Massey Collectors

We have just had a fabulous weekend.  Bob Parke, one of the UK's biggest M-H tractor collectors arranged a Massey feature event in conjunction with his local vintage club -"The Starting Handle Club" over in Norfolk in the east of England.  Normally the club has a summer event for all makes etc but Bob wanted a big Massey feature.  So he invited the club to use his place for the regular show plus a Massey feature.  Well, Bob did us proud.  No attention to detail was overlooked - he even arranged fantastic weather.

Bob has about 40 M-H tractors and he got about 30 of them out and invited other Massey collectors such as myself and Malcolm Robinson to bring something along.  Malcolm took his No. 3.  He carried it about 100 miles down from near Lincoln where he lives on a trailer pulled by his modern MF tractor.  What a trip!  It took him a bit over 3 hours and the tractor tyres were red hot on arrival!

I had a longer trip - 310 miles - so took along my smallest MH tractor the 812 Pony Vineyard made in France.  Not too heavy so made for an easier journey.  I also took a load of my cast iron memorabilia and books for a stall.  There are I believe only about three  of these in the UK and Bob didn't have one so it complemented his line up.

There were also Fergusan and Massey Ferguson tractors, other makes not to be mentioned here, classic and vintage cars, commercial vehicles and a large steam engine in full steam.

MH's full tractor history was well represented starting with a big Bull and Parrett, Sawyer Massey, Malcolm's No 3, the Wallis and Massey U frames, 3 GPs and plenty of war time and poast war tin ones.

I will post some photos of the tractors here, but one at a time as I don't know how to post more than one at once.

First Bob's Sawyer Massey 11-22 which he acquired last year

Second, Bob'sex US air force I 244.  There were, and still are, very large US air bases near Bob's and this originated from one of them

Next, the MF 6475 which lugged his M-H No. 3 100 miles to the event.  Malcolm being interviewed by the local newspaper editor and achieving yet more fame!

My own MH 812 French made Pony Vineyard.  M-H's smallest ever agricultural tractor.  You need a shoe horn to get sat in it - ask Steve Miller who satin it a few years ago before he got his own.

This is one of several British built Ferguson 35s that were at the event.  We call them the "grey golds".

A nice gas/kerosene 60 inch GP.  Unti inspecting it closer I had not realised that the hood is shorter than on a straight gas tractor

Bob's lovely ex Larry Weber Yuma auction MH 82

Here's some real horse power!  Draft horses pulling an M-H disc harrow

Malcolm with his treasured No. 3

It also became evident that Malcolm has a weak spot for strawberries.  Can you lay some on at Pickneyville please with double cream?

Sorry - here's the phanton strawberry eater!!

This is Bob's rather special GP.  Its an OHV 66 inch and gas/kerosene

Finally and at Malcolm's insistence, a shot of self and good tolerant (!) lady wife with one of our many boards of M-H cast iron memorabilia

Forgot this one of the inside of Bob's tractor shed.  This is where he stores his tractors but most were outside for the show.  Many are stored above as the photo shows and he gets them up and down with a fork lift.  For the event there wre a collection of stalls iside including our own books and cast iron memorabilia

Wow!!  Thank John for sharing the pics.  It is special when you know the players!!  Looks like Bob went all out to host the show.  I have to think it was a great sitte to see Malcolm's oldest and newest tractors going down the road together!!

Hope to see you guys in Pinckneyville and Portland.  I was bringing my 820 Vineyard a broken leg is getting in my way to make tractors move.  We will see what I can bring easily!!

 Thanks again for the great pictures. 

Gary