Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and
manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 167,711 pages of
information and 247,104 images on early companies, their products and the
people who designed and built them.
Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and
manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 147,919 pages of
information and 233,587 images on early companies, their products and the
people who designed and built them.
By 1948 Massey-Harris had started British production of its tractors at Manchester
British production started with the model MH744PD. The number 44 related to the Canadian designed model 44 tractor, the number 7 indicated British manufacture and the letters 'PD' denoted that the engine was a [[Perkins]] diesel.
In 1949 a new factory was opened at Kilmarnock to continue tractor production. About fifty tractors a week were being produced at this time.
Massey-Harris, although producing tractors, were struggling to compete with the equipment attached to them.
[[Harry Ferguson]] also designed tractors and agricultural equipment and had successfully designed a hydraulic attachment and control system which is known as the 'Ferguson System'. He was looking for someone to produce his tractors and Massey-Harris required his expertise in attachment control and equipment.
In 1953 the two companies signed a deal which resulted in Massey-Harris buying out [[Ferguson]]. The name by which the company was first known, [[Massey-Harris-Ferguson]] became [[Massey-Ferguson]], the name by which the company is known today.
