The Big Book of Massey Tractors

Book excerpt: This is the first full-scale history of one of the largest farm tractor manufacturers of all time, peppered with pictures of Massey-Harris, Ferguson, and Massey Ferguson’s historic models, collectibles, sales memorabilia, and advertisements from old farm magazines. The Big Book of Massey Tractors tells the story of the mergers and machines that formed Massey Ferguson over several decades, and—because these machines dominated Canadian farms for almost a century—in many ways it also tells the story of Canadian agriculture. Robert Pripps, a longtime tractor aficionado, describes Massey Ferguson’s battle with Ford over dominance of the farm tractor industry—a battle the company eventually won, remarkably enough, in view of its initial abject market failure with tractors. From the company’s beginnings in 1891, to its 1953 merger with the Ferguson tractor company, to its current ownership by Allis-Gleaner Company (AGCO), Masseys have played a large role in our agricultural history. The Big Book of Massey Tractors celebrates that role and showcases the machines that have helped turn the earth for over a hundred years.