massey ferguson

The History of Massey Ferguson

Massey Ferguson Limited is historically important Canadian agricultural equipment manufacturer.

The firm was founded in 1847 in Newcastle, Ontario by Daniel Massey as the Newcastle Foundry and Machine Manufactory. The company began making some of the world's first mechanical threshers, first by assembling parts from the United States and eventually designing and building their own equipment. The firm was taken over and expanded by his son Hart Massey who renamed it the Massey Manufacturing Co. and in 1879 moved the company to Toronto where it soon became one of the city's leading employers. The massive collections of factories on King St. W. became one of the best known features of the city. Massey expanded the company and began to sell its products internationally. Through extensive advertising campaigns he made it one of the most well known brands in Canada. The firm owed much of its success to Canadian tariffs that prevented the larger American firms from competing in Canada. A labour shortage throughout the country also made the firm's mechanized equipment very attractive.

In 1891, it merged with the A. Harris, Son & Co. Ltd. to become Massey-Harris Co. and became the largest agricultural equipment maker in the British Empire. In 1910, the company opened a factory in the United States, making it one of Canada's first multinational firms. In the 1930s, it introduced the first self-propelled combine harvester. Hart Massey's sons, Charles, Chester, Walter, and Fred became closely involved in the business and eventually took over its operations. They were, however, the last generation of Massey's to run the company. Other members of the family went on to do other things: Vincent Massey became Governor General of Canada and Raymond Massey became a noted actor in American films. The Massey family used their fortune to improve the city of Toronto, and many institutions, such as the University of Toronto, Upper Canada College, Massey Hall and Metropolitan United Church, were financed partially with Massey money.

In 1953, it merged with the Ferguson Company to become Massey-Harris-Fergusson, before finally taking on its current name in 1958. But the company soon began to decline. Facing increasing international competition and an agricultural sector diminishing in importance, the firm began to struggle. In the 1970s, it came under the control of Conrad Black. During the late 1970s, production was relocated to a new large facility in Brantford, Ontario. In 1981, Black arranged a government bail-out for the collapsing company and sold it to a group of investors who reorganized it as Varity Corporation. In the mid 1980s, Varity spun off several money-losing divisions into an entity called Massey Combines. Massey Combines became insolvent soon after, and its assets were re-acquired by Massey Ferguson. In 1994, the farm equipment divisions of Varity were sold to the American AGCO Corporation who continue to use Massey-Ferguson as a product line. In August 1996, Varity merged with Lucas Automotive to become LucasVarity. After a series of mergers and take-overs, the remains of LucasVarity were taken over by the US company TRW.

Massey Ferguson (under control by AGCO Corporation) have developed a huge range of agricultural vehicles and have a large share in the market across the world especially in Europe. The first real wholesale tractor was the Massey Ferguson TVO which was quickly replaced by the Diesel 20. Proceeding the Diesel 20 came the Massey Ferguson 35 and later 35X. These tractors were massively available and sold across the UK and Ireland in particular. Several other editions of tractors came later, but the next huge seller was the MF135, widely popular because of its reliability and power compared with other tractors at the time. Other tractors came that changed the image of tractors forever. These included the MF 145, 148, 165, 168, 175, 178, 185 and 188. Later came the MF 565, 568, 575, 578, 585, 588,590, 595, 599 (500 series). From the early 80's came the 200 series tractor, which included the MF 240, 245, 250, 255, 260, 265, 270, 275, 278, 280, 285, 290, 299. In the mid '80s the short-lived 600 series was released. This included the 690, 690T, 695, 698 and 699. The reason for poor sale was due to poor looks and cab awkwardness compared to its predecessors. In the late '80s, one of the greatest selling tractors of all time was released- the 300 series Massey Ferguson. Excellent power, simplicity of cab, high range of gears and components made the MF 300 series a roaring success especially in Europe. The range included the MF 390, 390T, 393, 394, 395, 398, and the most powerful and popular Massey Ferguson 399. Ranging from 72HP to 104HP, there was nothing this tractor could not do for a farmer of that time and still to this day. Currently it is the most highly sought after farmer's tractor (second-hand) in the world leading it to be very expensive in comparison to other tractors of the same specifications. Tractors that came after the 300 series included the 4200 range, the 4300 range and presently the 5400 range. MF produced many tractors in between that were aimed at a more niche market including "Datatronic" and "Dynashift/Powershift" machines. These included the 3600 (early 90's), 3000 (early to mid 90's), 3100 (mid 90's), 6100 (late 90's), 6200 (late 90's/early 2000's), 8200 (late 90's/early 2000's), 6400(present), 7400(present) and 8400(present).

AGCO/Massey factories build tractors for Challenger, Iseki and AGCO.

Models

Agricultural Equipment - Current Production

Tractors

• MF 200 series
• MF 400 series
• MF 400 series (EU Compliant)
• MF 600 series
• MF 2400 series - Compact
• MF 2400 series - Utility
• MF 3400 series
• MF 3400c series
• MF 5300 series
• MF 5400 series
• MF 6400 series
• MF 6400 Panoramic Cab
• MF 7400 series
• MF 7400 Panoramic Cab
• MF 8400 series

Combine Harvesters

• ACTIVA series
• BETA series
• CEREA series
• MF 3640 - MF 5650 series
• MF 8780 (Rotary) series

Combine Headers

• MF 1000 - MF 1200 series

Square Balers

• MF 135 - MF 139 series (Small)
• MF 185 SII - MF 190 series (Large)

Round Balers

• MF 163F - MF 169V series

Planters

• MF 555 series

Loaders

• MF 900 series

Loaders

• MF 8900 series

AgTV

• MF 400 - MF 650 series

Grounds Care

Petrol Ride-On Mowers

• MF 2107 - MF 3320HE series

Professional Mowers

• MF 2927D series

Product Images

Licensees

Massey Ferguson is the most widely sold brand of agricultural machinery in the world. The brand and designs are licensed to a variety of companies around the world including:

• Farmwell - assembled in Sri Lanka by Samarakoon Tractor Industries.
• GIAD - assembled by Giad Automotive Industry Co in Sudan.
• IMT - Industriya Masina I.Traktoru in Yugoslavia.
• ITMCo - Iran Tractor Mfg Co in Iran.
• Millat - Millat Tractors in Pakistan.
• TAFE - assemble and license designs, in India.
• Ursus - former licensee in Poland. I don't believe they have current agreements.
• Uzel - Uzel Tractor Plant in Turkey
• VenIran - VenIran factory in Venezuela.

External links

• Massey-Ferguson Tractors
• Massey-Ferguson Tractors - UK/Ireland/Eire
• Massey-Ferguson Tractors - USA/Canada
• Harry Ferguson Story
• Private Networking in a Multinational
• TRW
• Massey-Harris-Ferguson Collection at the University of Guelph Library, Archival and Special Collections
• GIAD
• IMT
• ITMCo
• Millat
• TAFE
• Ursus
• Uzel
• VenIran