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102s

I have just aquired this M-H 102 "Junior" tractor.  It is of 1943 origin and a local Welsh tractor.  I first bought it 1968, then due to my Dad retiring and me having no space I sold it to a farmer in Scotland in 1985 who fully retored, it but it was a good running tractor after I had found a magneto for it which was missing. 

Then after the death of himself and wife  a son last year sold it to a nearby collector along with some other tractors.  He doesn't want this one so put it up for sale on e bay.  My son spotted it and sort of recognised the registration number and I was able to confirm that it had indeed been our tractor.  So I thought it would be good to get back this local tractor and one that had been part of my original collection.

All those years ago I hadn't paid too much attention to it rather just putting it to rest in my Dad's shed.  Re-aquiring it and talking to others this appears to be something of a not so common tractor.  Whilst labelled a Twin Power it is not.  It doesn't have the gadgetry for it.  Further it has no dynamo or starter and is on steel wheels - all indicative of a war time "austerity tractor".  (I do detest however the cut down tyres that have been fitted to the rear wheels - quite vulgar and I will replace them with lugs asap).  It has a separet small petrol tank.

We seem to have had no wartime brochures for the 102s in the UK as in all probability they were distributed through our WAR AG (War Agricultural Department) and I have not come across any North American literature for them other than the Canadian Farmers Handy Catalogues - but maybe there is?  The same situtaion also existed for the war time Ford Fergusons for which there is only one brochure given away at a launch event.

We also associate Twin Powers with being fitted to petrol only tractors but this is a petrol/TVO(paraffin).  Such an option is not referred to in the Farmers Handys.  Lyn Jones in mid Wales also has one and I previously owned a 102 TP Junior wide front.  There are odd others about.

They were also badged as Twin Powers which is strange.  So it would appear that they were exported to war time Britain as war time austerity models and the badging was not changed to suit the non Twin Power nature of the tractor.

The records of the MH war time tractors can be confusing with little differences between the 101s and 102s in the Farmers Handys and all areTwin Powers, but with some different engines offered.  I believe that in N America they would be known as Gs or GSs but they don't seem to have been so labelled here.

The attached picture shows it in recently restored condition in about 1986 and it looks much the same now.

Anyone know more?  KO or CS????

John
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RE:102s

I did some rooting in my archives last night and found some old operators manuals produced in Racine.  Interestingly 101s and 102s are respectivley listed as gas only or distillates.  But these were post 1943 manuals i.e. after my 1943 tractor.

I obtained these old manuals in the UK so I am even more confused - but maybe in war time they just threw in what they had with war time export shipments??

The fundamental question remains - why were these 102 paraffin/distillate models exported to UK labeled as Twin Powers?

Answers please!!!!

John

RE:102s

John,

Was your tractor badged "Twin Power" years ago when you owned it? Do you have any pictures from years ago? Possibly all the decals were made with the twin power on them so they just used them without cutting the top part off?? Is there any numbers stamped on the top of the transmission indicating a twin power? It's been a while since I've looked at mine so don't know if they were marked or not but for some reason I think I remember one of mine stamped 102 DSS but won't say for sure until I look at it again...

If you have any money left over after buying that one I think you should snap up on that 203 with the Perkins P6 in it... although it is a bit cobbled I think it would be a great tractor to have and sounds like the original engine could be had to put it back original...

Joe

RE:102s

Joe,

Unfortunately I have no pics from years ago.  I haven't got the tractor home yet so can't say what is stamped on it.

What I have noticed from going through the parts books is that nowhere is there any mention of magneto ignition - another pointer to these being war time austerity tractors??? Or at lest I haven't found any mentuion of them so far.

Is yours on steels or rubbers?

An abortion of a 203 with a Perkins engine????!!!!!! No thanks much though I Ilike the P6 diesel.

John

RE:102s

Interesting discussion here on the wartime Lease Lend 102 tractors here in UK of which few surviving examples seem to all be on steel wheels, attached is a photo of one which regularly turns out in North Yorkshire, pretty much in it's working clothes and the same specification as the one John has just bought. There is also an adjustable wide front rowcrop version near me in Lincolnshire which was another local fenland Lease Lend tractor and looks nice on its original steel wheels.


Another point of interest for these wartime 102 tractors is an instruction plate fitted to one of them which has been re produced by Chris at "Vintage Brass Plates" here in the UK, makes interesting reading regarding the shortage of rubber tyres during the war, hence the fitting of steel wheels.

I am not really a "tin Massey " collector but always have a keen eye when I spot the small gas tank filler cap, always a good indication it's a genuine British import, and interesting to learn about the non electric start and use of magneto.

Malcolm.

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RE:102s

I know this is NOT Massey and I apologise as many of you know I am not a Fordson fan, but I thought this British "War Agricultural Committee" outfit was well worth a post on here for the benefit of our readers across the pond.
Some of our British readers will remember these travelling round their areas, but for me it was a pleasure to see this period wartime Leicestershire out fit exhibited at the 2015 Little Casterton event by a 90 year old gentleman, tractor, plough, fuel bowser, bicycle to get home and dog for company.

Malcolm.

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RE:102s

Malcolm,

That's a very interesting photo of a 102 Junior that you have just put on here.

I immediately noticed that it had the same type of front wheel skids on it as mine - have a look.

I had previously thought that on mine they had been changed from the regular angle iron skids to these flat bar types (along with removing the lugs from the rear wheels to make them more show field and loading friendly).   But to note two identical set ups does strongly suggest thay they are original - and maybe part of this war time economy business saving steel????

Any thoughts anyone??

John

RE:102s

John,

I was reading your earlier post about the your 102 JR with the Magneto.  I have a Parts Manual Form R273 Supplement No. 42A to repair Parts List Number 42.  It lists the Magneto and Attaching Parts on Page 8. Hope this helps.  The manual lists the Magneto  as (Fairbanks-Morse J-4B).   I can email you a scan of the page if you want.

Terry Kessel

RE:102s

Terry,

I would be very grateful if you could send me a copy please.

Maybe the existence of a magneto in a parts supplement indicates that my type of tractor was not a main stream one as I was thinking????

Thanks a lot
John

RE:102s

Going back to this business of the different type of front wheel skids - last night I had another browse in the parts manuals and noted that there are two types of skids for the standard tractors, but only one for the rowcrops.  The angle type are illustrated for both, but there is a part number reference only for another type for the standard tractors.

Could this be what we are seeing on both my tractor and the one that Malcolm has shown?

Comments needed ...............

John