McCormick-Deering 10-20

In production from 1923 until 1939, the 10-20 proved to be one of  International Harvester’s biggest hits. Beginning serial numbers ran from KC 501 in 1923 to KC 214 886 in 1939.  The 10-20 model was a two plow rated tractor while the 15-30 was a power upgrade for those who needed a three plow rated machine.

Designed with maximum versatility in mind, they offered belt pulley power and a direct power take off option. The 10-20 was also offered in Orchard, Narrow Tread and Industrial versions, The orchard version came equipped with: high skid rings, fenders, a short air intake pipe, low steering wheel and low seat. Options were fenders with aprons on the rear wheels, disc wheels and a spark arrestor. 

The narrow tread version had a width of only 48 inches and was designed for use on row crops that were closely spaced like hops, sugar cane and vineyards. The rear spoked wheels were 42 inches in diameter with a 12 inch face as standard. Optional were 10 inch face wheels that reduced the stance to 46 inches  

The Industrial version was targeted for industrial. commercial and construction markets wherever mobile power was needed. Customers included factories, lumber yards, sawmills. Mines, municipal and other governments. There were a number of features that set it apart from the agricultural tractor. The transmission offered speeds of 2, 4, and 10 mph forward and 3.8 mph in reverse. It came with solid disk wheels and hard rubber tires. It offered foot controlled accelerator and brakes and with a nod to creature comfort, the seat was spring mounted. An electrical system was available as an option, that consisted of : headlights, generator and battery.  

Those were the differences but the main components of the variants were basically the same. The one piece main frame was used on all models . Looking somewhat like a cast iron bathtub without the feet, it provided support and enclosed components from the radiator to the drawbar. 

The same power plant was used on the different 10-20 configurations, a four cylinder, vertical, valve in head engine that McCormick-Deering built in-house.  Measuring 4 ¼” across the bore and 5” stroke it displaced a total of 283 cubic inches.

Designed to start on gasoline, the tractor was equipped with a ¾ gallon tank. Once at operating temperature, the driver switched to the more economical kerosene supplied from the fifteen gallon fuel tank. Ignition was jump spark, supplied by high tension magnetos. Started by hand cranking, no battery was needed.

McCormick-Deering stressed ease of service and maintenance in their catalogs. The engine was equipped with standard cylinder sleeves that the farmer could replace himself,eliminating the need to rebore the cylinder for an engine overhaul. A far cry from the products of today that are designed to make user maintenance impossible. Nowadays they get you coming and going. 

One final point that I think is worth noticing is the handhold covers on the side of the engine. The catalogue says they are for inspecting the crankshaft and connecting rod bearings. This strikes me as odd. Was bearing life so short that frequent replacement was necessary or were there other reasons the owner would need to look into the crankcase? Looking at illustrations and these photos I noticed that no oil dipstick  is readily apparent. Could that have something to do with it? 

Sources:

International Harvester McCormick-Deering Line catalogues No. 27 and 35 

www.tractordata.com 

Encyclopedia of American Farm Tractors by C.H. Wendel