MASSEY-HARRIS TRACTORS |
DANIEL MASSEY
Daniel Massey
founded the Newcastle
Foundry and Machine Manufactory, C.W. (Canada West) in 1847 in
Newcastle,
Ontario. The company began by repairing items, making simple implements
and
doing custom casting. However, the company grew rapidly and eventually
produced
a wide variety of items such as wheelbarrows, lathes, iron and wood
planes,
parlor and cook stoves, stump pullers, horse powers, feed choppers,
grist
mills, hay rakes, reapers, dredges, and steam engines and boilers.
Harvesting
equipment such as the Woods’ Self-Rake Reaper, the Massey Reel Rake
Harvester,
and the Toronto Light Binder, which incorporated a twine sheaf binding
mechanism with the Appleby Knotter, were very popular. The firm
produced some
of the world’s first mechanical threshers. In 1863 the name of the
company was
changed to the Newcastle Agricultural works and in 1870 the name was
changed
again to the Massey Manufacturing Company. The company moved to new,
large
factory in Toronto in 1879. Two factors contributed to the company’s
rapid
growth: there was an acute labor shortage and Canadian tariffs
prevented U.S.
firms from competing in Canada. The Massey
Manufacturing Company and
the A. Harris Company did not invent many of the implements they
produced; they
acquired them by purchasing production rights from other companies or
by
purchasing the companies outright. This continued a practice which both
companies had engaged in since their founding. In1892 MH purchased a
40%
interest in the L.D. Sawyer Company. The Sawyer-Massey Company was
Canada’s
largest producer of agricultural steam engines and threshing equipment.
Massey-Harris withdrew from this arrangement in 1910.
Other firms and products acquired by Massey-Harris
included the Patterson Wisner Company in 1891, the Corban Disc Company
of
Prescott, Ontario, in 1893, the Kemp Manure Spreader Company in 1904,
the
Deyo-Macey Company of Binghamton New York (gasoline engines), in 1910, the Patterson
Wisner Company in
1910, and the Johnson Harvester Company in Batavia, New York, in 1910. With the acquisition of the
Jonson Harvester
Company, Massey-Harris became an international firm. Other arrangements
included the acquisition of exclusive marketing rights from the Verity
Plow
Company of Exeter, Ontario, in 1892, and the acquisition of the Bain
Company
(wagons and sleighs) as a subsidiary in 1895. The production equipment
of the
Deyo-Macey Company was moved from New York to a new factory in Weston
Toronto;
this later became the first Massey-Harris Tractor Factory. THE MH NO 1 REAPER-THRESHER
Massey-Harris
developed a combine based on the
type perfected by Benjamin Holt of Stockton, California; this was
marketed in
1910 as the Massey-Harris No. 1 Reaper-Thresher. There were seven
variations of
this reaper-thresher produced between 1910 and 1926; all but No. 5 were
ground-wheel driven. Reaper-Thresher No. 5, introduced in 1922,
incorporated an
engine to drive the mechanism. These implements could be pulled either
by horses
or tractors.
THE MODEL 25 In 1931, the Wallis 20/30 was updated and given a 26/40 rating. This model became the Massey-Harris Model 25 in 1934, and at that time the old Wallis gray color was replaced by Massey-Harris’ new dark-green color, with red wheels. The Model 25 was styled from 1938 to 1940, when production ended. Massey-Harris produced its own engine for this tractor--the Model 25--a four-cylinder, valve-in-head engine with lightweight pistons and replaceable cylinder sleeves;that operated at 1,200 RPM and produced 24.92 HP at the drawbar and 44.24 HP at the belt pulley. The blocks were probably cast by the Continental Company. The engine could utilize gasolene, kerosene, or distillate.The Massey-Harris Model 25 had three forward speeds, an oil bath air cleaner, cut and hardened steel gears, roller bearings, an improved transmission, and a 540 RPM. Standard equipment included fenders, a radiator screen, rear-wheel scrapers (steel wheels), and a belt pulley. Options included rubber tires, larger tires, skid bands for the front wheels (steel wheels), a cowhide seat cover, a cushion seat with a backrest, a PTO, a swinging drawbar, a belt guide, and extension rims. The Model 25 with steel wheels sold for $1,275; with rubber tires, the price was $1,530. A total of 14,112 unstyled and approximately 1,000 styled Model 25 tractors were manufactured between 1933 and 1940. STYLED TRACTORS
In
1936, the entire line of Massey-Harris
tractors began to be restyled. A rounded-shroud was adopted and new red
and
yellow colors
replaced the green formerly used. A choice of engines was
offered—gasoline or
gasoline and kerosene. Tractors with gasoline engines had Twin Power
(see
below), optional power lifts, new magnetos, and improved cooling fans
and
pumps. Low-ratio or high-ratio transmissions were also available. By 1938, the Massey-Harris Company was among the top five companies in the tractor industry. In
1938, a Pacemaker cost $1,140, a
Challenger cost $1,1850, a 4-WD GP cost $1,505, and a Model 25 cost
$1,530. However,
the best-selling tractors in 1938 were the IHC Farmall F-14, the
Allis-Chalmers
B, the John Deere B, the John Deere H, and the Case R. All cost less
than
$1,000--some less than
$700. This led to the introduction of the Massey-Harris Model 101, the
Model 101 Super and the Model
101
Junior. The Model 101 Series was intended to compete with the
Ford-Ferguson 9N. THE MODEL 101 AND 101 SUPER Up to 1938, all Massey-Harris tractors were based on designs developed by other companies. The Model 101 was Massey-Harris’ own design. The Massey-Harris Model 101 was a beautiful tractor with chrome striping and fully-louvered side panels. The louvered side-panels were not popular and farmers usually removed them; they were replaced by round hood cutouts in late 1941. At that time, the air cleaner was moved from behind the grill to the side of the engine. In 1939, the Model 101 was renamed the Model 101 Super. From 1938 to 1942, the Model 101 was equipped with a six-cylinder, heavy-duty, industrial, 201.3 cubic-inch, L-head Chrysler engine which produced 31.5 HP at the drawbar and 40 HP at the belt pulley. From 1940 to 1942, the engine was replaced by one with 217.7 cubic-inches, which increased the power to 34.6 HP at the drawbar and 47 HP at the belt pulley. These engines operated normally at 1,500 RPM and 1,800 RPM for belt work and in road gear. The Models 101 and 101 Super were two/three plow models; they operated on gasoline. From 1938 and 1942, when production ended, 5,106 standard and 5,016 row-crop Model 101 and Model 101 Super tractors were built. THE MODEL101 SENIOR The Model 101 Senior was an upgrade of the Model 101 Super; a heavy-duty, industrial, six-cylinder, 226 cubic-inch Continental engine replaced the earlier Chrysler engine. The Model 102, which utilized kerosene, had a 244 cubic-inch engine which operated at 1,600 RPM and 1,900 RPM. Early Model 101's produced in 1938 can be differentiated from later models by their separate left and right brake pedals placed on the left and right foot platforms. These early models also had flattop fenders, a chrome hood badge, and cast rear wheels. Standard equipment included an electric starter and generator, a thermostat, fenders, operator platform, an instrument panel with ammeter, oil and water temperature gauges, a combined power lift and PTO, a belt pulley, and a swinging drawbar. Options included a power lift, a PTO extension, and lights. The Model 101 was produced from 1938 to 1942. In 1945, a standard Model 101 with rubber tires cost $1,371.25 and the row-crop model with rubber tires was priced at $1,292. Production records indicate that 4,723 Model 101 Senior standard version tractors with gasoline engines were built between 1942 and 1946, 2,417 Model 102 Senior standard version tractors with kerosene engines were built between 1941 and 1945, 12,483 Model 102 Senior row-crop versions with gasoline engines were built between 1942 and 1946, and 283 Model 102 Senior row-crop versions with kerosene engines were built between 1942 and 1943. THE MODEL 101 JUNIOR The Model 101, with a four-cylinder engine was, offered in 1939 as the Model 101Junior. At that time, the six-cylinder Model 101 was renamed the Model 101 Super. The Model 101 Junior had a heavy-duty, industrial, 123.7 cubic-inch, Continental L-head engine which produced 20.4 HP at the drawbar and 26.2 HP at the belt pulley and operated at 1,500 RPM and 1,800 RPM (belt pulley and road gear). This was the same engine used in the Cockshutt 20, the Co-op E3 and the Oliver Super 44. In 1940, the 123.7 cubic-inch engine was replaced by one with 140 cubic inches, which increased the power to 24.6 HP at the drawbar and 26.2 HP at the belt pulley. In 1943, the 140 cubic-inch engine was replaced by an engine with 162 cubic inches. The 101 Junior was manufactured from 1939 to 1946. Production during that period included 8,632 Model 101 Junior standard version tractors with gasoline engines, 4,724 Model 101 Junior standard version tractors with kerosene engines, 12,133 Model 102 Junior row-crop versions with gasoline engines, and 2,163 Model 102 Junior row-crop versions with kerosene engines. THE MODEL 81 The Massey-Harris Model 81 and the distillate-burning Model 82 were much the same as that used in the early Model 101 Junior. A PTO and belt pulley were options. The Models 81 and 82 were two-plow tractors which used the same heavy-duty, industrial, 124 cubic-inch Continental L-head engine that had been used in the early Model 101 Junior tractor; this engine produced 20.8 HP at the drawbar and 28 HP at the belt pulley. Models 81 and 82 operated at a regular speed of 1,500 RPM, with 1,800 RPM available for belt pulley work and road gear. The Model 81 utilized gasoline; the Model 82 used distillate. The Models 81 and 82 tractors were lighter tractors than the earlier Model 101 Junior. Standard equipment included a power lift, fenders, a belt pulley, a PTO, a belt pulley, lights, a muffler, a single front wheel, an adjustable front axle, and wheel weights. Production of Models 81 and 82 ended in 1948. In 1945, the price of a Model 81 Standard with rubber tires was $833; the Model 81 Row-Crop was priced at $803. From 1941 to 1946, production included 2,573 Model 81 standard version tractors with gasoline engines, 1,158 Model 82 standard version tractors with kerosene engines, 6,601 Model 81 row-crop version tractors with gasoline engines, and 424 Model 82 row-crop version tractors with kerosene engines. THE HARVEST BRIGADE The
first Massey-Harris
self-propelled combine was the MH-20, built in 1939. This was replaced
in 1940 by the #21 SP (self-propelled). During
the late 1930’’s and the war
years, the
Massey-Harris Company was
very successful in selling combines, in part because the company
produced
quality machines which were popular, and partly because it convinced
the United
States Government to provide the company with enough steel to build 500
more
Model 21A combines than the company’s allotment of 1,300. These
machines were
sold to
custom operators who guaranteed to harvest, under Massey-Harris
supervision, at
least 2,000 acres and 15,000,000 bushels of grain as part of a Harvest
Brigade
of combines which would start in the southern United States in April
and work their
way north to Canada by September. Fuel, tires and parts were placed
strategically
along the routes, Massey-Harris representatives searched for ripening
fields by
car and airplane ahead of the Brigade, repair parts were flown in when
needed, and
organizers used radios to coordinate the entire effort . The combines
made
short moves under their own power; the machines were loaded onto semi
trucks for
longer moves. This was a highly successful venture; by October the
goals had
been exceeded and some 25,000,000 bushels of wheat, oats, flax, barley,
alfalfa, sorghum, peas, beans, corn, lettuce seeds, beet seeds and
carrot seeds
had been harvested. THE MODEL 201 The Massey-Harris Model 201 was introduced in 1940 as a big plowing tractor for use on Western Canada’s plains and the United States wheat belt. The Model 201 was available only as a standard version. It had a heavy-duty, industrial, L-head, 241.5 cubic-inch, six-cylinder, Chrysler engine that operated at 1,700 RPM for regular drawbar work and 2,000 RPM for belt work and road gear. The Model 201 was rated as a four-plow tractor, It had a four-speed transmission and left and right brakes that could be locked together. Some tractors were built with high-compression cylinder heads and smaller carburetor jets for use at higher altitudes. The Model 201 had a heavy, cast-iron grill. Production of the Model 201 ended in 1942. The Massey-Harris Model 202 was introduced in 1940. It was essentially the same tractor as the Model 201, with the exception that it had a larger, 290 cubic-inch, L-head, six-cylinder Continental engine and was rated as a five-plow tractor. The Model 202 was built between 1940 and 1942. The Massey-Harris Model 203 was built from 1940 to 1947. It was the distillate equivalent of the gasoline-burning Model 202 and it had a large, 330 cubic-inch, L-head, six-cylinder Continental engine. A gasoline-burning version of the Model 203 was introduced in 1944. The Model 201 cost $1,740 in 1941, the Model 202 cost $1,745 in 1941, and the Model 203 cost $1,895 in 1945. From 1940 to 1942, 503 Model 201 tractors and 223 Model 202 tractors were produced; from 1940 to 1947, 2,957 Model 203 tractors were built. Massey-Harris
production was confusing
in 1942, because engines and transmissions were difficult to obtain and
the
company purchased them wherever and whenever they could. Engines and
transmissions were
combined them in a variety of different ways. The company was forced to
use
truck engines, and these were not satisfactory because they consumed
excessive
fuel and lacked appropriate torque and speed characteristics. By 1943,
the
company’s production had been standardized into the Models 81 and 82,
101 and102
Junior, 101 and102 Senior and 203. THE MODEL 10
The
Massey-Harris Model 10 was built
from 1946 to 1948; it was identical to the Model 81, built from 1941 to
1946. The Model 10
was a two-plow
tractor available in row-crop and or standard versions, with a
choice of gasoline
or distillate engines. The Model 10 was the first Massey-Harris tractor
to be
released with the Depth-O-Matic hydraulic-lift system as an option.
This system
was not as good as the Ferguson system, because it did not provide
draft control
and the hydraulic components were an external addition. The Pitt
tractor of
1953 was an experimental tractor with a new attachment and control
arrangement;
it was not successful and was abandoned within a few months. THE MODEL 20 The Massey-Harris Model 20 was built from 1946 to 1948. It was introduced to commemorate the Massey-Harris Company’s 100th Anniversary. The Model 20 was identical to the old Model 81, which had been built from 1941 to 1946--only the name and the price were different. The Model 20 had a heavy-duty, industrial, L-head, 124 cubic-inch, four-cylinder Continental engine, that utilized gasoline and produced 20.8 HP at the drawbar and 27 HP at the belt-pulley. This engine operated at a regular speed of 1,500 RPM, but an increased speed of1,800 RPM speed was available for belt-work and road gear. The Model 20 could be purchased with a 140 cubic-inch, distillate engine. The Model 20 was offered in row-crop and standard versions; it was comparable to the Ford and Ferguson tractors which were being marketed at that time. Standard equipment included rubber tires, a starter and generator, an instrument panel with gauges, an air cleaner, an oil filter, a thermostat, a swing drawbar, an operator's platform and rear-tread which was adjustable from 48 to 88 inches. Options included a Velvet-Ride seat, a belt-pulley, a PTO, a power lift, lights, a muffler, and an adjustable, high-arch front axle.The retail price of a Massey-Harris Model 20 in 1947 was $1,296. During the period from 1946 to 1948, 7,931 Model 20 tractors were manufactured--1,660 standard versions with gasoline engines, 1,430 standard versions with kerosene engines, 4,198 row-crop versions with gasoline engines, and 643 row-crop versions with kerosene engines. ![]()
THE MODEL 811 PONY
The
Pony was very popular in France. Models
811, 812, 820, and 821 were built in Marquette-lez-Lille, France, from
1951 to 196l.
The Model
811 was produced only in 1951; it was replaced by the Model 812 which
was built
through 1957 and, in turn, the Model 812 was replaced by the Model 820
and 821
until
production ended in 1961. The Model 820 had a gasoline engine; the
Model 820D
was a
diesel tractor. Simca engines were used in the Model 820
and 820D
tractors; these engines produced almost fifty-percent more power than
the
Continental engine. The Hanomag engine was used in the Model 821
tractor. The Simca was a four-cylinder, overhead-valve, 1221
cubic-centimeter engine that operated at 1,000 RPM and 1,800 RPM and
produced a maximum of 15 HP. The Hanomag was a two-cylinder,10211
cubic-centimeter, two-cycle diesel
engine
built in Germany.; it operated at 1,800 RPM and produced 18 HP. The
Simca had a Thermo-Siphon cooling system; the Hanomag had a
water
pump
and thermostat. Standard equipment for the Models 811, 1812, 820, and
821
Ponies included a starter and generator, an instrument panel and
gauges,
fenders, a telescoping front axle, a drawbar, and rear-wheel weights.
Options included a hand-lift attachment, a front tool-bar, a PTO, a
belt-pulley, lights, extra rear-wheel weights, front-wheel
weights, and bigger tires. During the period from 1951 to 1961, 1,823
Model 811 tractors were built in 1951 and 1952, 49,222 Model 812
tractors from 1952 to 1957, 31,277 Model 820 tractors from 1957 to
1961, and 9,395 Model 821 tractors from 1959 to 1961. THE MODEL 16 PACER
The
Massey-Harris Model 16 Pacer was built from
1953 to 1955; it looked the same as a North American Pony, but it was
six inches and 400 pounds heavier. The Model 16 Pacer had a heavy-duty,
industrial, 91 cubic-inch, L-head, four-cylinder engine which operated
at 1,000 and 1,800 RPM and produced 17 HP at the drawbar and 19 HP at
the belt-pulley. Standard equipment included battery ignition, a
starter, an instrument panel with gauges, independent rear brakes that
could be locked together, a padded seat, a tool-box, a muffler, an
adjustable front-axle,
and
featured a live PTO as an option. The Model 16 Pacer was only available
as a
standard version with an adjustable width front axle, a drawbar, an air
cleaner, a gas filter, an oil filter, rubber tires, and a hydraulic
lift. A belt-pulley and a PTO were optional. The 1955 Model 16 Pacer
was priced at $1,369. From 1953 to 1955, 2,767 Model 16 Pacers were
produced.
THE MODEL 21 COLT The
Massey-Harris Model 21 Colt was produced from
1952 to 1953; it was the Model 20 with updated styling. Standard and
row-crop versions were available, with a choice of
gasoline or
distillate engines.
The Model 21 had a heavy-duty, industrial, 124 cubic-inch, L-head,
four-cylinder Continental engine that utilized gasoline, operated at
1,500 and 1,800 RPM, and produced 20.4 HP at the drawbar and 26.2 HP at
the belt-pulley. The Model 21 Colt had an exhaust system that extended
underneath the tractor. Standard equipment included rubber tires, a
starter
and generator, a thermostat, an instrument panel and gauges, an
internal PTO shaft, an air cleaner, an oil filter, a hitch bracket,
adjustable rear tread, a seat, and fenders. Options included a
three-point hitch, a Velvet-Ride seat, an hour meter, a belt pulley, a
PTO, lights, a grill-screen, front-frame weights, and rear-wheel
weights. In 1955, the standard version was priced at $1,340, the
row-crop version with a tricycle front end at $1,465, the row-crop
version with a single front wheel at $1,486, and a row-crop version
with an adjustable wide front axle at $1,505. The Model 21 Colt was
only built in 1952 and 1953, during those two years, 1,669 tractors
were produced. THE MODEL 333 The Massey-Harris Model 333 replaced the Model 33 in 1956. It featured a new paint design, chrome trim on the grill, and a dual-range transmission which allowed the operator to choose from ten forward speeds and two in reverse. The Model 333 was available as either a standard or row-crop version; it could be purchased with engines that were fueled by gasoline, diesel, distillate/kerosene, or LPG. The Model 333 was equipped with a heavy-duty, industrial, 208 cubic-inch, Model E208, four-cylinder Continental engine, which generated 39 HP at the drawbar and 44 HP at the belt-pulley and road gear when fueled with gasoline. With diesel fuel, the engine generated 35 HP at the drawbar and 39 HP at the belt-pulley and road gear. Standard equipment included lights, a 12-volt electrical system, a Velvet-Ride seat, a muffler, a PTO, an hour meter, and fenders. Optional equipment included a live PTO, a hydraulic lift, power steering, a single front wheel, a high-arch adjustable wide front axle, and cast-center rear wheels. The Model 333 was manufactured in 1956 and 1957. In, 1957, a standard Model 333 with a gasoline engine cost $2,413, a row-crop Model 333 with a diesel engine cost $2,963, a row-crop Model 333 with a gasoline engine cost $2,322, and a row-crop Model 333 with a diesel engine cost $2,872. The Model 333 was built in 1956 and 1957; during those two years, 2,748 tractors were produced.
At first, the Model 44 was only offered in a standard configuration, with orchard, vineyard, and high-altitude variations. The orchard versions could be purchased with either gasoline or diesel engines; the vineyard and high-altitude versions were only available with gasoline engines. In 1952, a LPG engine offered for one year; it was a gasoline engine with a high-compression head. A row-crop version of the Model 44 was introduced in 1947. The Model 44 was the first Massey-Harris tractor to have a live PTO controlled by a hand clutch. In 1950, a hydraulic lift for mounted implements was added. The Model 44 had a three-point hitch, but no draft control. Model 44 vineyard tractors were much narrower than the other versions and the rear axles caused problems. They were recalled and destroyed. In 1951, the standard version was priced at $2,387, the price of the gasoline-powered row-crop version was $2,316, the price of the kerosene-powered row-crop version was $2,363, the price of the diesel row-crop version was $3,094; the price of the gasoline-powered orchard model was $2,504, and the price of the gasoline-powered vineyard version was $2,445. During the period from 1946 to 1953, 83,755 Model 44 tractors were produced--18,176 standard versions with gasoline engines, 32,889 row-crop versions with gasoline engines, 5,395 standard versions with diesel engines, 4,655 row-crop versions with diesel engines, 5,821 standard versions with kerosene engines, 3,202 row-crop versions with kerosene engines, 459 Model 44 tractors with liquid-propane-gas (LPG) engines--some standard versions and some row-crop, 30 vineyard versions with gasoline engines, 119 orchard versions with gasoline engines, 33 orchard models with diesel engines, 268 row-crop versions with hiigh-altitude gasoline engines, 64 standard versions with high-altitude engines, and 12,644 tractors unaccounted for. THE MODEL 44-6 The Massey-Harris Model 44-6 retained the heavy-duty, industrial, 226 cubic-inch, L-head, six-cylinder Red Seal Continental engine that had been used in the Model 101 Senior. The 260 cubic-inch, four-cylinder, F226 Continental engine used in the Model 44 was more powerful and reliable than the six-cylinder engine used in the Model 44-6 and most farmers purchased the tractor with the four-cylinder engine. The Model 44-6 was only offered as a gasoline-fueled tractor, in standard and row-crop versions. The tractor was produced from 1947 to 1951. The Model 44-6 had the same standard and optional equipment as the Model 44. The price of a Massey-Harris Model 44-6 row-crop tractor was $2,178 in 1951. From 1946 to 1951, 6,657 Model 44-6 tractors were produced. THE MODEL 44 SPECIAL (SP) In 1953, the Model 44 was updated to the Model 44 Special (SP) with a heavy-duty, industrial, overhead-valve, four-cylinder, 277 cubic-inch, gasoline-fueled Model H277 Continental engine that generated 43.58 HP at the drawbar and 48.95 HP at the belt-pulley and road gear. A heavy-duty, industrial, overhead-valve, four-cylinder, 260 cubic-inch, Model H260 Continental engine was available to utilize gasoline, kerosene/distillate, diesel, or LPG fuel. The Model 44 Special was the only Massey-Harris model produced in high-crop and cane versions, as well as standard and row-crop versions. The Model 44 Special had the same standard and optional equipment as the Model 44, with the addition of a live PTO and a three-point hitch. In 1955, the price of the Model 44 Special standard gasoline-fueled tractor was $2,689, the price of the Model 44 Special standard diesel-fueled cane tractor was $4,536, the price of the Model 44 Special row-crop gasoline-fueled tractor was $2,681, the price of the Model 44 Special row-crop diesel-fueled tractor was $3,415, and the price of the Model 44 Special row-crop LPG-fueled tractor was $2,882. During the three-year period from 1953 to 1955, 10,719 Model 44 Specials were manufactured. THE MODEL 55
The
Massey-Harris Model 55 was a four/five-plow
tractor built to replace Models 201, 202, and 203. The Model 55 was
built from 1946 to 1955; it was advertised as
the
largest farm tractor on wheels and the world’s most powerful tractor.
It
was
intended for use on the plains of Western Canada and the wheatlands of
the United States. The tractor was only available as a standard
version; however, western,
riceland, hillside and high altitude specials
were available
based on the use of different engine heads and manifolds, different
front
axles, rear
fenders, oversized tires, a higher compression ratio and a carburetor
with
smaller jets. At first, only gasoline and kerosene/distillate engines
were
available; diesel
and liquid-propane-gas (LPG) engines were offered in 1949. The Model 55
had a heavy-duty,
industrial, overhead-valve, four-cylinder Continental engine
linked to a four-speed transmission. The gasoline version generated 60
HP on the drawbar and 68 HP on the belt-pulley and road gear; the
diesel version produced 54 HP on the drawbar and 58 HP on the
belt-pulley and road gear. Standard equipment included rubber tires, a
starter and generator, a thermostat, an instrument panels with gauges,
an internal PTO shaft, an air cleaner, an oil filter, a voltage
regulator, and a drawbar. Options included lights, crown fenders, a
PTO, and rear-wheel brakes.The tractor could be
purchased with
either hand-brakes or foot-brakes, and a hand-clutch instead of a
foot-clutch. Unfortunately, the Model 55 had a
number of
mechanical problems—especially broken crankshafts. In
1951, a gas-powered version cost $3,214, a diesel-powered verson cost
$4,142, a gasoline-powered riceland version cost $3,482, a
diesel-powered
riceland version cost $4,410, and a LPG-powered version cost $3,577.
The Model 55 built from 1947 to 1956; a total of 21,931 tractors were
produced duirng that time. THE MODEL 555 The Massey-Harris Model 555 replaced the Model 55 Special in 1955. Like the Model 333 and the Model 444, the Model 555 featured a new paint design and chrome trim on the grill; however, unlike the Model 333 and Model 444, there was little difference between the Model 555 and the earlier Model 55. The Model 555 had the same engine and transmission as the Model 55. Standard equipment included rubber tires, a starter and generator, a thermostat, an instrument panels with gauges, an internal PTO shaft, an air cleaner, an oil filter, a voltage regulator, a foot-clutch, foot brakes, and a drawbar. Options included lights, crown fenders, a live PTO, a hand-clutch, and hand-brakes. The Model 555 were manufactured from 1955 to 1958. In 1956, a gas-powered version cost $3,736, a diesel-powered verson cost $4,511, a LPG-powered version cost $3,986, a gasoline-powered riceland version cost $4,204, a diesel-powered riceland version cost $4,979, a gasoline-powered Western Special cost $4,119, and a diesel-powered Western Special cost $4,894. A total of 3,794 Model 555 tractors were produced during the period from 1955 to 1958. THE MODEL 744
In
1947, Massy-Harris obtained a
contract to supply tractors and implements to Great Britain. A plant
was
acquired in Manchester and Model 44 tractors were assembled there as
Models
744 and 744D (diesel). The six-cylinder diesel engines were provided by
the F.
Perkins, Ltd., of Peterborough, England. Production
was moved to Kilmarnock in 1949.
The Model 744 was available in standard, row-crop, and half-track
versions. The Massey-Harris tractors were not popular in Great Britain
and
relatively few
were sold there; although, they experienced limited success in the
export
market. The
Model 744 was replaced in 1954 by the Model 745, which had a Perkins L4
four-cylinder
engine and an improved lift. Production of the Model 745 ended in 1958.
During the period from 1948 to 1953, 16,606 Model 744 and 11,177 Model
745 and 745S tractors were built in England.
THE MASSEY-HARRIS-FERGUSON COMPANY
Massey-Harris
merged with Ferguson in
1953 to form The Massey-Harris-Ferguson Company. This resulted in the
company
selling two
competing lines of tractors. The company was renamed the
Massey-Ferguson Company in
1958. THE MODEL I-162 In 1953, the Massey-Harris Company contracted with the U.S. Army to build twenty-six tractors for use on air-bases to tow airplanes and for general utility work. These were designated as Model I-162 Military Tractors; they were based on the Massey-Harris Model 30. The Model I-162 was painted green and only produced for one year. THE MODEL 1-244 The Model I-244 was manufactured by Massey-Harris for both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force. Model I-244 tractors were equpped with magnetic sweeps and used on air--bases and aircraft-carriers to pick up debris from runways. They were painted yellow. The Model I-244 was produced from 1955 to 1957; duriing that time, 708 were produced. THE MODEL 303 In 1956, the Massey-Harris-Ferguson Company adapted the Massey-Harris Model 333 Standard and Model 44 Standard agricultural tractors to produce the Massey-Harris Model 303 Work Bull and Massey-Harris Model 404 Work Bull. The Model 303 and 404 were marketed as industrial tractors and they were painted yellow. The Model 303 was built from 1956 to 1959, with a production total of 987 tractors. The Model 404 was produced in 1956 and 1957, during which time 118 tractors were built. These tractors were not successful. THE END OF THE LINE
The
last true Massey-Harris tractors
ended in 1958, with the end of the two-line policy. After that,
tractors
produced by the firm were based on the Ferguson line of tractors. |
RESOURCESCondie, Allan T. Massey Harris Album. Allan T. Condie Publications, 1988. |