Elsewhere, streamlining had taken the auto industry by storm, and the railroad, also. The new, sleek, flowing lines promised speed, power, and excitement. They oozed prestige, and success; the new streamlined automobiles, even if dirty and drab from dirt roads, were instantly destinguishable from their not-so-much-older ancestors, providing their owners with a 'keep up with the Jones's' notch in their cap.
Farm tractors, however, were the last to get this treatment, and practically all bore very simple, ulitarian in nature sheet metal cladding. Only the top of the engine was covered, and only for some protection from the elements, not style. Fenders were usually generous, but only for protection from the steel wheels, and the copious amount of mud and dirt they spaded up and brought around with them, revolution after revolution. Radiators were given no more thought of style, only a mesh (if at all) covering for protection. So there, for the vast majority, was the formula of style: a slightly peaked (for drainage), plain hood; a set of full fenders; and a flat mesh covering over the front of the radiator, often with a starting crank sticking out underneath: a constant and sobering reminder of the cantankerous method and nature of starting it in the morning. Many tractors were only painted in drab grey, allowing even less yet distinguishability from other brands. They offered no more visual excitement than an old claw hammer.
1938, however, ushered in a whole new image for the farm tractor at Massey-Harris.
The 1938 Massey-Harris Twin Power 101 burst onto the agscape in a flash of bright red, yellow, and chrome. Sleek, sweeping lines, festooned with row after row of punched louvers, characterised the appearance of the 101. A fully rounded, stylized grille, with accenting strips of chrome wrapped around it, flowed into full side panels for the engine, continung all the way to the operator's platform. The hood was rounded on top, and over the front of the grille. Scallops were created in the lower sides of the hood, and continued all the way to the dash. The dash itself was all new, and wrapped around the back of the gas tank and the battery compartment. Battery compartment? Yes: the Twin Power 101 came with push button electric starting as standard equipment. The sleek, auto-inspired instrument panel contained oil pressure, ampereage, and water temperature gauges, a choke control knob, key switch, and the push button for the starter. Starting the tractor was now as thoughtless, effortless, and convenient a task as starting the most modern and prestigious automobile. The frame was cast in a smooth, continuous, scalloped form that complimented and almost mirrored the hood, unifying the sleek, overall effect of the streamlining process.
Under the long, sleek new hood was a relative newcomer on the agricultural scene as well: a six cylinder engine. M-H opted for Chrysler's well proven, T116 six cylinder, in line, L head engine, of 200 cubic inch displacement. It had a modern, vaccum advance distributor. That, and the rest of the electrical system were provided by Autolite. A Pierce belt driven governor was added to adapt the automotive engine to the constant RPM requirement of agricultural usage. It very responsively controlled engine RPM at any throttle setting. A Modine radiator handled the cooling duty, and a Donaldson air cleaner provided a steady supply of particle-free air to the Marvel Shebler carburator. A Borg and Beck, foot operated clutch controlled the smooth engagement of the auto-derived, 4 speed forward, 1 reverse transmission.
The 101 Twin Power was available in both standard and row crop configurations.
As to the Twin Power label sported prominently on the forward part of the hood in contrasting yellow decals, it referred to the dual modes of field and road operation, and the belt pulley operation as well. A special throttle linkage was connected to the 4th gear and belt pulley shifter rails. When 4th gear or the belt pulley was engaged, this linkage allowed an engine RPM increase of 200 from the regular governed speed of 1800 to 2000 for extra power running large threshing machines in belt pulley operation, or over ten percent extra speed on the road.
Yes, the sleek styling wasn't all show and no go--the Twin Power 101 had a governed speed of nearly 20 miles per hour on the road. This was a vast improvement in transport speed over the ox plodding rates of former steel wheeled tractors. There was no possible way of travelling at such a rate of speed on the spade lugged steel tractor wheels of virtually and almost literally yesterday, so the Twin Power 101 came with the recent and revolutionary rubber tractor tires as standard equipment. Steel wheels were still available, but few opted for them on such a state-of-the-art tractor. Rubber tires granted ever so much more operator comfort and quiet, protected the tractor itself from the tremendous shock loads unforgiving steel lugs transferred through it on hard surfaces, and gave greater traction to boot. And, allowed greater transport and working speeds.
The 1938 Massey-Harris Twin Power 101 was Hollywood come to the Heartland. It had all the class of an Auburn Speedster. It looked faster than the family car. This tractor was a jolting injection of pure excitement into the farm power scene. It was thoroughly modern, sleek, and prestigious. It evoked speed, power, and pleasure of operation... and it delivered! On the showroom floor, it commanded attention. On the road, it turned heads. In the field, it provided a new level of performance, comfort and convenience.
The 101 was practical and progressive at the same time. It was a dramatic change in midrange farm power. Styling had come to the farm--in a big way--to stay.
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