The Deutz steel tractor.

The Cologne firm of Nikolaus Otto & Co was founded in 1864, which probably makes it the oldest motor factory in the world. The first 4-stroke (Otto) combustion engines were produced in 1876, and, under the name Deutz AG, as it came to be called, diesel-powered tractors in 1927. Deutz changed the construction method of its tractors in 1933 from frame to block construction, and the F2M 315 was the first of this type to come off the production line. The description means that it was equipped with a regular motor-car engine (the ‘F’) with 2 cylinders and water-cooling (the ‘M’). The figures ‘315’ refer to the construction series followed by the length of the piston stroke (15 cm). The upright 4-stroke diesel engine was capable of 28 horsepower and had (depending on model) either three or five forward and one reverse gear. The F2M 315 was used in agriculture, and also for road and all-purpose work.

A clockwork model with a wealth of details, and five gears.

The Deutz F2M 315 has a durable clockwork mechanism with three forward gears, neutral, and one reverse gear. It also has a hand-brake and steering wheel. Kovap, a Czech firm and the last surviving manufacturers of these toys, have been kind enough to revive one or two special features specially for us – like steel wheel rims instead of plastic ones. The Deutz F2M 315 is built to scale 1:25 and fits model railways scale 1:22.5.