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| Allis-Chalmers WD-45 |
AGCO has been a big topic in toys for the past year on Toy Tractor Show.com. This month I wanted to take time to write about the modern and classic AGCO Pedal tractors currently on the market today. There are more AGCO pedal tractors to chose from for collectors and young drivers, than any other brand. Scale Models produces all of the AGCO modern and historic pedal tractors.
With roots that are firmly
established in the North American farm equipment industry, AGCO
Corporation has a heritage that reaches as far back as the mid-1800s
through many of its brands.
Its direct lineage is from the Allis-Chalmers brand name. AGCO got its start in 1990 with the purchase of Deutz Allis Corporation from German-based Kloeckner-Humboldt-Deutz AG. KHD, in turn, had purchased the Allis-Chalmers agricultural equipment business five years earlier. AGCO stands for Allis-Gleaner company. Since the Deutz-Allis buy out, AGCO has become a worldwide farm machinery company through market growth and strategic acquisitions. In 2004 AGCO produces 24 brands of agricultural equipment. AGCO produces five tractor brands including AGCO, Massey-Ferguson, Challenger, Fendt and Valtra. There 10 historical brands in the AGCO family tree, including, Allis-Chalmers, Deutz-Allis, AGCO-Allis, White, Oliver, Hart-Parr, Minneapolis-Moline, Avery, Cockshutt and Massey-Harris.
AGCO’’s most historic and popular Allis-Chalmers tractor became a pedal tractor in the Fall of 2003. The WD-45 was and is a farmer favorite. International Harvester is best remembered for the M, John Deere for the 4020, Ford for the 8n and Allis-Chalmers for the WD-45. Many farmers that talk to have good memories of plowing with the WD-45. One farmer that I talked to cut his teeth on a WD-45. He said it was the best lugging tractor he had ever driven. He said it would pull four bottom plow all day. In a tough spot it would lug down and lift the tricycle front off the ground a bit and then keep going. When the tractor "popped a wheely" the farmer would steer with the brakes to keep plowing through the hard or wet spot.
Memories like this have endeared the WD-45 too many farmers. Allis-Chalmers introduced the WD in 1948 and kept it in production through 1957. There were several upgrades along the way. The early WD-45was a hand crank gas tractor offering 34 hp. The WD offered hydraulic implement lines and draft control for single hitch implements. In 1952 a four-speed constant-mesh transmission was installed to provide easier shifting. IN 1953 the WD was upgraded to the WD-45 and offered 43 hp. In 1954 a diesel WD-45 was released. This was Allis-Chalmers first disel powered tractor. Power steering was added on model year 1956. By 1957 with modern power and features, combined with excellent field performance, the WD-45 became a top seller in the tractor market for AC.
In 1937 Oliver introduced its most famous and best selling tractor in its history. The Oliver 70 was produced from 1937-1948. The 70 was restyled and upgraded from the Oliver Hart-Parr 70 introduced in 1935. The 70 ushered in a new era at Oliver. A bold new paint scheme of green, yellow and red made the 70 stand out in the field and on the road. As more and more cars traveled on roads across America, Oliver recognized making a slower moving tractor stand out had several safety benefits for farmers and motorists. After the 70 debuted several other tractor makers change from battleship gray tractors to a more colorful appearance. One example would by the IH Farmall from gray to red.
The 70 was the first Oliver tractor. From 1929-1936, the company offered Oliver-Hart Parr tractors. In 1937, the new look tractor, dropped the Hart-Parr name. The Oliver 70 devolved 28 hp from a 201-cubic-inch engine.
The Cockshutt and Oliver brands have a long history of partnership. Cockshutt of Canada started purchasing Oliver tractors in 1930. During the 1930's Oliver 18-28, 28-44, 60, 70, 80 and 99 tractors doubled as Cockshutts in the Canadian market. In 1960 White Motor Corporation purchased Oliver and in 1962 purchased Cockshutt to merge Oliver brand.
Scale Models has capitalized on the dual brand of Oliver and Cockshutt. The Oliver 70 is currently available as a pedal tractor. It has also been painted in Cockshutt colors to provide a variation for collectors and fans. Another White/Cochshutt variation on the pedal market is the Spirit of Cockshutt. In the late 1980's White started to promote its hertiage by using Oliver, Cockshutt and Minneapolis-Moline colors. A Spirit of Oliver was offered as a pedal tractor a few years ago. Now Scale Models is offering a red Cockshutt version.
The Massey-Harris and modern Massey-Ferguson brand are well known across North America and around the globe. The most recent Massey pedal to be produced by Scale Models for AGCO is the Massey-Harris 333. The 333 replaced the 33 in 1956. Four two short years the 333 was offered by Massey-Harris as a 41 hp gas tractor and 37 hp diesel tractor. The 333 was one of the last Massey-Harris tractors built. In 1957 the Harris name was retired and replaced by Ferguson, launching the new Massey-Ferguson brand. Scale Models has done a nice job in creating a pedal 333 by offering it as standard wide front model.
Scale Models also offers the famous Massey-Harris 44 as a pedal tractor. The 44 was offered by M-H from 1946––1955. The 44 is one of the best known Massey-Harris tractors and enjoys farm fame in the ranks of the Farmall M and Allis-Chalmers WD-45. The 44 was powered by a 45 hp Continental engine. It was a four cylinder, 260-cubic-inch gasoline engine. In 1949 a 41 hp diesel engine became an option. The 44 was simply a good work horse and field proven.
Massey-Harris 333
 Oliver 70 |
 Cockshutt 70 |
 Massey-Harris 44 |
 AGCO LT85 |
Scale Models also produces three modern AGCO pedal tractors.
The AGCO tractor brand name started in 2001 when orange AGCO-Allis and silver White brands were merged into one line. AGCO tractors are the compilation of the Allis-Chalmers, White, Oliver, Minneapolis-Moline, and Cockshutt brands. The orange paint hi-lights the Allis side of the AGCO family and the silver decal represents White’s heritage. The AGCO LT 85 bares the signature AGCO brand decal and orange color. Scale Models produces a wide front AGCO LT 85 pedal tractor. The AGCO LT Series mid-range utility tractors have the pulling power and the staying power to handle the toughest chores and hold their own in the field. The LT 85 is has a powerful Cummins engine, rated at 85 hp. AGCO’s LT 85 has a strong 1.5" thick cast iron frame that gives LTs super chassis strength, narrow-profile maneuverability and higher weight to horsepower ratio for better traction. Add the clutchless 2-speed powershift and forward/reverse shuttle with Response Command and you have a tractor with the muscle and agility for tough jobs on the farm or off.
In early 1993, AGCO was looking to purchase an AG-Credit company to help finance its equipment sales. AGCO aquired part of a credit company called Varity. It turned out that Varity happened to own Massey-Ferguson. In 1993 AGCO ended up taking on the North American distribution of Massey-Ferguson. In 1994 AGCO purchased the world wide holdings of Massey-Ferguson. MF became a full brand under the AGCO umbrella.
Scale Models currently produces two AGCO-Massey Ferguson wide front pedal tractors. Scale Models offers one of Massey-Ferguson’s newest tractors as a pedal tractor. The Massey-Ferguson 6480 is part of the 6400 series ranging from 95-155 hp. The 6480 is powered by a 115 hp Perkins engine. The New 6400 Series answers the call to your farming challenges by offering the ultimate in efficient power and control with unsurpassed operating comfort and simplicity. The is a powerful field tractor and has the right size to handle chores on the farm.
Scale Models other modern Massey-Ferguson offering is the 4370. The 4300 series offers versatile performance in a mid-sized tractor. There are nine models from 55––99 PTO HP. Equipped with high-torque 4- and 6-cylinder Perkins Fastram diesel engines, the 4300 Series boasts dependable Ferguson System hydraulics. Seven available transmissions include the smooth-shuttling 24 X 24 PowerShuttle. The 4370 is the top model at 99 hp.
I hope that this article gives you a positive out look on AGCO pedal options. All of the tractors in this months article retail in the $150 price range. This is a pretty standard new pedal price, which is good for collectors and young pedal riders a like. In the August 2004 TTT I will review the Case-New Holland pedal tractors offered by Scale Models.
 Spirit of Cockshutt |
 Massey-Ferguson 4370 |
 Massey-Ferguson 6480 |
TTT
May 2004 Page 4