Brillion Garden Tractors

[Shorty]

I think that the Ariens company is based in brillion Wisconsin. Would these tractors in this thread be early models from them?

I understand it was started by one of the Ariens family. During the depression era, was sold.

 

[Russ Trachte]

I did find this on the Ariens Company website under company history:

"It was 1932. The height of the Great Depression. Henry Ariens just filed bankruptcy for his Brillion Iron Works. Most stories end here, but ours was just beginning."

That's all the connection I am aware of between the two companies. Would be interested in knowing more.

 

[Shorty]

I got to see Hank's Brillion today at the Lebanon show. And A nice chat with Hank to.

 

[Ducky]

I worked there in the mid 60s before going into service. Never heard of them building a tractor.

 

[Hankg]

I just talked to a guy in MI. who owns one, his is an older one than mine which is a 62, his may be a 59 or 60 or 61 I have some of the parts for the older one but no frame which brings up another puzzle, the Garden All Pup shares the same frame as the Brillion's, so somewhere along the road Garden All and Brillion were sleeping together. Also I have a repro brochure from Brillion that states " NEW for 62 BRILLION HAS A GARDEN TRACTOR" making it sound like it was the first one they ever made or was it just an advertising ploy, or is it that Garden All sold the rights to the little tractor in 59 or 60 or 61 to Brillion and they started building them which sounds very plausible, I know Brillion built them until 63 then sold the tractor rights to Lance manufacturing of Indiana. I don't know how long Lance produced them afterwards but the style never changed after 63, here's an example of the older grille, and the 62 Grille, the mechanics of these machines are identical.

 

[Dougt]

As far as I've ever heard, Brillion bought out Garden-all. Not sure if they were selling rebadged Garden-alls before the acquisition or not. The last Garden-alls and the first Brillions used the same grill.

 

[Texas Horses Hogs and Deeres]

I have one of those grills hanging in my shop! Can't remember if it has the mess insert in it or not. Mine is blue in color.

 

[Jamie82]

I just acquired a Brillion Explorer from my 82 year old neighbor today. I’m in NC and plan on restoring it and keeping it. My neighbor has had it since new. He always held on to it because his son rode it when little, and passed away at 12. He told me he knew I wouldn’t let it go to a junk yard. I plan on having someone professionally restore it because I don’t have those skills. It’ll be added in the barn with my two Allis Chalmers restored family tractors. So please add number 16 to known Brillions! The 3rd pic is the same (just when first pulled from the woods a few years ago). Top two were taken today when I moved it from his house to mine. Looks rough but is solid and no dents. We had to put the original back rims on it, he had switched them out. Took 8 years before he let it go. It’ll be cherished in his and his son’s legacy!

 

[KennyP]

Nice score!

 

[CRF6179]

I'm jealous!!

 

[Randy]

Does anyone have a correct Briggs engine for sale for the brilion I have one and the motor is Not rebuildable I am trying not to put a new style engine in it thanks

 

[Traill95]

Does anyone have a correct Briggs engine for sale for the brilion I have one and the motor is Not rebuildable I am trying not to put a new style engine in it thanks

How many hp is that motor?

 

[Randy]

the recoil cover says 6 ,but a 7 or 8 would work,

 

[Traill95]

the recoil cover says 6 ,but a 7 or 8 would work,

I have an eight mounted on a sear tiller. Thought the pic looked a lot like the 8 hp.

 

[jabelman]

The 143302 air vane and 143402 mech gov, was commonly used from 1958 to 1964, 5 3/4hp. You should be able to find a short block, looks like you already have a complete engine

 

[Brillionman]

I have a new a short Block give me a call. 574-326-7973
thanks Bill

 

[Lily'sDad]

That tractor has a lot of drive changes behind the engine. What does it have for a rear end?

 

[olcowhand]

I just acquired a Brillion Explorer from my 82 year old neighbor today. I’m in NC and plan on restoring it and keeping it. My neighbor has had it since new. He always held on to it because his son rode it when little, and passed away at 12. He told me he knew I wouldn’t let it go to a junk yard. I plan on having someone professionally restore it because I don’t have those skills. It’ll be added in the barn with my two Allis Chalmers restored family tractors. So please add number 16 to known Brillions! The 3rd pic is the same (just when first pulled from the woods a few years ago). Top two were taken today when I moved it from his house to mine. Looks rough but is solid and no dents. We had to put the original back rims on it, he had switched them out. Took 8 years before he let it go. It’ll be cherished in his and his son’s legacy!View attachment 31357View attachment 31358View attachment 31359

The back story on this tractor is both amazing and sad. Glad you will restore it. I can only hope the neighbor lives to see it in it's new glory!

 

[Randy]

Well I’m not even done working on the first one and finding parts and I went off the deep end and went and picked up another one today this one has the original snowblower and mower deck I’m happy to have some implements for this old girl ,, it needs some attention If anyone has any parts for these tractors I would be interested in hearing from you just off the top of my head I could use some NOS rear axle bearings spare clutch parts ect and engines or engine parts thanks

 

[KennyP]

What rear end do these have?