With the focus this month being on the county fair, the first thing that comes to my mind is a tractor pull.  These are a  popular attraction at the fair.  Unfortunately, Ertl hasn’t manufactured any 1/64 puller tractors.  A few years ago Micro Machines produced a small series of modified puller tractors and two wheel drive trucks.  These sets also came complete with a weight sled.  Scale Models a.k.a Joe L. Ertl, (J.L.E.) made a super stock Oliver 1955 for the National Tractor Pull a few years back.  This had a narrow front end and wide tires in the rear like those that were used on the Versatiles.

            Our "tractor pull" is going to feature tractors of the past.  To coincide with the 102 years of Allis Chalmers, the "pull" will start the smaller class out with a J.L.E. Allis Chalmers WC.  J.L.E. started manufacturing this model in the late 1980’s as one of the last models in a series of antique tractors.  Originally, all their models were molded in plastic and were later changed to a die cast metal.  They started out with the old style steel spoke wheels, which were later changed to a rubber tire with spoke rims.  These two changes make up a majority of the variations.  The WC was introduced at the same time the steel wheels were being replaced with rubber tires, and the bodies were being recast in metal.  This will yield yet another instance where the old models and the new models overlap to make some unique variations.  The original model has a plastic body, and steel spoke wheels.  The next step in the evolution was to replace the plastic body with a metal one and the spoke wheels with rubber wheels.  As you can imagine, during the transition from the old to the new there were mix-ups.  Metal tractors with steel wheels are pretty common.  Plastic tractors with rubber tires are less common and hard to find.

       This variation is a show edition tractor.  This was made for the 1992 Farm Progress show.  It has an Allis Chalmers decals on the side and a grill decal. 

        The last variation is unique in that it is made entirely of pewter.  The body and the wheels are both cast in pewter.  I don’t know why these were made, or if it was even J.L.E. that made them.  They do have identical castings as the J.L.E. models.  There are pewter models for some of the rest of their antique series as well.  If anyone has any information on the history or the reason these were produced, I would love to hear from you. 

1. Plastic body.  Steel wheels.
2. Plastic body.  Rubber wheels
3. Metal body.  Steel wheels.
4. Metal body.  Rubber wheels.
5. Metal body.  Steel wheels.  Allis Chalmers decal.  Grill decal.
6. Pewter body and wheels.

          If we step up a class in the "pull" we can use a Massey Harris 44.  This model was also made by JLE.  They were introduced right after the WC, but close enough to catch a few of the same unique variations.  The MH 44 is red with yellow rims.  This can also be found in plastic with a rubber tires, but they are limited.  From the information I have found there were only about 1,000 of these that left the factory.  As far as a steel wheel version, I haven’t found any in red.  What sets this apart from the rest of the series is that the old style spoke wheels have been updated and replaced with a new solid rim. 

        Most of the variations of this model revolve around decals.  A variety of Massey Harris and the numbers 333 can be found as shown in the picture.  The last red model variation has no decals. 

         Instead the words Massey Harris are in raised lettering placed by the steering wheel.  The raised number 44 can be found on the side by the grill.  This is the only version with a 44 designation. 

            JLE is also known for its chrome models.  They were produced as Christmas tree ornaments.  Other models from their antique series can be found in Chrome red, blue, green, gold, and silver.  I have only found the MH 44 in chrome silver and gold.  This is also where the steel wheel exception occurs.  A steel wheel model can be found in chrome silver.  The introduction date and the phase out of the plastic and steel wheels happening at about the same time, made it likely that only a few thousand chrome models exist in each variation.  It isn't likely that other chrome colors exist for this model.  A red plastic model with steel wheels may not be found either.  A pewter model also exists for this tractor. 

Check list

1. Metal body.  Rubber wheels. Raised lettering Massey Harris and 44.
2. Metal body.  Rubber wheels.  333 decal.
3. Metal body.  Rubber wheels.  Massey Harris decal.
4. Metal body.  Rubber wheels.  Massey harris and 333 decal.
5. Plastic body.  Rubber wheels.
6. Plastic body.  Steel wheels.  Chrome silver.
7. Plastic body.  Rubber wheels.  Chrome silver.
8. Plastic body.  Rubber wheels.  Chrome gold.
9. Pewter body and wheels.

         I hope this helps you in your search for different models to add to your collection.  Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

TTT June 2003 Page 2

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