Threshermen's reunion and stampede
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- Published on Friday, July 15, 2016
Submitted photo. Big Roy unveiled to the crowd at a Versatile event on July 6, 2016. The tractor has been returned to mint condition and ready to undertake the tour of various farm shows that Versatile has planned for the tractor this year. Big Roy will be at the 2016 Reunion but will leave after the Reunion to continue its tour.
Submitted
Manitoba Agricultural Museum
In 1966, Versatile entered the tractor business by designing a prototype four wheel drive tractor. This was a huge gamble for the Versatile Company, which was successfully manufacturing and selling swathers, combines, augers and other equipment at the time. A four wheel drive tractor was much more complicated and, in 1966, four wheel drive tractors were very uncommon. The other tractor manufacturers thought that the market for four wheel drive tractors was so small it was not worth the effort. Versatile, however, thought that there was a market for a four wheel drive tractor that was affordable. Versatile’s prototype tractor resulted in the D-100 and G-100 tractor models entering production at Versatile.
The D-100 was powered by a 6 cylinder Ford diesel engine and the G-100 was powered by a Chrysler gas V-8 engine. Over 100 D-100s and G-100s were sold in 1966. This was a sales success for Versatile, which immediately followed up with improved four wheel drive tractor models: D-118, G-125 and the D-145. Versatile began mass production of these tractors, which brought down costs. Between the affordability of these tractors and the rugged, simple design, farmers embraced Versatile four wheel drive tractors. Advance orders poured in and Versatile had to expand their plant to meet these orders. Versatile was in the four wheel drive tractor business to stay and followed up their initial success with a succession of models all introducing new features and more horsepower, as farmers found ways to utilize this power.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Versatile’s entry into tractor manufactury, as these tractors are a Manitoba success story, the Manitoba Agricultural Museum decided this anniversary should be marked with a celebration at the 2016 Threshermen’s Reunion and Stampede.
The Versatile 50th anniversary celebration’s centrepiece is “Big Roy” the prototype four-axle, 600 horsepower tractor built by Versatile in 1977 and donated to the Museum in the mid 1980s. Big Roy was completely overhauled by Versatile in the winter of 2015-2016 in preparation for Versatile taking the tractor on a tour of farm shows this year. The overhaul was so thorough that the rear view closed circuit TV system has been restored to operation! The tractor is in absolutely stunning condition and is a “must see”. The Manitoba Agricultural Museum members, staff and board of directors would take this opportunity to express their thanks to Versatile for their work on this tractor, which guarantees the tractor will be in operable condition well into the future.
Along with Big Roy, other Versatile tractors will be at the celebration, including the Museum’s D-100 and prototype bi -directional. The celebration will include tractors and Versatile memorabilia from a number of outside collectors. Between Big Roy, other Versatile tractors and items, the 50th anniversary celebration will be an event well worth attending.
On Sunday, July 31, 2016 the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and the Manitoba Agricultural Museum will host Harvesting Hope: a World Record to Help the Hungry. To help end global hunger, over 500 volunteers from 100 communities across Canada will operate 125 early 20th century threshing machines to harvest a 100 acre crop of wheat. When in operation, the equipment will require over four football fields of space. For more information on attending or how to participate please visit http://www.harvestinghope.ca/ or follow us on twitter @harvesthope2016.
The Manitoba Agricultural Museum is open year round and operates a website at www.ag-museum.mb.ca, which can provide visitors with information on the Museum.
