Prarie Gold

[Dave B from S.C. NE]

Would a 1958 MM 445 be the same Prarie Gold and Red colors as 1940 MM tractors? Thanks.
 

[Alan K]

I believe they are different Prairie Golds, not sure about the red. Someone will know more than me on the subject...
 

[tylerj]

The 445 would be prairie gold #2. Early 1940's MM's used prairie gold #1, while later 40's letter series tractors and the 335, 445 and 5 star tractors used prairie gold #2. the minneapolis-moline.com website has a nice page explaining what colors are correct for each tractor.
 

[maj-mm]

corection to other post. NOT PG#2. Power Yellow. Power Yellow was used on 335, 445, 5 Star, 4, Star, Gvi, M5 Etc. It is more orangish than Prairie Gold.

http://jetstar.minneapolis-moline.com/paint_old.html
Untitled URL Link

 

[rvirgil_KS]

445 would be Prairie Gold #2 with Cherry Red wheels

PG 3 was a darker, more "butterscotch" and began in 1959

Yellow began about 1963
Untitled URL Link

 

[MMDEL]

[quote="maj-mm"](quoted from post at 04:54:11 10/08/12) corection to other post. NOT PG#2. Power Yellow. Power Yellow was used on 335, 445, 5 Star, 4, Star, Gvi, M5 Etc. It is more orangish than Prairie Gold.

I'm afraid this is NOT! correct!! Gvi and M5 are not the same color as the Constellation series. The Constellation series are as was stated before, PG 2. The Gvi and M5 were darker and then WHITE changed the color and the model numbers.
MMDEL
 

[maj-mm]

This is INCORRECT! This list is in Error. There in NO paint called PG3. This is a great dispute amungst the MM Community. I have argued (upon deaf ears) with this color guide since it was published. Eventually it will be corrected, I hope.

1936 MM's were Yellow
1937 (ca.) to 1947 Prairie Gold #1.
1947 to ca. 1955 (letter Series) PG #2.
335, 445, 5-Star thru M5 & Gvi = Power Yellow
M602 newer (except Red & Green Tractors) = Energy Yellow (also known as Industrial Yellow)

There are also several shaved of "Red" used thru the years, from "Cherry Red" with a nice Purple tint to an almost Massey-Ferguson Red in mid 1950's to White Corporate "Sumac Red" used in 1960's & newer.

I grew up with 1 owner 1951 ZAS & 1957 335, thy ARE DIFFERENT Shades of paint. the 335 is the more Orange Power Yellow. I have read several References to these paint changes from MM, in my MM Product history Research. Eventually when Publishes it will cover this as well as much more.
 

[maj-mm]

I have read in 445 Intoduction Papers, that the new series of tractors (some refer as constelation Series) were to be painted a new color, to be known as "Power Yellow" It is NOT Prairies Gold #2. PG2 was used from about 1948 thu the ZB, UB GB, etc. However, for Simplicity or error some MM Repair Catalogs continued to refer to Prairie Gold, even thru the White years in the 1960's. Hence so many MM's being repainted wrong colors in the 1960's & 1970's.

Also back then, MM bought Paint from various suppliers, so there were many "slight differences" in paint, but we as collectors & Historians must call them by their correct names, as to have the historical record documented correctly.

White changed to "Energy Yellow"
 

[Dave from S.C. NE]

Thanks everyone for all the Help. I have a Martin Senoir (Napa) paint guide. There is a Prarie gold and next to it says Orange. Very close in color. I take it the Orange than would be for my 445?
 

[maj-mm]

I must correct White did NOT convert to Energy Yellow, that started with the Jet Star 2, prior to WMC takeover of Moline.
 

[maj-mm]

This color thing has been bugging me all day, so I've been doing more digging. Apparently, MM called it Power Yellow upon introduction of the POWER-Lined Series, but again started calling it Prairie Gold. Reference Jet Star & 4-Star Literature, Harvest Bronze & Prairie Gold are listed as colors, so this must be where Paint committie came up with PG#3. So apparently Power Yellow & Prairie gold (#3) can be called either interchangeably. Ref. Big Mo & MoTrac refer to "Highway Yellow". I will also add I have parts Manuals Reference in late 1960's to Prairie Gold, then it was "energy Yellow" so takes that fro what it's worth.
 

[MMDEL]

maj-mm: I agree with you on everything except The M5 Gvi. I have had MM eguipment on the farm since 1939. And sold them from 1960. I swear the M5 and the Gvi are a darker more butterscoch color. As you say various names were given to them. The paint board gave them a 1,2,3 number to simplify things.
MMDEL
 

[oleclint]

We have a 1939 " R" that is serial # 82. When restoring it , we found some lighter P G on the air cleaner bracket that is under the hood . No sun lite could of faded it. I am very sure that it is the original color. We worked around that bracket very carefully to save that spot of paint. After the new paint job dried , it is a little darker that the original P G. was.
I have been told by some 'old timers' that the early P G was lighter than what is seen on most of the M -M s. From what we have ,it seems to verifie that statement.
The 4 Star was the same shade of P G that the M 5 and G 6 was. clint
 

[Ken in Illinois]

MM Del has it correct. As stated, M5 and GVI were a unique pair regarding color. Ken
 

[maj-mm]

we had 3 4-Stars, one Super. All three were different shades of Yellow. one matching the 335 as "power yellow" as I call it. One the Oranger Butterscotch like many M5's & Gvi's the 3rd, lighter like some G704's, but not as light as the Energy Yellow on M602.