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Massey Harris 25 restoration project

Greetings all,

I am presently spooling up my MH 25 restoration project.   In addition to gathering parts, I am doing my best to carefully document the tractor as the tear down progresses. One aspect I find interesting is the artwork on the rear fenders.  My sense is that at some point the tractor has been repainted.  If this is true, someone went to great efforts to hand paint the massey harris name and large MH letters.  

To those in the know, does this lettering look original?  If not what is would the correct artwork (for lack of a better term) look like?  Was the lettering originally hand painted or silk screened?  Appreciate any info!

thanks!
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RE:Massey Harris 25 restoration project

Does anyone know the correct steering wheel for for the unstyled 25?  3 spoke or 4 spoke?

RE:Massey Harris 25 restoration project

From serial number 69001 to 70469 four spoke and from 70470 to 73111 three spoke.

RE:Massey Harris 25 restoration project

Jeff,

You have very nice original decals there on your 25, yes there are a few different styles and variations, they were generally waterslide decals used in that time frame and not so easy to apply as the ones we use today. I was also told they were often covered in varnish to protect them from peeling.

I have a very original Green Pacemaker here and they appear to have flaked a little in recent years, where they have flaked the green paint underneath is very prominant.

Malcolm.

RE:Massey Harris 25 restoration project

Very interesting, in looking at the lettering it almost looks hand painted, never would have guess it was a type of decal.  Now the big question becomes leave it original or take it down to bare metal and paint.  Decisions decisions.  

RE:Massey Harris 25 restoration project

Over the years on my travels I have seen some decals over painted Jeff, I guess this was done when a farmer was giving his old tractor a spruce up, or a dealer when wanting to tidy them up for re sale.

For me it's all part of it's history and patina and in that condition I would treat it with an oily rag and leave it as it is. We can distruct years of history in minutes with the sand blast pot and paint spray gun, once you have done that it is a one way ticket and you will never get it back to how you see it today.

As always it is what the owner's preference is and he should make his own decision.

Keep us posted of your progress

Malcolm

RE:Massey Harris 25 restoration project

Jeff,

I always lean towards keeping tractors original, the only time I repaint is if the tin work is so rough it has to replaced with new. Having said that if the tractor still has some good original features you can age the new tin work, I know that Malcolm does this.
Those fenders are certainly worth keeping as they are.
But the choice is still yours.

Graham.
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RE:Massey Harris 25 restoration project

Graham,

I am inclined to agree with you.  The Original decals are just too nice to destroy plus I am not sure that reproductions are available.  Do you do anything to brighten up the original finish?  I appreciate your input.

jeff

RE:Massey Harris 25 restoration project

Hi gents, what did the styled 25's have on the back of the guards ( fenders)  ? Regards. Buck.

RE:Massey Harris 25 restoration project

Jeff,

There are a number of methods I use to clean and preserve original paint.
I use used fine grit sanding disks from a local auto body shop, steel wool,T Cut (a British product that you have to go to the UK to get) and a mixture of used hydraulic oil, used Chevy engine oil (from our 3/4 ton truck as it never gets very black) and Diesal to preserve  it after cleaning. You have to experiment  and be very careful not destroy what paint you have, a tractor that has been repainted at sometime in its life can be a lot different than factory paint. I have a lot more fun doing this than repainting.