Ursus

Zaklady Mechaniczne URSUS (Ursus Mechanical Works) began in 1893 in Warsaw, making agricultural products. Their first tractor was built in 1922. In the 1950s, Ursus began building tractors used Zetor-based designs, with great success. In the 1970s, Ursus entered into a licensing arrangement with Massey Ferguson for tractor designs.

Ursus (Latin for 'Bear' (Ursula, the womans name, means 'Little Bear', by the way)) is a Polish company, and its products are the most common here in Poland. This is my favourite, I just love the bull-nose. It reminds me of cars from the 1920's or 30's. Thanks t 'K.M.', I now know it is an Ursus from the 1950's. C-4011. I am not sure the date of this tractor, but it is probably from the 1960's. It is owned by the main Lublin bus company and is used for cutting the grass at the repair depot. Apparently the Zetor 4011 is almost the same tractor. This is the engine of the above Ursus. Another C-4011, in Rogozno. That's the owner in front of it. The shape of the engine cover is distinctive for an Ursus, as is.

The grille with its bar across the middle. The bar is supposed to have 'URSUS' written across it, but it is often missing. This tractor is owned by the flying club at Swidnik airport and is in exceptional condition. The back end of a similar Ursus, with full cab. An Ursus in action at the Village Museum, just outside Lublin. This is in Rogozno, in the Leczna lake district. A rather well worn Ursus, repainted. The same tractor as above. This one is owned by a young lad, which accounts for why it has been fitted with a car seat and been painted in Ferrari colours. This is the largest Ursus I have ever seen. I suspect that these are more common in the west of Poland, where fields are generally a lot larger. Eastern and southern Polish farms are quite small, more what in England we would consider a 'small holding' - just big enough to support 1 family. Another Ursus of the type shown above, a 4512, this one in the small market town of Belzyce Ursus 3512.