King said part of the appeal of the 1918 Case 20-40 is quite simply that Case has always been known as a powerhouse in the industry, building dependable tractors that run well since the company’s earliest days. “You get that, plus they were fairly easy to work on, with this style featuring the automotive radiator, unlike the earlier models,” he said. Case built more than 4,200 of the Case Model 40 (known as the Case 20-40, in reference to its 20 drawbar and 40 belt HP) between 1912 and 1919, using a two-cylinder, horizontally opposed engine of its own design with a unique ratchet starting system. That automotive- style radiator King spoke of, a cell-type radiator with upper and lower holding tanks, replaced the earlier tubular-type radiator and cooling tank in 1916, with its induced draft system augmented with a fan driven off the engine flywheel. And like King had alluded to, it was ultimately the Case 20-40’s reputation for reliability that led to the growth of the market for Case gasoline tractors, leading to the shift from steam to gasoline. Having recently put his Indiana farm up on the market as he relocates to southern Kentucky, King said he’s now looking for ways to handle his tractor collection, with one of those ways being the sale of this 1918 Case 20-40 at Mecum Gone Farmin’s 2021 Fall Premier. “I don’t want to sell everything, but I’ve moved to southern Kentucky, and in the hills down there, the tractors just don’t work out very well,” he said. Thus far, King said the process of consigning his tractor with Gone Farmin’ has been a pleasant one, with Gone Farmin’ representatives taking his information and getting the ball rolling on his consignment right away. “It shouldn’t matter if it’s a $2,000 tractor or an $80-$100,000 tractor; it’s still a customer, and you guys have been absolutely fabulous on that end of it,” he said. As someone who enjoys working his tractors, King said he hopes his tractor sells to a family that’s going to use it and ensure that it doesn’t get tucked away in a barn somewhere. “I hope it goes to someone that takes it to shows, gets it out and displays it, uses it,” he said. “I have nothing against the guys that buy tractors and put them in a barn and just look at them, but I personally just don’t get any enjoyment out of that. I’ve always taken my stuff to small shows that usually don’t get to see that kind of thing, and that gets me a lot of enjoyment. People aren’t just walking by it because there’s a line of 20 to 50 prairie tractors sitting there; people walk by it and actually look at it, look at the engineering from 100 years ago, and that’s just real cool to me.” Clint King’s passion for vintage agricultural machinery is ultimately what led him down the path to this 1918 Case 20-40, and hailing from a critical turning point in the company’s lengthy history of being a reputable, dependable brand, it’s easy to see why he viewed it as a worthy trade for his Rumely. What was once worthy of King’s attention is sure to now capture the attention of like-minded antique tractor enthusiasts in East Moline, Illinois, this November, and one of those enthusiasts is certain to admire this tractor enough to place the highest bid as it rolls across the auction block at the 2021 Gone Farmin’ Fall Premier. OFFERED NOVEMBER 12 AT THE 2021 GONE FARMIN’ FALL PREMIER MECUM.COM // 89
