The Massey-Harris Model 20 was a
two-plow
tractor
A tractor is an engineering vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery such as that used in agriculture, mining or construction. Most common ...
built by Massey-Harris (later
Massey Ferguson
Massey Ferguson Limited is an American agricultural machinery manufacturer. The company was established in 1953 through the merger of farm equipment makers Massey-Harris of Canada and the Ferguson Company of the United Kingdom. It was based in T ...
) from 1946-1948.
[Pripps, p.78.] Introduced to commemorate Massey's 100th anniversary in 1947,
[ the 20 was virtually identical to the earlier Model 81, which first appeared in 1941.][Pripps, p.72.] About 8,000 Model 20s were sold, in row crop or standard models, with the choice of gasoline or kerosene
Kerosene, paraffin, or lamp oil is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid which is derived from petroleum. It is widely used as a fuel in aviation as well as households. Its name derives from el, κηρός (''keros'') meaning "wax", and was regi ...
[Pripps, p.73 cap.] (known as tractor vaporising oil
Tractor vaporising oil (TVO) is a fuel for petrol-paraffin engines. It is seldom made or used today. In the United Kingdom and Australia, after the Second World War, it was commonly used for tractors until diesel engines became commonplace, esp ...
, or TVO, in Britain)[Pripps, p.131.] as fuel. The Model 20 was replaced in 1948 by the Model 22.[
]
Pricing
With a base price of around C$1450,[Pripps, p.79 cap.] about C$500 more than the 81,[ the 20 was competitive with ]Ford
Ford commonly refers to:
* Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford
* Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river
Ford may also refer to:
Ford Motor Company
* Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company
* Ford F ...
and Ferguson-Brown models of the period.[
]
Weight
The bare weight without ballast[Pripps, p.78 cap.] was 3,000 lb (1,350 kg)[ (some 700 lb less than the contemporary Model 30]
which dramatically outsold it,[ but about 400 lb more than the earlier 81).][
]
Engine
The 124 in3 (2,031 cc)[ engine inherited from the 81, and the 101 before it,][Pripps, p.73 cap.] produced 31 hp (23 kW) at the belt,[Pripps, p.77.] and was manufactured by Continental
Continental may refer to:
Places
* Continent, the major landmasses of Earth
* Continental, Arizona, a small community in Pima County, Arizona, US
* Continental, Ohio, a small town in Putnam County, US
Arts and entertainment
* ''Continental'' (al ...
, like all Massey Harris tractors at the time.[
]
Transmission
The 20 offered four speeds[ (against the 30's five),][ providing a top speed of 2.5 mph (4 km/h) in first (low) and 13.5 mph (21.6 km/h) in fourth (high).][
]
References
Sources
*
Further reading
*Pripps, Robert N. ''The Big Book of Farm Tractors''. Vancouver, BC: Raincoast Books, 2001. .
*______. ''The Field Guide to Vintage Farm Tractors''. Stillwater, MN: Voyageur Press, 2001.
*______. ''Vintage Ford Tractors''. Stillwater, MN: Voyageur Press, 2001.
*Denison, Merrill. ''Harvest Triumphant: The Story of Massey-Harris''. New York: Dodd Mead, 1949.
*Farnsworth, John. ''The Massey Legacy''. Ipswich, Great Britain: Farming Press, 1997.
*Gay, Larry. ''Farm Tractors 1975-1995''. Saint Joseph, MI: American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1995.
*Wendel, C. H. ''Massey Tractors''. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.
Tractors
Massey-Harris vehicles
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