Diesel World – October 2019

 The Golden Eagle 40D4, sometime also known as the 40PD (PD for Perkins Diesel) was introduced in 1955 with a

Perkins L4 four-cylinder diesel. It was most-often seen without the Black Hawk decal, which appeared for 1956 only and

production was mixed with Buda-powered Model 40s. The 270 cubic inch Perkins L4 (4.25 x 4.75-in B&S) was introduced

in 1952 and used in a variety of agricultural applications into 1961, including in Massey-Ferguson and Fordson tractors.

With a redesign, it reappeared as the Perkins 4.236. It was a sleeved, three-main, indirect-injected diesel, with a 17.5:1

compression ratio. It was typically rated at about 50 hp at 1500 rpm (flywheel) for tractors, but in some applications it was

spun up to 2000 rpm and made 62 horsepower. Torque was a respectable 182 lbs-ft at 1000 rpm.

 The Black Hawk was a variation of the Deluxe as shown here, and the

badging replaced the normal Cockshutt decal but included the deluxe, two-

tone paint shown here and a couple of small extras. The Model 50 was the

big boy in the lineup, powered by a Buda 273 ci six-cylinder diesel.

CanadianMilitarySpecials

GlenBerry’s 1954 Cockshutt40Dwasusedasa flightlinetugfrom 1954 to 1966at a RoyalCanadianAirForcebase

duringtheheightof theColdWar.It’sa fairlystandard40Dbutwitha Tokheimcabandanelectricalsystemcutoutto

preventradiointerference.In thisera,the40Dwaspoweredbya 230ci Buda-Lanovasix-cylinderdiesel.

Again, pardon the gasser and that it has no direct relation to Cockshutt. This image is worth showing because it’s

one of the few hundred Model C Co-Ops built in 1944 at the Shelbyville, Indiana, factory. The company was given a

waiver late into World War II to build tractors. Farming was an important part of the war effort, but much of the ag

machinery industry had been converted to armament production and new tractors were in short supply. In this era,

there were still farms using horse-drawn equipment. Converting that equipment to tractors increased food production

for the war effort. Also, some farms needed to increase the size of their tractors or replace worn out equipment.

TRACTORTALK CHIPS OFF THE OLD BLOCK

tom line, they added a little eye candy to tractors sold here.

That came in the form of the Golden Eagle badging. When

Buda Engine became a part of Allis-Chalmers in 1953, a

long-running relationship began winding down. Cockshutt

turned to Perkins and, in 1955, the 40 was re-powered with a

Perkins 270 ci four and designated the 40D4. Those heading

south of the border were given a Golden Eagle decal. In ‘56

and ‘57, this was sometimes combined with “Black Hawk”

badging (read on).

So what is the Black Hawk all about? Part of the product line

acquired with the Ohio Cultivator was the Black Hawk corn

planter, which was only one legendary product from that com-

pany. Seeking to increase sales on tractors and implements

by connecting Cockshutt to an American implement manufac-

turer they had owned since 1952, they added “Black Hawk”

badging to most models starting in 1956. The Black Hawk

was equivalent to the Deluxe model, which had two-tone paint

and little updates like a cigarette lighter. By 1957, Cockshutt

had closed the Ohio plant, so the Black Hawk connection was

discontinued.

Gambles Farmcrest

The Farmcrest line was a short-lived Cockshutt side brand built for the

Gambles-Skogmo empire of department stores. The large organization bought

many regional department stores and operated them under their own names.

The Gambles stores were a Sears-type “everything” store. Starting in the late

40s, the Cockshutt Model 30 was rebranded the Gambles Farmcrest 30 and

retailed out of Gambles stores. Not many were sold and the program lasted

only a few years.

132 OCTOBER I 2019 • DIESEL WORLD http://www.dieselworldmag.com