Heinrich Lanz SZL
Built: 1907–1912 · Series: A
Heinrich Lanz SZL: coal-fired single-cylinder tractor, 21 hp/15.4 kW at 150 rpm, steel wheels and 8,500 kg weight, from before 1912
Heinrich Lanz was a German farm machinery manufacturer from Mannheim, whose tractor production was one of the defining names in the early motorisation of German agriculture. The A series with the SZL model belongs to the initial period of motorised draft power before the First World War, when coal-fired engines running very slowly still existed alongside steam and horse traction.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The SZL is powered by a water-cooled single-cylinder engine fired by coal, producing 21 hp, or 15.4 kW, at just 150 rpm. At a weight of 8,500 kg, with rear-wheel drive and steel wheels measuring 1,150 mm by 200 mm at the front and 1,500 mm by 400 mm at the rear, the machine is a heavy, extremely slow-turning tractor from the early construction period.
A rated speed of 150 rpm is far below what later tractor engines achieved and is typical of the stationary and semi-stationary drives from which early tractors evolved: large rotating masses and low speed delivered even torque for draft and belt work. Such a machine was built for heavy tillage and the stationary driving of threshing and other work machines, not for fast travel.
When buying such an early Lanz tractor, the condition of the frame, the steel wheels and the coal-firing system matters most, as far as these components survive in original form. A vehicle of this age is generally a unique museum piece, for which parts can only be sourced through custom fabrication or from specialist vintage-vehicle restorers.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells Heinrich Lanz SZL
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | Kohlecorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 21 hp (15.4 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 150 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 1correct |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Unladen weight | 8,500 kgcorrect |
|---|
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Front tyres | 1.150 x 200correct |
| Rear tyres | 1.500 x 400correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 1.8 kW/t (15 kW / 8.5 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 8% of the tractors in the register — out of 15,663 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Heinrich Lanz SZL have?
The Heinrich Lanz SZL delivers 21 hp.
How much does the Heinrich Lanz SZL weigh?
The unladen weight is 8,500 kg.
What engine does the Heinrich Lanz SZL have?
1 cylinders, Kohle.
When was the Heinrich Lanz SZL built?
Production years: 1907–1912.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Check front and rear tyre sizes: mismatched pairs strain the drivetrain.
- Load the hydraulics and watch for sag.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
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This page carries 10 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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Sources: [1]
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
