1936 Massey-Harris Challenger

Massey-Harris introduced the Challenger model in 1936 in a bid to break into the lucrative row crop tractor market that had been dominated by International Harvester with the hugely popular Farmall line since 1924. While the Challenger was their first real row crop, it wasn’t the the first tricycle design they had marketed. Way back in 1917 when M-H was a farm implement manufacturer, the first tractor in their product line was the Big Bull Tractor, built by a company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While the Bull couldn’t be called a real row crop, it was a three wheeler. The Bull, however, turned out to be a disaster for Massey-Harris. 

The Challenger had what farmers wanted in a tractor and was well received during its short production run from 1936 through 1937. It was succeeded by the Twin Power Challenger in 1938 to 1939. A total of 14,000 Challenger tractors were built at the Racine Wisconsin factory. Massey -Harris serial numbers for the Challenger began at 130001 in 1936. Serial numbers can be found stamped on the oval plate attached to the left side of the main frame and stamped into the metal above the plate on the frame. The number of the tractor shown here is 130576. 

The Challenger was available in  a distillate version and as a gasoline powered tractor. The distillate model was evaluated at the University of Nebraska in test number 265 from August 10th to the 18th 1936 and recorded a maximum drawbar horsepower of 20.03 and 28.58 hp on the belt. The following year Massey-Harris sent a gasoline model for testing in October of 1937. As you might expect, it recorded increased performance with 29.8 hp on the drawbar and 34.9 hp on the belt in test number 293. 

Massey designed and built their own engine, a four cylinder with a bore of 3 7/8 “ and 5 ¼” stroke that displaced 247 cu. In. and turned at 1200 rpm. Speeds recorded at the test were: 1st 2.4 mph, 2nd 3.3 mph, 3rd 4.1 mph, 4th 8.5mph and 3 mph in reverse. 

The 1936 test tractor was equipped with an American Bosch model U4ED4V1 magneto, a 1 ¼” Kingston carburetor and a Handy No. RD2231 centrifugal governor. The clutch was a hand operated, twin disc single plate dry type. Belt power was supplied by a 12 inch diameter pulley with a 6 ¼” face turning at 831 rpm. 

Steel wheels were standard equipment on the 1936 model, drive wheels measured 52” in diameter with a face of 8” that mounted 28 2 ½” X 5” spade lugs per wheel. Rubber tired wheels were available as an extra cost option. The rubber tired version also measured 52” giving the tractor 25” of crop clearance. The rear tread stance was adjustable from 52 to 80 inches. The Challenger was provided with a rear PTO and a PTO driven powered implement lift was available as an extra cost option. Individual rear wheel brakes were standard and gave the Challenger the ability to turn on a dime.

The beautifully restored Challenger shown here is owned by Fran Manchik and was exhibited at the WNC Fall Harvest Days Antique Engine and Tractor Show hosting the Massey Expo of North America at Asheville, NC.   October 26 to 28th 2017. 

Sources:

University of Nebraska Tractor Test results published in the Cooperative Tractor Catalog, 22nd edition 1937 - 1938  page 166, available at https://books.google.com 

The Big Book of Massey Tractors by Robert N. Pripps ; available at https://books.google.com 

The Encyclopedia of American Farm Tractors by C.H. Wendel