Monday, October 1, 2018

Case Model C

Toward the end of the Roaring Twenties the management at Case started to worry that the cross mount engine tractors it had been building since the early teens were looking antiquated compared to some of the sleeker models being produced by the competition. Some commented that even the normally unflappable “ole Abe” was beginning to look concerned.




R&D for a new design had been underway for a number of years and it all came together in 1929 with a smooth running, long stroke, inline four cylinder engine tractor they named the Model L.  A short time later it was followed by a scaled down version dubbed the Model C. Variants followed: with the C model being produced in row crop, CC, industrial, CI, orchard, CO  and a number of  specialized versions. 




The C was powered by a Case built four cylinder vertical I head engine. With a bore of 3 ⅞” and stroke of 5 ½” it displaced 259.5 cubic inches. At the University of Nebraska Tractor Test Number 167, conducted between August 12 and 19th 1929 it managed 27.33 brake horsepower and 17.41 drawbar horsepower in the rated load tests. 




Engine components noted in that test included a Robert Bosch model FU4ARS magneto, a Kingston Mod. L3  1 ¼” carburetor, a flyball governor and an oil filter air cleaner. 




Power was transmitted through a hand operated twin disc plate clutch located within the unit frame to a three speed transmission. Forward speeds were reported as low 2.30 mph, intermediate 3.28 mph, high 4.5 mph. Reverse managed 2.6 miles per hour. The final drive enclosed gear and chain system drove the 42 inch diameter rear wheels.




Total weight, without the operator, was recorded as 4000 pounds. Length was 114.5 inches, width: 61.5 “, height: 53.3”. 




Case produced the C model from 1929 until 1940. Sales were respectable for a depression era tractor. A total of 20,487 units of the standard model were built. The total when all variants are included reached 50,000 plus. 




The model C shown here was displayed at the 2017 Steam Expo. in Cumming, Ga. No information about it was provided.




Sources: 

University of Nebraska Tractor Test Number 167 report. www.digitalcommons.unl.edu 
www.tractordata.com 
Antique Power vol. 30 issue 3, March / April 2018 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Leave a comment or send an email to: stevedritch@gmail.com