Hermann Zanker KG M 1 – specifications
Built: 1949–1951 · Series: M
Data for the version built 1949–1951 · Data origin: Reference work (Wikipedia/Wikibooks) · sources
More machines from model year 1949
Hermann Zanker KG M 1: water-cooled single-cylinder diesel tractor from the M series with 1,020 cc displacement, 8.8 kW output and 1,185 kg weight, built 1949 to 1951
The Hermann Zanker KG M series was built between 1949 and 1951, in the first postwar years when numerous smaller West German firms built simple, robust standard tractors to meet agriculture's pent-up postwar demand. The M 1 belongs to this generation of small field tractors.
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The single-cylinder diesel engine of 1,020 cc delivers 8.8 kW, or 12 hp, at 1,250 to 1,500 rpm and uses thermosiphon cooling. At a weight of 1,185 kg, a length of 2,465 mm, a height of 1,570 mm and a width of 1,470 mm, with a wheelbase of 1,468 mm, the M 1 reaches a top speed of 17 km/h.
Thermosiphon cooling needs no water pump and relies solely on the rising heated coolant to circulate, keeping the design simple and low-maintenance, though at the cost of lower cooling performance under sustained load. A single-cylinder diesel this light was built for small and medium-sized farms, for basic tillage and driving simple mounted implements.
When buying such an old Zanker model, free circulation in the thermosiphon cooling matters most, since deposits in the water jacket cause local overheating that no pump can compensate for. Also worth checking are compression and starting behaviour of the single cylinder, rust on the frame and sheet metal, and spare-parts availability, which for such a rare model can only be clarified through specialist collectors.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells Hermann Zanker KG M 1
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 12 hp (8.8 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 1.250 - 1.500 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 1correct |
| Displacement | 1,020 cm³correct |
| Cooling | Themosiphonkühlungcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 2,465 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,470 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,570 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 1,468 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 300 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,185 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 4V+Rcorrect |
| Front tyres | 5.00-16correct |
| Rear tyres | 8.00-20 AScorrect |
| Top speed | 17 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | unit construction (no separate frame)correct |
|---|---|
| Units built | ca. 100correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 7.4 kW/t (9 kW / 1.2 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 2% 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 Hermann Zanker KG M 1 have?
The Hermann Zanker KG M 1 delivers 12 hp.
How much does the Hermann Zanker KG M 1 weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,185 kg.
What engine does the Hermann Zanker KG M 1 have?
1 cylinders, 1,020 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the Hermann Zanker KG M 1 go?
Top speed is 17 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the Hermann Zanker KG M 1?
2,465 mm × 1,470 mm × 1,570 mm.
When was the Hermann Zanker KG M 1 built?
Production years: 1949–1951.
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.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- 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.
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This page carries 20 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: Wikibooks Traktorenlexikon (CC BY-SA 4.0) (retrieved August 2026) · Values adopted and presented in our own form; changes from the source are possible. · Data sources and cross-checks
Tractor in 3D section
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