| Founded | 1899 |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Joseph Oppenheim |
| Headquarters | Coldwater, Ohio, USA |
| Number of locations | Maria Stein, Ohio |
| Products | agriculture machinery, swather, combine harvester, corn picker |
| Parent | AGCO |
New Idea was birthed in 1899 when Joseph Oppenheim created the first mechanical manure spreader in Maria Stein, Ohio, USA. He died shortly after the first few were built, and B.C. Oppenheim and his son-in-law, Henry Synck took over the leadership of the company. It was first known as Oppenheim's New Idea, and in 1904 changed its name to New Idea Spreader Company[1]
In 1912, all operations were moved to Coldwater, OH. The company was sold in 1945 to AVCO[2]
In 1984 the New Idea division was purchased by White Farm Equipment to form White-New Idea, a division of the Allied Products Corporation. In 1993, AGCO purchased White-New Idea. AGCO, and White before it, also manufactured tractors at the Coldwater, OH plant, but in 1999, AGCO closed the plant. Hay product manufacturing was moved to the Hesston plant in Hesston, KS.
The New Idea brand was dropped by AGCO around 2007.
Products
New Idea began with the manure spreader, and expanded into other lines including hay equipment, Forage harvesters, swathers, combine harvesters, Garden Tractors, etc... They were well known for the Uni-Harvester, which they had originally acquired from Minneapolis-Moline. (MM had sold the product to New Idea, then later MM was bought by White Farm Equipment. White later bought New Idea, bringing the Uni-Harvester back into the same family).[3]
Models
| Model | Year(s) Produced | Horsepower | Engine Type | Misc Notes | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Idea 701 Uni-System | Chevrolet | ||||
| New Idea 702 Uni-System | |||||
| New Idea 702D Uni-System | |||||
| New Idea 704 Uni-System | 118 hp (88 kW) | ||||
| New Idea 705 Uni-System | |||||
| New Idea 706 Uni-System | Perkins | ||||
| New Idea 706D Uni-System | 108 hp (81 kW) | ||||
| New Idea 707 Uni-System | |||||
| New Idea 707D Uni-System | |||||
| New Idea 708 Uni-System | 135 hp (101 kW) | ||||
| New Idea 709 Uni-System | |||||
| New Idea 710 Uni-System | |||||
| New Idea 717 Uni-System | |||||
| New Idea 725 Uni-System | |||||
| New Idea 800 Uni-System | 135 hp (101 kW) | ||||
| New Idea 800C Uni-System | 152 hp (113 kW) | Cummins | |||
| New Idea 801 Uni-System | 175 hp (130 kW) | ||||
| New Idea 802 Uni-System | 160 hp (120 kW) | ||||
| New Idea 802C Uni-System | 177 hp (132 kW) | Cummins | |||
| New Idea 803C Uni-System | 234 hp (174 kW) | Cummins | |||
| New Idea 810 Uni-System | |||||
| New Idea 815 Uni-System | |||||
| New Idea 818 Uni-System | |||||
| New Idea 819 Uni-System | |||||
| New Idea 839 Uni-System | |||||
| New Idea 858 Uni-System | |||||
| New Idea 868 Uni-Chopper forage harvester | |||||
| New Idea 797 corn picker | |||||
| New Idea 832 corn picker | |||||
| New Idea 5820 swather | |||||
| New Idea 5830 swather | 80 hp (60 kW) | Cummins | |||
| New Idea 5830X swather | 110 hp (82 kW) | Cummins | |||
| New Idea 5840 swather | 110 hp (82 kW) | Cummins | |||
| New Idea 5850 swather | 165 hp (123 kW) | Cummins |
References / sources
- ↑ New Idea Development,” Celina Daily Standard, August 27, 1999, page 7A, Sidebar.
- ↑ “Scope Broadened by Aviation Corp.," New York Times, October 30, 1945 stating that AVCO “will purchase slightly over 50% of New Idea’s outstanding shares from the four managing officers of the company, Henry Synck and J.A, J.H. and T.H. Oppenheim” and “Mr. Synck will be retained as a consultant and director and each of the Messrs. Oppenheim will remain officers and directors." See also:”New Idea Development,” Celina Daily Standard, August 27, 1999, page 7A, Sidebar. See also:Brian Wayne Wells, “The New Idea Spreader Company (part 2 of 2 Parts)” Belt/Pulley Magazine, Vol.11, No.6, November/December 1998, Part 2, http://wellssouth.com/blog/?p=83 (accessed Nov. 8, 2010). AVCO, founded in 1928 as The Aviation Corporation, is now a subsidiary of Textron. http://www.reference.com/browse/AVCO (accessed December 8, 2010). In 1950, the last entirely orange wagon with green wheels and the New Idea motto, “Invention, Leadership, Quality,” rolled out of the Coldwater facility. The serial number of the wagon was 11,398 and the lot number was W-108. Wells, “The New Idea Spreader Company … Part 2”
- ↑ http://www.toytractorshow.com/newideaunisystem.htm