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Canada Agriculture Museum
Collections and Research
Tractors - "Already Made Good in the Field"

Collection Highlights

Tractors

“Already Made Good in the Field”

Tractor No. 5311 (CSTM 1974.0216*) was built in 1918, just as the First World War was drawing to a close. Sawyer-Massey’s catalogue pointed out that a shortage of draft horses and higher prices, combined with a tractor’s proven economy and efficiency, made it a time to buy. The tractor produced 20 horsepower at the drawbar and 40 horsepower off the pulley. Most of its 11,800-pound (5 350-kilogram) weight, including the engine and heavy iron drive gears, was located over or close to the rear axle, which in terms of traction and drawbar horsepower gave it a distinct advantage over like-sized competitors. Selling for $3 500, it had two forward and reverse speeds of 2 and 3-½ miles per hour (3.2 and 5.6 km/h) and was warranted to pull a four to six-bottom gang plough.

Sawyer-Massey #5311 20-40 kerosene tractor at the Central Experimental Farm
Sawyer-Massey #5311 20-40 kerosene tractor at the Central Experimental Farm

To start the tractor the operator had to begin by twisting grease cups to force lubricant into the wheel bearings, and to crank the force feed oiler to pump lubricant into the engine’s bearings. A priming cup on each of the four cylinders was filled with gasoline. The engine was manually cranked, and if the spark sent by the magneto ignited the mixture of gas and oxygen in the cylinder, the engine started and the priming cups could be closed. While it was started on gasoline, which was more combustible but also more expensive, once running the engine was switched to kerosene, a more readily available and less expensive and combustible fuel. To steer, the operator spun the hand wheel, and a worm gear wound a chain onto a cross-shaft that pulled the front axle in the desired direction. The strength required caused many farmers to humourously refer to this as “arm strong steering.” Although the canopy provided protection from rain and sun, the operator could anticipate a noisy, hot and dusty workday. Steel wheels and a rigid frame would also have made for a very rough ride.

*Note to readers: the numbers in parentheses are the accession numbers of artifacts in the Museum’s collection.

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