Massey-Ferguson

Massey-Ferguson was formed by the takeover of the Ferguson Co. by the Massey-Harris Co. Massey-Harris was founded in 1891 the result of a merger of two companies. They went on to produce engines and tractors and along the way worked with a number of different engineering companies. Harry Ferguson had designed tractors and developed the Ferguson System, a hydraulic control and attachment system. In 1953 Massey Harris and the Ferguson Co. became Massey-Harris-Ferguson, later known as Massey-Ferguson.

• Many were surprised at the takeover of Harry Ferguson's company by Massey Harris, since his tractors were achieving worldwide success and he was making a considerable profit. It is thought that as Ferguson was given full control over tractor development within the newly formed company he thought he would be able to make his ideas widely available to farmers everywhere, or it may have been due to health worries that Ferguson saw a way of securing the future of his company.

• Following the merger of the two companies both brand names produced tractors whilst restructuring took place. Some existing models were renamed and the tractors had a new colour scheme of red and grey.

• In 1959 the M-F 88 was introduced with a 60 HP engine which could run on gas or diesel.

• In 1959 Massey-Ferguson bought the Perkins Diesel Engine Co. of Peterborough, England. Previously Massey-Ferguson had had to buy in engines but this purchase meant that they would have access to a variety of engines and they were also able to build engines to supply to other companies.

• In 1964 a smaller tractor, the Red Giant, was produced. These were built in Britain and France.