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RE:MH 55 Ricelands etc

My owners manual for the Riceland gas is 694 103 M92 and dated 10-1951.  The title on it is Western Special and Riceland 55 and 55K Tractors.  It appears that in 1951 Massey renamed the tractor from Hillside to Western.  Same tractor different name. Probably a bigger market appeal as a Western.  Also probably less implied liability attached to the Western name than the hillside name.

RE:MH 55 Ricelands etc

I've just dug out MH repairs parts list for the MH 55 diesel tractor form number 690145 M1 date ref 71/2M-1-52-S.  Here are two pages whoing that thr riseland had slightly different fenders and the different tyre sizes though I fear there is a misprint when it states the rear riceland tyre to be 8x26 - surely 18x26??

Thhen there are two separate pages each for the hand clutch and foot clutch but not assigning either to either riceland or western tractors so preaumably each available for each type???

More grist for the mill!

John
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RE:MH 55 Ricelands etc

Speaking of fenders, here's a scan of that 55K Riceland from the 1948 US Buyer's Guide.  I've not yet seen this type of fender on a 55 anywhere.  Has anyone else??
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RE:MH 55 Ricelands etc

Whoops.. That one got away from me before I was done.   Other things to note about this early Riceland.  Unlike the later Ricelands and Westerns, this one has the same size rear wheels as the 55 Standard, and does not have the wider, arched front axle.  From everything I can find in this particular catalogue, it was the only Riceland offered at that time.

Others??

JB

RE:MH 55 Ricelands etc

John,

So it looks like progressive evolution of the "Rice" tractors from standard axle rice tractors to wide axle rice tractors?

Keep searching and maybe we can get the whole history of them documented.  We're going well now.

John

RE:MH 55 Ricelands etc

Okay.  SO, with all this revelation, it was time to sort out the tractor I have out in the barn that I was certain all this time was a 55 Diesel Western.  However, let's make a closer inspection of the serial number, both on the plate and stamped into the transmission housing:  55 DSH 1309    Hmmmm....  No "W"...  No "1".  Just DSH...  

A quick study of Keith's Data Book still left me wondering a bit, so I contacted Keith.  It is his studied opinion that what I have is either a Riceland or "Hillside" (gasp!), built in 1951 before Massey started calling them Westerns...  At this moment it does not have Riceland tires, but it also doesn't have the original rear rims.  It also doesn't have the original engine per the prior owner.  However, the rest of the tractor is supposed to be original.  

It is on "the list" to get running by Massey Days 2016.

JB
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RE:MH 55 Ricelands etc

On the other hand...  I went back to the 1951 Massey-Harris Buyers Guide (MER. 168--1MM L50W).  This is the one that first lists the "4-5 Plow 55 Western Special", along with the "4-5 Plow 55 Riceland".   The photo of the Riceland is a Diesel, and the photo of the "Western Special" is a gas.  Both of the tractors shown have the throttle down between the legs, just like mine...  

So, who can really say for sure that what I have isn't a 1951 "Western Special"??

I suppose it doesn't really matter...   ;-)

RE:MH 55 Ricelands etc

John,

Have you checked the fenders as per the diagram I posted??  This might be the definitive decider  I can't check mine until it is home.

John

RE:MH 55 Ricelands etc

John,

I have just had through the post an Instruction book that I bought on e bay for the MH Riceland and Hillside Special 55 and 55K tractors dated 1M - 10-49-S Form No 694 103 M91.

There is no mention at all of different usage of these tractors other than the tyres.  The rears for both are stated as 18 x 26 but with those for the hillside being described as "regular".  The Rice tractor has single rib fronts and deep lug rears.  The rice tractor's height is 65 3/4 inches and the hillside 64 7/8 inches.  It makes no mention of different design fenders - this is only seen in the parts book.  As for weights it only gives it for the rice tractor at 6624 lb.  The rice tractor was also available on steel wheels front and rear.

I st ill suspect the the western and the hillside were the same tractor just marketed diferently for different areas.

Both these tractors only had hand clutches according to the manual.

More mud for the waters!!!

John

RE:MH 55 Ricelands etc

A wet evening so I had a browse through some old MH tractor/implement range brochures.
In three separate ones I came across the following notes almost in small print:

1. MH 555 Western Special had "combined hand and foot clutch"

2. There was an "MH 44 Special Rice"

3. There were "55 Rice and Standard treads" - whatever tread means in this context??

So I hope you are all looking for further tit bits in the small print about these MH westerns, ricelands and hillsides

John