Wesseler W 12
Built: 1953–1959 · Series: W
More machines from model year 1953
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Wesseler W – the tractors of the farm-machinery dealer from Rheine (1950s): W 12 to W 40, the number as hp class, MWM diesels with one to three cylinders and 0.85 to 3.5 litres, 9 to 29 kW
Wesseler of Rheine in northern Westphalia belongs to the many small tractor brands of Germany's post-war period: the farm-machinery dealer built tractors from bought-in components from the early 1950s – engines from MWM of Mannheim, gearboxes and axles from suppliers – in small series, as dozens of firms did at the time before the price pressure of the big makers pushed the small ones off the market in the 1960s. The type logic is simple: W marks the brand, the number the hp class – W 12 about 12 hp, W 24 24 hp, W 40 40 hp – the L on some types an equipment variant. The engines are MWM diesels with one cylinder in the smallest, two cylinders in the medium and three cylinders in the large types, with displacements from 851 to 3,534 cm³ at low rated speeds of 1,600 to 2,000 rpm – slow-running, long-lived engines as the small makers of the time preferred.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 9 versions with 8.8 to 29.3 kW, unladen weights from 780 to 2,105 kg, lengths from 2,450 to 3,250 mm, widths from 1,430 to 1,600 mm and heights from 1,450 to 1,800 mm.
Wesseler tractors are rare collectors' pieces of Westphalian tractor history today, in a row with brands like Bautz, Kramer and Normag that pursued the same idea.
On used tractors, originality, the condition of the MWM engine (parts are available through MWM vintage specialists), clutch, gearbox and sheet metal count; the supplier components are often the same as on other small brands.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Wesseler W, Wesseler (Wikipedia)
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 12 hp (8.8 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 2,000 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 1correct |
| Displacement | 851 cm³correct |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 2,450 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,430 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,450 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 1,650 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 520 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 780 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 5/1-manual gearbox gearboxcorrect |
| Forward gears | 5correct |
| Reverse gears | 1correct |
| Front tyres | 4.00-16correct |
| Rear tyres | 7-24, 7-30correct |
| Top speed | 19.8 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | frameless unit constructioncorrect |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 11.3 kW/t (9 kW / 0.8 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 Wesseler W 12 have?
The Wesseler W 12 delivers 12 hp.
How much does the Wesseler W 12 weigh?
The unladen weight is 780 kg.
What engine does the Wesseler W 12 have?
1 cylinders, 851 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the Wesseler W 12 go?
Top speed is 19.8 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the Wesseler W 12?
2,450 mm × 1,430 mm × 1,450 mm.
When was the Wesseler W 12 built?
Production years: 1953–1959.
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 22 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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Other models in this series
Sources: [1]
Tractor in 3D section
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