The Old Iron Zone

The Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company of Hopkins, Minnesota, one of the most successful builders of steam engines entered the tractor market in 1911 with the "Universal" tractor, built by the Universal Tractor Company of Stillwater Minnesota.  This tractor was also sold by a few other companies, including Rumely.  In 1911, they  hired Walter J. McVicker, a well known engine and tractor builder to design their own tractor.  He designed for them the "Minneapolis Farm Motor," which the next year evolved into the 25-50.  The 25-50 is unique among Minneapolis heavy weights, as it is the only model with an inline motor.  In late 1912, Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co. introduced their largest model, the 40-80, wich had  a 4 cylinder L-Head engine with a 7 1/4 bore and 9" stroke. The 40-80 had 85" drive wheels and weighed 22,500 pounds.  Two years later they introduced a 20-40 model, which was essentially a scaled down version of the 40-80.  The 20-40 like the 40-80 had a 4 cylinder L-Head engine, but with a 5 3/4" bore and 7" stroke. The 20-40 was produced until 1920 when it was replaced by the 22-44.  In 1915 Minneapolis rounded out their line with the introduction of a 15-30 model.  The 15-30 had a 4 cylinder engine with a 5" bore and 7" stroke.  It is often assumed that the 40-80 was re-rated as a result of the Nebraska tests, but if you look at the test documentation you will see that it is listed as a 35-70.  In the test, the 35-70 put out 38 horsepower on the drawbar, and 70 on the belt in the rated tests, while in the maximum load test it put out as much as 52 hp on the drawbar.

It should also be stated that the  35-70 model was not simply a down-rated 40-80, it was also improved by being changed from L-Head to valve-in-head design, it was produced this way until the 1929 merger.  In 1921 the aforementioned 22-44 model was introduced, it had a quarter inch larger bore than its 20-40 predecessor, giving it a 6" bore and a 7" stroke.  Like the improved 35-70 model, the 22-44 also had valve in head design.  In 1929 The Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company, Minneapolis Steel and Machinery and the Moline Plow company merged to form the Minneapolis Moline Company.


Our 40-80 Minneapolis Threshing in 1975