The transition from Massey-Harris to Massey-Ferguson and his production till 1971 is very interesting to investigate. According to the catalogues, in 1964 and 1965 on the Massey-Harris there was no brand indication on the tractor.

Massey Harris in catalogue UK 1964 without brand name

The following information I found in GBDT page 38: red with yellow wheels & tan driver, from 1965 blue driver, from 1966 "Massey-Ferguson" transfer; metal wheels, from 1962 rubber tires, from 1964/5 plastic driver & exhaust, cast-in seat, yellow or blue plastic hubs (Intended is green hubs). And GBDT on page 178: 1962 redrawn 12.3.63 change from Massey- Harris to Massey-Ferguson 7.1.69 transfer changed to sticky label. A Meccano drawing or more information I could not find.

Catalogue UK 1966: Massey-Ferguson with his brand name on model for the first time.

Farm Equipment with Massey-Ferguson for the last time in catalogue UK 1971

First in the 1966 catalogues the Massey-Ferguson appeared with its brand name on the tractor and follows a series of variations till 1971, of which is not so easy to explain the order of appearance according to available documentation. Looking for variations I bought 4 models that I show here and that can also give substance to discussion.

I did not expect to find a Massey-Ferguson model with a blue driver seated on a black metal split chair. I have a picture from QDT with the same model with the regular front tires, so my model is not completely original, because it has not the regular front tires of this type of model, but I like to have it as an example for discussion.

If I compare my model 2 and 3 with black metal exhaust with model 1b with plastic exhaust then I suppose that my model 2 and 3 must have been issued before appearance of model 1b with yellow plastic exhaust, but is this also the case? That is why I said that it is not so easy to determine the order of appearance.

Note: Model 27a / 300 must have been very popular because it was produced from 1948-1971 and was also included in Gift Sets or combinations. No tractor model has been produced for such a long time (23 years!!!). It must have been very profitable for Meccano Liverpool and that is very special, because there never existed a real Massey-Ferguson tractor like Meccano Liverpool continued to produce the Dinky 300 model from 1966-1971 as a Massey-Ferguson.

Massey-Harris 744d in a Dinky Toys 300 box as a garage. De tractor has not the correct mudguards according DT 27a/300.

Massey Harris 44 real one, produced ca. 1946-1955, with the correct mudguards on which DT 27a/300 is based.

Massey-Harris 44 real one.

Massey-Harris 44 real one with the correct mudguards. On this MH 44 model is DT 27a/300 based. Note the correct platform with drivers seat.

Other models produced by Meccano Liverpool:

22e Farm Tractor – 1933-1941

27n / 301 Field Marshall Farm Tractor - 1953-1966

305 David Brown Tractor - 1965-1975

308 Leyland 384 Tractor - 1971-1979

Massey Ferguson Limited is an American-owned major manufacturer of agricultural equipment, based in Brantford, Ontario, Canada until March 4, 1988. The company transferred its headquarters to Buffalo, New York in 1997, before it was acquired by AGCO, new owner of former competitor Allis-Chalmers. The current business was formed by the 1953 merger of farm machinery manufacturers Massey Harris of Canada and Britain's Ferguson Company, under the new name Massey Harris Ferguson. In 1958 the name was shortened to Massey Ferguson. Today Massey Ferguson is one of several brands produced by AGCO and remains a major seller around the world.

Massey-Ferguson-Logo

Massey-Ferguson MF30 produced from 1964. Year of transition DT 300.

Massey-Ferguson 135 produced from 1965. Year of transition DT 300.

Massey-Ferguson tractors nowadays

I can not get a caption with the photos, while I have entered the caption in the file. Well, if you put the mouse on it, the caption will appear, but not if you click on the photo and come completely to the screen. Otherwise I have to download and adapt it in the text and that is a lot of work. Why is the text not readable under the picture? I have sent an email to Al Keeling. He's going to work on it.

Kind regards to all, Jan Oldenhuis, 25 July 2018.