Massey Discussion Forums > Massey Talk > M-H Tanks/Racine
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RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

Here we see new tanks on the move - out of the factory and on to a train for shipment to all sorts of non peaceful destinations no doubt.  The driver in the M5 coming out of the factory tank looks particularly serious poor chap!  Those tanks on the train I believ might be the heavier M24s as they have six idler rollers per track.  Can anyone clarify?

John
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RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

John,

The pictures you posted on 1/16 with the tanks sitting in a row seem to be about the same.  I would take it they are the Chaffee tanks.  They look about the same. (Like I am the expert!?!?!?!?!?)

It is interesting the guy driving the tank out of the building is wearing a football helmet or something!!  It must have been a real head banger inside that steel trap!!

Maybe I DON'T want to drive one after all!!.  My fat butt could not get in the tank in the first place!!  I would think that would be a prerequiste!!!

GTE

RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

Here are the M5s undergoing field testing in 1942 and 1943.

Looks like the one throwing up the mud has achieved a nice turn of speed.

For the one going over the "cliff" I hope the driver has his crash hat on to take the jolt.

They certainly look like highly nimble little beasts and I bet they would turn on a silver Massey-Harris coin! Now there's a thought - where wereand who made them for the company??  Answers by return please.

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RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

Today's two shots are an overhead of the M-H tank factory at Racine - quite a sizeable plant with a water tower each for Malcolm and I! - and an M5 tank being fitted with its gun turret -looks easy!

I ask again of you folks located near racine - what is left if anything of this factory?

John
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RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

Hello John,

What some lovely photos of Tanks and Tractors at Racine. I do like Black & White photos. Thank you for posting them for us all to enjoy.

I notice you are interested in buying a tank complete with ammunition which worries me. I can see you sitting with it on top of the hill behind your house and picking us off as we wind ourselves along that narrow lane to your house Ha! Ha!

In one of your posts you mentioned a M-H Wind Pump. I took this photo of a Wind Pump in the Heritage Museum at Stirling Ontario a couple of years ago. I don't know what make it is or even if it is a genuine one but I thought someone might be able to indentify it.

Alan
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RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

Hello Alan,

Good to hear from you and I am really looking forward to a slice of Doreen's cake.

Thanks for posting the photograph of the wind pump, I am sure it is one manufactured by Aeromotor, they seemed to be a very popular manufacturer of them in North America.

Both John and I have been looking for years for information on the ones sold by M-H, it would be a real break through to find out who made them for Massey or the Company they may of bought out, so far we have not found any way of identifying them.

On our many visits across the pond we have driven passed hundreds of old mills and the same conversation comes up " I wonder if that one is a Massey"
They all seem to have their detail painted onto the galvanised steel tailpiece, resulting in the lettering being lost after many years out in the elements.

Hope someone can help us identify a Massey Mill.

Malcolm.

RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

John Was the M-H factory at Racine on what we would call an industrial estate these days. There does seem to be another factory in the back ground but also houses not very far away.

RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

Two shots here of an M36 tank at Racine.  I am not sure where the M36 fits in and wonder if it is a variant of the M5?  Anyone got any clues

Alan - Malcolm and I wandered round the Racine factory area in 1997 after the Massey 150th.  As far as I can recall it was not a great industrial area but a very large plant area in the middle of suburbia.  Maybe some locals can fill us in.  How is Doreen getting on with the cakes for us???

John
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RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

John, Alan and all,

Yes as you said John it was 1997 when we were both last there and prior to that it was 1992 when I first visited Racine and did a full tour of the Case - I-H factory which is on the old site, I got to walk up the hill J I Case Threshing Machine Co created to test their steam engines on back in the early 1900's, also went through the old office block across the street, I took lots of video in those days but unfortunately have no photographs to post here, but  I must say at that time Case - I-H did me proud with a full tour including history of both Case Companies, it seemed to me by that time they had let all animosity between both J I Case Companies pass by, as they were open to history and discussion of both Companies.

From my visits I do beleive, had the river not run through Racine, we would of seen both J I Case Companies in a different manufacturing location in the USA, on my tour there was great emphasis put on the amount of raw materials and finshed machinery moved out of Racine by river in their early years of manufacturing, now maybe there's another avenue of Massey history which has not been explored yet, "transportation of manufactured product" 

I just wish some of our known MCA members living in Wisconsin would help in all this great research for future generations to enjoy, I am sure they could tell us far more than I saw on two visits in the 1990's and would be good to hear how it is today and if Case-I-H are still part of the industry in Racine.

Come on Mike and Dennis I know you are not far from Racine and would love to hear from you.

Malcolm. 

RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

Something a bit different is this M32 M-H Recovery Vehicle based on one of the M-H tanks though I am not sue which model.

Also an M24 out on test at Racine.  The M24 was a "medium" tank larger than the M25.  It is certainly kicking up a bit of dust but there seems to be a bit of snow still lying around.  Would this be dust from a dry frozen track??

John
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