July/August 2026 Antique Power
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cover feature | Minneapolis-Moline UDLX
The July/August 2026 issue of Antique Power magazine is available in our gift shop and will be available in subscriber mailboxes and on newsstands soon. Bill Koski’s 1949 Chamberlain Type 40KA is this issue’s cover tractor!
An Australian Original
Bill Koski’s 1949 Chamberlain Type 40KA
Story by Madison Nickel, Photos by Al Rogers
In the years leading up to the Second World War, Australian agriculture faced a unique challenge with vast distances, immense acreage, and conditions far removed from those encountered in North America or Europe. Into this landscape stepped a determined Victorian mechanic and engineer, A.H. “Bob” Chamberlain, whose vision would shape one of Australia’s most distinctive tractor manufacturers.
During the 1930s, Chamberlain began developing a tractor prototype tailored specifically to Australian broadacre farming. His guiding principle was simple but transformative: design a machine not as a scaled import, but as a purpose-built solution for the continent’s expansive, rugged conditions. This early prototype—constructed with an eye toward durability, simplicity, and pulling power—would ultimately form the foundation of the company’s first production tractor, the 40K.
After the war, the timing for such a machine was ideal. Australia was seeking to expand agricultural production, and government interest in domestic manufacturing aligned with Chamberlain’s ambitions. With encouragement from the Western Australian government, the fledgling company established operations in a former munitions factory at Welshpool, near Perth. In 1949, Chamberlain Industries Proprietary Limited (aka Pty Ltd) officially began producing the tractor, marking the beginning of a uniquely Australian tractor story.
The first production model, the 40K, embodied the philosophy behind the prototype. Powered by a horizontally opposed, twin-cylinder kerosene engine producing roughly 40–45 horsepower, the machine was heavy, robust, and ideally suited to pulling wide implements across the large farms it was built for. Its design reflected a departure from lighter, European-style tractors, instead emphasizing traction, endurance, and simplicity—qualities essential for Australian farmers working isolated properties.
The 40K quickly established Chamberlain’s reputation. Within a few short years, the company captured a significant share of the domestic market for large tractors, particularly in Western Australia. The success of the 40K also set the stage for a rapid evolution in design, as Chamberlain moved to meet growing demand for more power and improved efficiency. The 40KA was released with a slightly different transmission and a few other updates.
By the early 1950s, Chamberlain was transitioning from kerosene to diesel power—an important step in improving reliability and fuel efficiency. Models such as the 60DA and 70DA introduced General Motors’ and locally developed diesel engines, marking the company’s maturation into a full-line tractor manufacturer.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the July/August 2026 issue of Antique Power magazine!
Other articles in this issue include:
From the Editor
Letters to the Editor
Canada Connection: The Phoenix Centiped
Was this weird-looking beast the original crawler?Paper Farming: The tractors that Patch built
“Big Bill” Goes to Waterloo
The Grout Museum’s 1916 Galloway Farmobile represents a one-time giant in the ag industry!
Story and photos by Jim VolgarinoOne Tough Allis
Charlie Kaniecki’s 1967 Allis-Chalmers One-Seventy diesel is still working the family farm!
Story by Robert Gabrick, Photos by Eric NeurathAn Australian Original
Bill Koski’s 1949 Chamberlain Type 40KA
Story by Madison Nickel, Photos by Al RogersAn Oliver Hart-Parr Opportunity
David Elmore restored this 1937 Oliver Hart-Parr 70 for a friend, and it became a gift from the family.
Story and Photos by Chad ElmoreClassifieds
Show Guide
Dr. Dan’s Tractor Clinic: Scrap or Save?
Are your rotted-out tractor wheels the next washing machine? Maybe not!Of Grease & Chaff: Sentimental Journey
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