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Rare Challenger.

Very recently I picked up this unusual 44 page book produced by an oil company Vigzol here in England.

Upon opening the front cover what a stunning photograph of a wide front green Challenger at work here in England, the book is very detailed in the daily running and servicing of the "U" frame M-H tractor and the models available at that time.

I had to take this up to John's last week for our "Winter Massey Christmas Meet", amazing we both had original photo's to exchange, ones we had never seen before of the Orchard 12-20 and Wide Front Challenger.

Enjoy the photo's.

Malcolm.
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RE:Rare Challenger.

Malcolm,

A lovely shot of the wide front green Challenger.  An interesting tractor because that front axle was only available on tractors assembled in the UK.  It was made to suit our narrow British rowcrops and could also be used for regular cultivations and ploughting.  The front axle was adjustable to accomodate different row widths - a solid left and right hand beam sliding in a central channel iron section.

I have one of these tractors - probably the only surviving example in the UK - and my great uncle gave it to me just before he retired.  It is fitted with a mechanical lift at the rear made by an MH agent up in Scotland who supplied them to MH.  This picture shows the tractor to have mudguards.  These, were, surprisingly an optional extra - mine is fitted with them.

I'll dig a photo of mine out sometime and post it here.

John

RE:Rare Challenger.

Malcolm,

Looking at your brochure again, that is a superb shot of a green Pacemaker fitted with large headlights.  I have never seen such an example before and as far as I can recall have never seen headlights like it in Pacemaker brochures - though I think I recall a 12-20 industrial with similare headlights??

John

RE:Rare Challenger.

John,

Yes this oil brochure has brought out some very interesting photo's which I don't think I have seen before and your spot on with the PA and 12-20 industrial headlights.

For your viewing today here is another photo I was recently given of another wide front green CH working in Herefordshire, It has the mudgaurds (fenders) fitted and notice the rear wheels are round spoke F&H and the fronts are British cast iron wheels.

Its another very interesting period photo, shame the registration number is not clear.

Can anyone fill us in on the detail of the combine??

Malcolm.
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RE:Rare Challenger.

Just thought this wonderful show stand photo you found a while ago John was very appropriate for this thread, I remember the work which went into it here in the office to extract the 1937 Coronation sign from the top right corner. Would be nice to find one of those signs too, a one off which is as rare as the wide front Green Challenger now.

Malcolm.
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RE:Rare Challenger.

Another period Agricultural Show stand photograph from my albumn, we think taken at The Lincolnshire Show in 1938, local long standing Massey agents Pea***** and Binnington of Brigg and Louth, who today are still in business and sell Massey Ferguson.

This photo shows the styled red wide front Challenger on steel wheels with mudguards fitted, also visible are M-H and Ransome implements on their stand. And the sign saying they also sell I-H.

Its not as sharp as the previous show stand photo, but an interesting piece of Massey history showing what was sold locally here in Lincolnshire.

Malcolm.
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Ch-1.jpgPeacock-and-Binnington.png

RE:Rare Challenger.

Malcolm,

Here are the pics of my wide front green M-H Challenger as promised.

There is a general shot of the tractor showing the 10 inch wide steel wheels which, from what I have (NOT!) seen in Norcth America are quite rare tho' I have heard reports that odd ones exist.  Maybe someone can enlighten us??

There is also a pic of the front axle which as I indicated before is a  main beam of channel with two sliding halves facilitating track widths for different widths of rows.  This arrangement is totally different to the very few wide front Challengers we have seen in the USA which have a tubular steel main beam into which slide tubular steel left and right hand half axles

Then there is the shot of the mechanical lift on the rear made by Mackintosh, the MH agent, in Forfar, Scotland.  It works but sadly I have no tool bar to fit it.

John
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RE:Rare Challenger.

Malcolm,

Interesting that the British assembled red Challengers had the tubular style of axle in contrast to the greens

John

RE:Rare Challenger.

John,

That's a conundrum I don't think we will ever be able to work out, and the British guys working at M-H in that time have all gone. I wonder if the green ones were shipped across here without a front axle at all, reducing shipping weight and space?? maybe less taxes and duty?? if not a complete tractor.

But we do seem to of established both green and red wide front Challengers in the USA had the round tubular front axle throughout.

Here are photo's of two green ones we have seen on our travels, one very recently.

Malcolm.

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USA-and-Canada-2012-098.jpgCanda-and-USA-Nov-17-302.jpg

RE:Rare Challenger.

Here are two more pics of the green wide front Challenger.  They were sent to me by mid Wales tractor enthusiast extraordinaire Lyn Jones of Newcastle Emlyn in mid Wales.  He has imported many tractors from N America in the last decade or so and I brought my first import in through him - a red MH 25.

One of the photos is an advert and the other an actual working shot in the UK.  Notice the lack of the optional mudguards on both of them.

John
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1936-MH-Pacemaker-Challenger.jpg1936-MH-Wide-Front-Challenger.jpg