Malcolm,

I shall be forever grateful to you for unearthing these three photos of my single front red Challenger.  Quite astonishing that you should have them after all these years.  The comment on the back of the photo allso fills me in on some of the tractor's distant history which I was short of.  The man I bought it off said it had come off a farm near Heathrow airport so it all fits together.  When it was sol off in these photos it must have gone to another farm in the area.  Interesting that the lugs are not worn down as they are now, it is not fitted with its original road bands and the mudguards have been replaced at some time subsequent to these photos - notice they have rot in them on the front edge.

I wonder has anyone found another single front red Challenger yet??

Marvellous!!  You have made my day..............

John

Digging again this weekend through my files brought up a newspaper article from July 21st 1942 which I had forgotten I had.

Its named "A Glimpse of the Past, The Tractor Fleet" at Castleton of Eassie Scotland, showing three styled single front Challenger's, out numbering the competition of two John Deere's and a Caterpillar D2.

I am guessing all three f these tractors met their fate of the scrap man later on in life.

Malcolm.

Here is the Test report for the Single Front Challenger from the "British Royal Agriculture Society", printed in the June 1st 1938 edition of the Implement and Machinery Review magazine. I see they have rear wheel weights fitted to give a little more traction.

Malcolm..

 

Previously mentioned earlier in this thread on page 3, the first ever Massey Harris gathering in 1986 took place in Northern England at Alnwick.

The second Massey-Harris gathering from around the country was organised by The Mid Shropshire Vintage Club, member Brian Smith was instrumental in bringing together like minded Wallis, M-H and M-F enthusiasts from around the UK, this event took place on 6th June 1993 at Shrewsbury Agricultural Showground. The feature event was well sponsored by M-F at Coventry and local M-F dealers Shuker's of Shrewsbury.

By this time John had taken delivery of his family wide front Green Challenger from my collection and he too made the journey to Shrewsbury with this rare tractor, together with his son and daughter who had done some repainting and preservation of the tractor since getting it back to Wales and in the family once again.

So this wide front Challenger made it to the first two M-H featured events in the UK.

Here is the poster from that memorable event in Shrewsbury.

Malcolm.

Further to the above post of the second M-H gathering here in England, I managed to locate this old photograph last night of John's daughter standing proudly with the wide front CH at Shrewsbury.

Malcolm.

Here is another old photo I have had for a long time of a wide front Challenger working with a British Ransome's toolbar on the rear lift.

Malcolm.

Another great old period photograph come to the surface in a 1939 Issue of Implement  and Machinery Review magazine here in  England.

It shows the Massey-Harris Associated with Blackstone of Stamford Lincolnshire Show stand at the December Smithfield Show held in Earls Court London.

What a great photo of the stand showing a styled red Wide Front Challenger with British cast front wheels and French and Hecht round spoke rears, also a red styled Pacemaker in the background near a M-H 734 mower, grain binder and potato spinner in the foreground.

Lovely old show stand, would look nice re-created today in a private collection or show.

Malcolm.

There you go Malcolm. You have set yourself a challenge. We shall expect to see a Dealers stand the next time we come to Salomnby the same as the one in the poster.

A great poster all the same.

Alan

Wow! Don't know where the time is going to but just looking at some of my pictures and came across one of my wide front Challenger. I can't believe it has been eleven years ago today that I was fortunate enough to add this tractor to my collection, man how time flies.

Joe

Joe,

Getting sight of your wide front Challenger was as if spring was breaking.  So I thought I would get down the shed and take pics of my "rare ones".

Here are:
My green wide front Challenger with very rare British front axle
My red single front Challenger with very rare steel front wheel
My single front green Challenger although painted red!

Trust the snow has now cleared???????????/

John