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Massey Harris 744D EUX 811

Massey-Harris 744D of 1949 fitted with a Perkins diesel engine

Massey-Harris was started in Canada in 1891, created by the merger of the Massey & Harris manufacturing companies.

History

Massey Manufacturing Co.

The firm was founded in 1847 in Newcastle, Ontario by Daniel Massey as the Newcastle Foundry and Machine Manufacturers. 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 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 American firms from competing in Canada.[citation needed] A labour shortage throughout the country also helped to make the firm's mechanized equipment very attractive.

A. Harris, Son & Co. Ltd

(Details required)


Massey Harris 201

Massey Harris 201 (One of only 503 made) on the Massey Ferguson owners group Stand at the at the 2008 Newby Hall Vintage Show in Yorkshire.

The Merger Of Massey & Harris companies

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 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. 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 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, Crescent School, Appleby College, Massey Hall and Metropolitan United Church, were partially financed by the Masseys.

J I Case Plow Works Company Take over

In 1928 after 2 years of negotiations to market Case tractors, Massey Harris bought the company, and gained a tractor to add to there line up. The Wallis tractor was then developed to form the Challenger and Pacemaker models in 1936.[1]


The Formation of Massey-Harris-Ferguson

For full details see
Massey-Ferguson

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. See Massey Ferguson for details post merger.

Model Range

Massey Harris 44 at Driffield-P8100560

A Massey Harris 44

40 sn74386 from 1938 P8100519

a restored MH model 40

Massey Harris pacemaker from 1936-P8100518

A Massey Harris Pacemaker with trailed plow at Driffield show 2008

  • Harvesting equipment
  • Tractors;
    • Wallis - 1928 (ex J I Case Design)
    • Challenger - 1936
    • Pacemaker - 1936 4-cylinder 30 hp (later 42 hp)
    • M-H 25 Styled 1938-40
    • M-H 40 ?
    • M-H 44 1946-53
    • M-H 55 1947-56
  • M-H 100 series
    • M-H 101 1942-46
    • M-H 102 1941-45
    • M-H 103 1939-46
  • M-H 200 Series 1940-47
    • M-H 201 - Only 503 built, of this model some are in the UK (Image above)
    • M-H 202
    • M-H 203
  • M-H 700 series 1948-58
    • M-H 744 PD (image above)
    • M-H 745
    • M-H 745S
  • M-H Pony 11/14 (canada)
  • M-H Pacer 16 1952-56

UK Preserved Examples

  • M-H 201
  • M-H 744 PD of 1949 EUX 811 (seen at Cromford steam show, with photo above) Immaculate looking.

See Also



Reference

  1. Classic Farm Tractors


Links

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