LQ #51 was mailed the first week of July. This is the first issue that includes a modest rate hike. (Please note the enclosed form). The heart of this issue was the extensive feature, History of the Massey-Harris Company, Part 2. It was a detailed account of the company with the second part starting in 1930–with the release of the first company built tractor, the M-H General Purpose. The feature ended in 1953, when Massey-Harris bought out the Harry Ferguson Company.

You can pre-order your Legacy Quarterly 2023 Calendar. They will be mailed the last week of October but to avoid being left out, you might want to consider a pre-order. We ran out last year, right after Christmas. See ad and order form here.

We also have a group of informational charts for sale. Many of the back issues that are sold out, contained highly detailed charts that were part of the feature articles. The following is a list of what is available: Massey Ferguson Lawn and Garden Tractors, part #1 and part #2. #3. Lawn tractors that were built by the Dura Company for Massey Ferguson. #4. Pony tractors, attachments and accessories. #5 Complete list of Ski Whiz models including manufacturing dates and serial numbers. #6. Chart listing the various models of Wallis tractors. #7. Chart listing the different models of Massey-Harris stationary engines, serial numbers, years of production and what company made the other different models for the Massey-Harris Company. Charts measure 12” x 18”, are in full color and suitable for framing. They are $10 each in the US and $12 mailed to Canada. The price includes shipping.

An historic advertising piece that I think will be of interest to readers is always featured on the inside front cover. In the twelve years that we have been publishing this magazine, I think that this is one of my favorites. The image is from John Farnworth’s collection

As part of this feature, we published an in-depth article on the GP–as it was known–written by noted British author John Farnworth. John included many early company photos of the tractor being field tested. Most of these pictures had been previously unpublished. (#2 ,#3, #4, #5)

An interesting article about the Massey Ferguson Model 14 Lawn and Garden Tractor owned by Darin Gurnicz covered his restoration and some additional photos of his Massey-Harris stationary engine collection.

Reader and former Massey Ferguson employee, Lew Stoms Jr. sent us an Extended Letter with information and photos of the restoration of his Massey Ferguson 1130 tractor. Lew is a top mechanic and long time Massey employee so you can rest assured that the job was done right. (#6 and #7)

Lastly, here are some photos from this year’s annual Massey Days, hosted by the Armstrong family from El Paso, Illinois. Sadly, Wes had just recently passed away but his family pulled out all of the stops to make this a great gathering of the family of Massey collectors. The drone photos are courtesy of Joe Roberts.

LQ #50 Outtake Photos

This issue, LQ #50, saw the third recent price increase in paper and another even larger increase is coming before the next issue is published. That coupled with several postage increases and other fees has forced us to make the difficult decision to raise our subscription rates. This is the first increase since we started twelve years ago. Compared to the cost of other magazines, Legacy Quarterly will still continue to be very competitively priced. The choices are to greatly cheapen the magazine production costs–poorer quality paper, decreased quality printing, no poly bagging, reduced quality color photography and graphic design. However, these are the very things that separate us from other publications. We never intended to get rich from this publication but we do need to make a profit to remain viable.

As of the July issue, the new rates will reflect the very modest increase to $26.00 for one year and $50.00 for two years. If you are already paid, the increase will not affect you until you renew. Considering that many of the Massey clubs memberships costs are $30 - $40 per year, we are still a pretty good bargain. We did not make this decision lightly and hope that you will continue to be a loyal subscriber. Thanks for your understanding.

Gary and Sue

LQ #50 was mailed during the first week of April and was mostly delivered by the second week of the month. This issue starts a four part history of the Massey-Harris Company. The first week of March, I received a package from one of our subscribers who lives in Rossland, British Columbia. His name is Michael Robbins and his letter reads as follows: (photo #1)

Hi Gary,

I been keeping this for seventy-five years and it’s time to pass it on to more secure hands. I met you at the Paisley, Ontario show a few years ago. Oh, and by the way, Alanson Harris is my great-great-grandfather. Unfortunately, I never met him–there is quite an age difference–so I didn’t have the opportunity to ask him for a job. Cheers, — Mike Robbins Rossland, British Columbia

Mike sent me a copy of the Brantford Expositor from March 25, 1947. The entire special edition was devoted to the Centennial Anniversary of the Massey-Harris Company. It was sixteen pages of Massey history, most of which I had never read before. One of the highlights was an article written by company president, James Duncan. Getting a letter from the great-great-grandson of one of the company founders made my day.

Four Part History of the Massey-Harris Company (photos #5, #6 & #6-A)

As you will see, as you work your way through this issue, we are going to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of Massey with a four-part history of the company. I realize that sounds more like a book than a magazine series but we are going to give it a try. Part One, beginning in this issue will cover the founding in 1847 and end in 1929, just before the introduction of the first company designed and built tractor, the Massey-Harris General Purpose tractor.

Part two would start with the 1930 release of the Massey-Harris General Purpose¬–or GP–tractor. This marks the end of selling tractors produced or designed by other companies. It will end in the early 1950’s as the search for a draft-sensing hitch leads to difficult and lengthy negotiations with Harry Ferguson who ultimately sells his company and assets creating the new Massey-Harris-Ferguson Company.

Part three, 1953-1958, will cover the confusing and contentious period during which the company marketed and sold two different lines of tractors and equipment through two sets of dealerships–Massey-Harris and Ferguson. Combine production would continue to distinguish Massey as the gold standard of harvesting.

Part four covers the period beginning in 1958, which saw the creation of the new Massey Ferguson Company, which would become the largest tractor maker in the world. Construction equipment, lawn and garden tractors, snow mobiles and consumer items such as garden tillers, lawn mowers, snow blowers and chain saws would push the company’s rapid expansion and growth to dangerous levels. This part will conclude with the year 1994, in which the financially troubled company would be purchased by the AGCO Corporation, which had resulted in the internal buyout of Deutz-Allis from the German company KHD. Massey Ferguson would become a brand name of the AGCO Corporation.

The feature on the history of the Massey-Harris Company took more space than I had originally allotted and as a result, the section on the “Four Horses” got cut a little short. We will continue that in the July issue. So if you wanted to send in some letters and/or photos, you still have time. The centerfold of this issue featured the “Four Horses”–Pony, Pacer, Mustang and Colt–owned by Gary Emsweller. (photo #2)

One of the many really nice photos came from Larry Good from Neligh, Nebraska and Lee Hosterler from Cottage Grove, Tennessee. You might notice that Lee has replaced his standard rear tires with those from a Massey-Harris 510 combine. (photos #3 and #4)

Other Articles in LQ #50

1. Editors Notebook (#7-A and #7-B)

2. Andrew Pyzdrowski and his family’s long-time Massey Ferguson Dealership. Andrew shares some of the history and photos of his recent Massey Ferguson themed wedding. (#8)

3. Dreams in Massey Red, tells the story of Jim Esbenshade and his quest to own a complete collection of Wallis, Massey-Harris, Ferguson and Massey Ferguson tractors and implements. There is also information for his up-coming “Golden Harvest Days” show in June of this year. There is a sidebar about the Massey Ferguson 201 Cane Commander, sugar cane harvester that Jim has recently acquired from Australia. (#9)

4. Massey Ferguson 35 Military Tractor, Massey-Harris Custom Built roller, Russell Nephew’s story of the first Clipper combine off the Batavia assembly line and Four Extended Letters.

As usual, if you have any questions, call the office at 740-536-7345 and Sue will give her usual excellent customer service.

LQ #49 was in the mail the first week of January. Because of the two holidays, delivery was a little slower than usual. We are including some sample articles again with this issue. Click here to access these stories. The feature article was about the Models 35 / 135 that proved to be one of the most popular tractors of all time. Beginning with the Ferguson 35, followed by the Massey Ferguson 35 and finally the updated Massey Ferguson 135, these tractors proved to be an excellent investment for everyone who purchased them.

Other articles include a story about the Massey-Harris Model 60 “Bean Special” combine and Industrial attachments for Ferguson tractors. This issue also include several stories about Massey collectors who are especially fond of the Model 35 and 135.

Also, don’t forget that we are featuring the Massey-Harris “Four Horses” in the spring issue. That would be the Pony, Pacer, Mustang and Colt. If you have any of these tractors in your collection, send us some photos and information.

The October issue was mailed out of Tucson, Arizona on or about October 4th. As usual, western subscribers receive this issue before those in the eastern states. Canadian readers, especially in the western providences, get theirs last.

We are doing something very different with LQ #48 Outtakes. I am including several of the articles in their entirety. Click here to access these sample articles. Remember that these are copyrighted images and stories that cannot be reproduced or shared without the permission of Locust Grove Productions, our publishing company.

LQ #47 was in the mail the first week of July and there seemed to be no issues with delivery. The first feature article was a little different. It was the story of Sigismund Voss and his devoted service to the Massy-Harris Company in Europe during World War II. It was written by his granddaughter who is a resident of the United Kingdom. Sigi–as he was known to his family–was eventually arrested by the Nazis and killed. Massey-Harris company president, James Duncan, spent great sums of money to try and free him. Company employees in France, risked their lives to spirit his wife out of occupied France. James Duncan played a major role in this tragic affair. We are hoping that we will be able to locate any living relatives of James Duncan.

The second feature was about museum designer Gerry Hilferty who additionally runs a horse farm and uses Massey Ferguson tractors. Hilferty has planned and built some of the foremost museums and installations in the United States. From the design studio on his Windy Hills Farm, in Athens County, Ohio, Gerry has completed over two-hundred world class museums. They include: Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, MS, National Museum of the American Indian, at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC, The Kentucky Horse Park, in Lexington, KY, North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, NC and the National Frontier Trails Museum, in Independence, MO.

Included in this feature is a special sidebar about Gerry’s Massey Ferguson Model 461 tractor.

The article about a Massey Ferguson Gold 35, is also included. In 2006, I bought and restored a Massey Ferguson 35, which I discovered originally had bright metallic gold paint on the body of the tractor. It finished up as a really nice tractor because I had been collecting new old stock (NOS) parts for a number of years. When finished, it was virtually a “new” tractor. The story includes some original factory literature that shows the tractor in the gold paint scheme.

A Massey-Harris-Ferguson Model 404 Work Bull tractor is restored from the ground up by Canadian reader Scott Fourney. Scott likes unusual Massey tractors and a Work Bull 404 really fits the bill. Most tractor collectors know that an Industrial tractor is often in terrible condition when located. The tractor usually spent its life on a construction site or on a state or provincial highway. In either case, the machines were generally used to the point that they were basically junk. Scott’s tractor was no exception and required a lot of TLC.

Massey Ferguson dealer from Walla Walla, Washington, Steve Bughi is a fan of Ski Whiz snowmobiles and the Model 4000 tractors. Steve sent me a letter about some Ski Whiz machines that had been given to him by a former Massey Ferguson Dealer. This was in response to the feature article about Massey snowmobiles that appeared in the January issue. Included are several good photos of Steve’s Ski Whiz restoration process. The article includes quite a few interesting photos of the whole process and or course, Steve’s favorite tractor and Ski Whiz sled together in the snow.

Steve’s letter morphed into an article about his love of the Massey brand and how he went from a high school student washing Massey tractors to owning two dealerships–one in Washington and the other in Idaho. Steve started his career by winning the Massey Ferguson Youth in Business contest, winning at both the regional and national levels. Later, he farmed two-thousand acres in the Walla Walla Valley, raising sweet onions and spinach.

Ontario contributor, Bonnie Sitter has chronicled a vanishing era of farming and rural life. Her friend, Isobel Gibson, tells the story of her late husband Joe, through heartfelt narative and early photos of his farming life. Joe grew up with Massey-Harris horse drawn equipment and continued to use the brand his whole life. The photos alone are worth the price of this issue.

Reader and former Massey Ferguson employee, Steve Burdette, shares his Ferguson F-40 with Legacy readers. This Ferguson 40 was originally painted metallic green and beige. Built only in 1956 and 1957, most of the models were beige and gray. However, the very earliest Ferguson 40’s left the factory painted metallic green and gray, just like the 1956 Ferguson T0-35.

Ontario native, George Smyth has scratch-built many amazing toys over the years but his Sawyer-Massey 20-40 tractor is a real masterpiece. The model is built completely out of wood and contains a small battery operated motor that powers the engine and other working parts. The engine contains 1” pistons with a 1” stroke. The photo of George’s model is amazing.

LQ #45 was in the mail the first week of January. Mail service was extremely slow due to the Christmas and New Year holiday. Additionally, delivery in the US was about a week behind schedule and as I write this the third week of January, Canadian subscribers still have not received their copy. Once copies are placed in the Canadian mail stream, we have no way of tracking them. There are some subscribers in British Columbia that just received the October Issue this week.

The two main features in this issue were an in-depth history of the Bain Wagon Company, which produced high-quality wagons, sleighs and sleds that were sold by Massey-Harris. The article includes several unpublished photos from the Bain Company archives that were supplied to us by the Woodstock, Ontario Historical Society. We were also able to locate some original company advertising that I think readers will find very interesting. I would like to thank the librarians at the Woodstock Historical Society for their help in locating these old images.

The second feature in this issue is about the Massey Ferguson Ski Whiz snowmobiles. The article centers on not only the history of these great machines but the collections of Montana resident Kyle Hoff and Ohio natives Brad and Tricia Blasius. With the advent of a very unusual Ohio snowfall, we were able to produce a nice cover showing Brad's MF 297. The nice cover photo was shot by Brad�s wife, Tricia.

Also in this issue was a pictorial called Making Hay the Massey Way, which contained a group of photos of Legacy readers using their Massey-Harris, Ferguson and Massey Ferguson tractor in all aspects of the hay-making process. Also included were some photos of making hay the old-fashion way with horses.

Other articles included a story written by Canadian contributor, David Turner, called 'The End of Massey Ferguson.' David chronicles how the World's Largest tractor and machinery company ended up in receivership and eventually bought out by the Allis Gleaner Company, better known as AGCO. It is a complicated story and David leads readers down that path in a well-illustrated piece.

Not many readers are aware that at one time, Massey Ferguson was not only a leading producer of Industrial Equipment but also manufactured mining and forestry equipment. Former Massey Ferguson engineer, Dave Nichole interview another former engineer Tony Fox were work in some of the original designs of Massey Ferguson Forestry Equipment, which was built at the new facility in Akron, Ohio.

Lastly, two Extended Letters by Reg Alspach and Bonnie Sitter round out this issue. I think that you will find both letters and the accompanying photos of interest.

Back Issues - We have sold a lot of Back Issues this fall and winter. This list includes the issues that we have left. There are five or six copies of LQ #34 that we just found, which doesn't show up on the list. We are still offering the special price of five issues for $25 in the US and $40 in Canada.

Outtake Photos - Lastly, here are some of the photos that we couldn't fit into this issue. I hope that you enjoy them.

LQ #44 was in the mail the first week of October and even with all of the issues with the USPS, delivery seemed to be very timely.

Because of COVID, Sue and I didn’t get to do as much traveling as usual. As a result, many of the stories for issue #44 and photos for the calendar were done much closer to our home turf. One such story was about a fall pumpkin business called Dupler’s Pumpkin Land, whose owner uses several Massey Ferguson 135 tractors. One of those, was a British built MF 135 that Roger just restored for this fall’s season. Nice story and a lot of good photos.

Another article featured the Brett Huizenga family from Minnesota. Brett and his wife Sara have a very nice collection of Massey-Harris and Massey Ferguson tractors. Also featured in this issue is an article by Don Pogalz, a former MF employee who worked with the Claas German built Massey Ferguson 8400 Series combines.

The final feature was Réjean Michaud’s ½ scale models. All hand built by Réjean himself, they all work. Everything from a Pacemaker and a Model 33 tractor, #6 mowers, #11 hay rake, White Silage chopper, Model 82 combine and a #3 wagon. Contributor and Quebec resident, Gordon Barnett wrote the story and took the excellent photos. Numerous readers have already expressed their amazement at the quality of Réjean workmanship!

An Extended Letter from Indiana reader, Lon Rice and his favorite little Massey Ferguson 7 tells the amazing story of this tough little tractor. The well-illustrated letter from long-time Ohio subscriber, Wayne Williams rounded out this issue. Wayne has contributed many fascinating stories and at 94 years-of-age, he has a unique perspective that you won’t want to miss! We have had many positive comments from both subscribers who call in to renew and those who have sent us letters. Thanks Wayne, for touching the lives of so many readers!

We ran a double-page ad in this issue advertising back issues. As a result, there have been a lot of orders this past month. If you have been thinking about ordering issues of Legacy Quarterly that you are missing, don’t wait too much longer. There are several issues that are out of print and several more of which we are running out. Order the ones that you are missing. The special 5 for $25, is still in affect!

In an effort to hold the line on production cost, we have asked readers for a little help.

1. US readers need to pay by check if at all possible. Credit card costs are outrageous. Canadian and foreign orders still need to pay with a credit card.
2. Cut out the address label that is at the top right-hand corner of the carrier sheet that is packed with your magazine. If you have had a change of address, cross that label out and write the correct new address on the form at the bottom of the sheet.
3. If you are ordering more than one item, please pay with just one check.
4. Most importantly, note your expiration date at the very top right-hand corner of the sheet. One of our largest expenses in mailing out reminder cards. If you renew on time, that revenue can be funneled back into the magazine. Thanks!