of the drawbacks is the sheer size of the gas producers and the blind spot it creates when driving. 

Post War Gas Producers

Since the 1940s, there’s been little commercial interest in fuelling tractors with gas from wood. However, an exception came during the 1980s, when rising oil prices encouraged the development of a new and improved gas generator from the Martezo company in France. Fuel costs were becoming a major problem for many farmers in Africa. As a result, the design was for export. However, only a small number sold.