This GP (General Purpose) tractor (serial #301611) was reportedly used on a farm near Fairmont, Nebraska, a town in Fillmore County, about 60 miles east-southeast of Grand Island. About 3000 GP 15-22 tractors were made from 1930 to 1936 (serial #300001-303001). The GP 15-22 was made to pull two plows. It was built with a 4 cylinder engine, a 4" x 4 1/2” bore and stroke, and was rated at 1200 RPM. It has four gears, three forward and one reverse. First gear could reach about 2.2 mph, second gear about 3.2 mph, and third gear about 4.0 mph. The reverse speed could reach about 2.5 mph. This tractor weighs about 3,861 pounds.
The Massey-Harris GP's first Nebraska Tractor Test was #177, performed between May 5th and May 27th, 1930. It tested at 19.91 HP at the drawbar and 24.84 HP on the belt. You can view a pdf of the original tractor test #177 by clicking or touching here. The GP was tested again between May 22th and June 12th, 1931. During this second test, the GP was rated at 16.79 HP at the drawbar and 22.50 HP on the belt. This second test, Nebraska Tractor Test #191, can be viewed as a pdf by clicking or touching here.
Although you may not see the identifying label from the walkway, this Massey-Harris GP has a Hercules engine manufactured by the Hercules Motors Corporation of Canton, Ohio. This engine has two patents. The first is dated June 4, 1918. The second is dated September 20, 1921. This tractor also has a magneto starter made by the American Bosch Magneto Corporation of Springfield, Massachusetts, and a Murphy Safety Switch gauge made by the Rochester Manufacturing Company of Rochester, New York. The Murphy Safety Switch was patented by Frank W. Murphy, filed on November 12, 1941 and acquired on September 19, 1944. The patent number is 2358729 and can be viewed as a pdf by clicking or touching here. The Hercules engine and Bosch magneto may be original to this tractor. The Murphy Safety Switch was apparently added later.
Although you may not see the identifying label from the walkway, this Massey-Harris GP has a Hercules engine manufactured by the Hercules Motors Corporation of Canton, Ohio. This engine has two patents. The first is dated June 4, 1918. The second is dated September 20, 1921. This tractor also has a magneto starter made by the American Bosch Magneto Corporation of Springfield, Massachusetts, and a Murphy Safety Switch gauge made by the Rochester Manufacturing Company of Rochester, New York. The Murphy Safety Switch was patented by Frank W. Murphy, filed on November 12, 1941 and acquired on September 19, 1944. The patent number is 2358729 and can be viewed as a pdf by clicking or touching here. The Hercules engine and Bosch magneto may be original to this tractor. The Murphy Safety Switch was apparently added later.
Notes
One source for some of the specs on this tractor is Robert N. Pripps. The Big Book of Massey Tractors: The Complete History of Massey-Harris and Massey Ferguson Tractors . . . Plus Collectibles, Sales Memorabilia, and Brochures. St. Paul, MN: Voyageur Press, 2006. A great website for information on tractor specs is Tractor Data. The Tractor Data web page for this Massey-Harris tractor can be accessed by clicking or touching here.
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