Jump to content

Massey Ferguson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Cjwlabasst (talk | contribs) at 01:58, 13 October 2008 (→‎Product Images: Added image of massey ferguson super 90). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Massey Ferguson Limited
Company typePrivate
IndustryAgriculture
Founded1958
HeadquartersCoventry, Great Britain
ProductsAgriculture, Consumer & Commercial Equipment, Financial Services
Websitewww.masseyferguson.com
A standard-tread[1] 1948 Massey-Harris 20
File:Massey-Ferguson-MF135-Field.jpg
A Massey Ferguson MF 135
A Massey Ferguson MF 3660 tractor from the early 1990s
Massey Ferguson 6490 from the mid-2000s

Massey Ferguson Limited was a major agricultural equipment manufacturer based in England. The company was formed by a merger between Massey Harris and the Ferguson tractor company in 1953, creating the company Massey Harris Ferguson. However in 1958 the name was shortened for the first time to coin the brand Massey Ferguson. Today the company exists only as a brand name used by AGCO, but remains a major seller around the world.

History

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 Daniel's eldest son Hart Almerrin 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. West 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 USA firms from competing in Canada.[citation needed] A labor shortage throughout the country also helped to make the firm's mechanized equipment very attractive.

In 1891, Massey 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 acquired the Johnson Harvester Company located in Batavia New York, making it one of Canada's first multinational firms. In the 1930s, it introduced the first self-propelled combine harvester. Massey Harris also produced one of the world's first four-wheel drive tractors. 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 Masseys to run the company. Other members of the family went on to do other accomplishments: Vincent Massey became Governor General of Canada and Raymond Massey became a noted actor in USA films. The Massey family used their fortune to improve the city of Toronto, and many institutions, such as the University of Guelph, University of Toronto, Upper Canada College, Crescent School, Appleby College, Massey Hall and Metropolitan United Church, were partially financed by the Masseys.

In 1953, the company merged with the Ferguson Company to become Massey-Harris-Ferguson, before finally taking on its current name in 1958. But the company soon began to decline financially. Facing increasing international competition and an agricultural sector diminishing in importance, the firm began to struggle.

In 1955, Massey purchased the Australian H.V. McKay company, manufacturers of the brand Sunshine. Hugh Victor McKay invented the stripper harvester in 1884, the first machine to combine the functions of reaping, threshing and winnowing grain from a standing crop. McKay later established a manufacturing base at Ballarat, and then transferred to Braybrook Junction, re-named Sunshine in 1907 after the harvester's brand name. By the 1920’s the H.V. McKay Company was running the largest implement factory in the southern hemisphere covering 30.4 hectares (76 acres), and were leading the international agricultural industry through the development of the world's first self-propelled harvester in 1924.

In 1930 the H.V. McKay Company was granted exclusive Australian distribution of Massey-Harris machinery. The company was then renamed H.V. McKay Massey Harris Pty Ltd. Throughout World War II H.V. McKay Massey Harris exported over 20,000 Sunshine drills, disc harrows and binders to England to facilitate the increase in food production.

In 1959, Massey bought 100% of Landini, based in Italy. Landini has built many models for Massey over the years, especially vineyard and crawler models. Massey sold 66% to ARGO SpA in 1989, some to Iseki later on, and the final portion was sold to AGCO in 2000. ARGO and AGCO still provide models to one another.[2]

In 1959 Perkins Engines of Peterborough, England, was purchased. Perkins having been the main diesel engine supplier for Massey Ferguson for many years. In 1990 taking over Dorman Diesels of Stafford to form Perkins Engines (Stafford) Ltd. Followed by Perkins in the 1980s also taking over Rolls Royce (Diesels) Ltd, to form Perkins engines (Shrewsbury) Ltd. Perkins was sold off in 1998 by then owner Lucas Verity to Caterpillar Inc. who were a major customer for their smaller & medium power engines, Caterpillar being a major producer of large diesel engines for static and mobile application.[3]

In 1966, Massey purchased 32% of the Spanish tractor and auto company Ebro, or Motor Iberica. Ebro had previously built Ford tractors under license, but now began building models for Massey, and Massey models under license. Massey sold its interest to Nissan in the 1980s.[4]

Starting in 1969, Massey Ferguson started producing a line of snowmobiles by the name Ski Whiz. The snowmobile line sold until 1977, when sales declined.

In the 1970s, Massey Ferguson came under the control of Conrad Black. During the late 1970s, production was relocated to a new large facility in Brantford, Ontario. In 1978 Massey Ferguson was the first to introduce an electronic control system for the three-point hitch on a tractor.[citation needed]

In 1973, Massey purchased the German company Eicher, and many Massey-licensed Eichers were built. They later sold their interest, and Dromson now owns the company. They now build specialized tractors for vineyards and such.

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 1992, a management buyout of MF industrial created the company Fermec which finally ceased trading in 2001 when it was swallowed up by Terex. This encompassed all construction equipment from Massey. It was then purchased by J.I.Case in 1997.[5]

Despite some of the companies' hardships, Massey Ferguson was selling 25% more tractors than its nearest competitors at this time. In 1995 Massey Ferguson’s worldwide holdings were purchased by the US-based AGCO Corporation. 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. Since 1962, Massey Ferguson has been the world's leading tractor brand. Currently, there are more Massey tractors than any other, worldwide.

Models

Massey Ferguson developed a wide range of agricultural vehicles and have a large share in the market across the world especially in Europe. The companies first mass produced tractor was the Massey Harris Ferguson TVO which was quickly replaced by the Diesel 20. In 1958 the MF35, the first Massey Ferguson branded tractor (a Ferguson design) rolled off the factory floor. These tractors were massively popular and sold across the UK, Australia, Ireland and the United States. 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, 150, 165, 168, 175, 178, 185 and 188. Later came the MF 550, 565, 575, 590, 595 (500 series). From the early 80s 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 362,375,390, 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.

In the mid '90s the 6100 and 8100 series were released, including the 6150, 6180 and 8130.

Massey Ferguson MF 8290 tractor towing a grain trailer
File:Massey-Ferguson-MF8400-Motion.jpg
Massey Ferguson MF 8400 tractor
File:Massey-Ferguson-CEREA.jpg
Massey Ferguson CEREA combine harvester

Today

Currently it is the most highly sought after farmer's tractor in the world. Tractors that came after the 300 series included the 4200 range, the 4300 range, 3600 (early 90s), 3000 (early to mid 90s), 3100 (mid 90s), 6100 (late 90s), 6200 (late 90s/early 2000s), 8200 (late 90s/early 2000s), 5400 (present), 6400(present), 7400(present) and 8400(present).

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

Massey Ferguson has become famous amongst sports fans in Spain, thanks to an advertisement regularly run on the radio program Carrusel Deportivo. In it, the host Pepe Domingo Castaño relates its many qualities and awards before singing a Corrido about the tractor.

Agricultural Equipment - Current Production

Tractors
Combine Harvesters
Combine Headers
Square Balers
Round Balers
Self Propelled Windrowers
Planters
Loaders
Loaders
AgTV

Grounds Care

Petrol Ride-On Mowers
Professional Mowers

Product Images

  • Massey Ferguson 35.
    Massey Ferguson 35.
  • Massey Ferguson MF 135.
    Massey Ferguson MF 135.
  • Massey Ferguson MF 3360.
    Massey Ferguson MF 3360.
  • Massey Ferguson 698.
    Massey Ferguson 698.
  • Massey Ferguson self-propelled combine in use.
    Massey Ferguson self-propelled combine in use.
  • Massey Ferguson Super 90 Diesel
    Massey Ferguson Super 90 Diesel

Licensees

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

  • Ebro - Spanish company purchased and later sold by MF.
  • Eicher - German company purchased and later sold by MF.
  • Farmwell - assembled by Samarakoon Tractor Industries Private Limited in Sri Lanka
  • GIAD - assembled by Giad Automotive Industry Co in Sudan.
  • IMT - Industriya Masina I.Traktoru in Yugoslavia.
  • ITMCo - Iran Tractor Mfg Co in Iran. Own/sell under VenIran, TajIran, MFT and Eder Derdison names.
  • Landini - Italian company purchased and later sold by MF.
  • Millat - Millat Tractors in Pakistan.
  • Sutcliff - license built
  • TAFE - assemble and license designs, in India.
  • TajIran - joint venture between Iran Tractor and Homa Company in Tajikistan. Assembles tractors.
  • Ursus - former licensee in Poland.
  • Uzel - Uzel Tractor Plant in Turkey
  • VenIran - joint venture between Iran Tractor and Corporation Venezuala de Guayana in Venezuela. Assembles tractors.
  • Zadrugar - of Yugoslavia. Built the MF 35 under license.

References

  1. ^ Pripps, Robert N. The Big Book of Farm Tractors (Vancouver, BC: Raincoast Books, 2001), p.104.
  2. ^ http://www.landini.it
  3. ^ The Massey Legacy, by John Farnworth, ISBN 0-85236-403-2
  4. ^ Ford Iberica - Ebro
  5. ^ TEREX Construction

Sources

  • Pripps, Robert N. The Big Book of Farm Tractors. Vancouver, BC: Raincoast Books, 2001. ISBN 1-55192-393-9.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Massey_Ferguson&oldid=244897949"