Hello all, 
My name is Wyatt Bridgeman. I am a Massey Collector and member of the Missouri Chapter. I am 17 years old and a member of FFA. I am our FFA Chapter Vice President. I compete in Speaking Contests through FFA. The speech must be written and given by me. I can write about anything within agriculture. I have written about tractors in the past but not brand specific. My next speech to be delivered in April will be written about Massey Tractors and their history as well as how the MCA is working to preserve the Massey name and history for years to come. I am looking for any information any of you would like to give me. Please leave any questions, comments, or information in this post. Thank You. 

Wyatt,

Think this is the first time I've seen you post on here, so if no one has said it already, welcome aboard. 

I would like to comment on how the MCA is working to preserve the Massey name and legacy. First and foremost, to keep a legacy alive like the Massey name (whether it'd be Wallis, Ferguson, Massey Harris, M-H-F or MF) there must be a passion for it and that's what every member in the MCA in some way shape or form, has a passion for all things Massey. For some its collecting tractors/implements/combines etc. etc. and for others it's collecting sales literature, tools or any kind of Massey related memorbilia. Personally for me the way I preserve the Massey Harris/Massey Ferguson name is by having an interest and collecting tractors/implements and sales literature from the late 40s/early 50s to about the early 70s era. Albeit I'm a young collector myself and don't have a large collection like some others on here have, but in my book, if you have the passion and find others that have that same passion, that's how you preserve something like the Massey legacy.

Hopefully that's something along the lines of what you're looking for, just my two cents.

Cheers,
        Dakota

Dakota,
Thank you so much. I am a brand new member this year and am looking forward to all the MCA has to offer. I have written an introductory story for the Clipper that I hope will be published. I love writing about tractors and take every oppurtunity I can get. I believe what you stated  is perfect. I am doing the exact same thing you are as I own 6 tractors of my own ranging from 1948 to 1979. I have several pieces of literature and several pieces of MH equipment and memoribila. I think you are right on the money.
Some others things I would like to know is specific things chapters are doing in their communities to preserve the brand, and how the club is working to progress itself for future generations. I would also love to hear from members who lived some of the company history and can recall when these were new. Being 17 years old I wasn't around then and want to save some of these memories for future generations. My family was only fortunate enough to have one Massey through the years and that was in the 1950's. I have those memories from my grandfather saved forever in my memory, but one isn't enough. If any of you would like to share memories, or anything you know about Massey or the MCA, I would love to listen and would love to fill my speech with your thoughts and memories. Thank You all!

Wyatt,

Your welcome. I have 5 tractors in total, two Massey's, two Molines and one lonely 2 cylinder Deere and as I have mentioned some Massey memorabilia. As you can probably tell, I like all colors of tractors, but Massey's and Mo's are my favorite. 

Anyway, I do know a feller who's family had a Massey dealership at one time and he even sold a few pieces of Massey sales literature, his name is Harold Lang. I'll have to find his email address when I get home here in a couple days, but very interesting feller to talk to. He even had a couple of photos of a prototype disc and a prototype moldboard plow that was based off the MF 880 if not I'm mistaken and I bought those off of him as well. 

I know Mr. John Bush and Gary Emsweller of the Indiana chapter of the MCA (which I am also a member of) they both grew up with Massey's and these two fellers are also good to talk to and have a wealth of knowledge. As you'll soon find out this organization is full of cool people and I don't think you'll have any issues making a few friends along the way.

Cheers,
       Dakota

Hello Wyatt, and welcome to the MCA.  It is great to get some youth with enthusiasm into the organization. (And, I include Dakota in that category!!)

As Dakota mentioned, I have quite a bit of history, and a bit of knowledge gained through the years, of the Massey-Harris and Massey Ferguson tractors and equipment.  It all started with my Dad and my Grandpa (his dad) both having Massey-Harris 44 tractors when I was just a wee lad.  I was able to get my Grandpa's 44, and his MF 35 back from the friend of the family that bought them from him.  I am the third owner of both.

I also had the priviledge of having the Fairland/Shelbyville Massey Ferguson Training Farm running full tilt just 3 miles from me while I was in Junior High and High School.  That was during the time when they were developing and testing the MF 100-1000 series tractors.  I actually got to harvest some corn with a prototype MF 300 combine from the Training Farm.  I was literally in "hog heaven". 

When they shut the MF Training Farm down, I was working as an engineer for Caterpillar in Peoria, IL.  The old tractor bug had not yet bitten me.  The Training Farm manager was told to scrap the remaining 1100/1130/1150 prototypes, but he just couldn't make himself do it.  He spirited them off the farm to various friends and family members.  I managed to track down a few of them.  After some persistence, I was able to bring one of them home here to the farm, MF 1100 serial number CDW 650000014.  It has a narrow front end, and I continue to discover things on this tractor that were changed prior to production. 

My Grandpa's Massey-Harris 44, which he always called "Old Sam", was featured in an article in Antique Power magazine a few years back.  That article tells quite a bit of my story, and how I came full circle after 40 years of Engineering to living back here on the farm where I grew up.  I have a PDF of that article, which I will send to you via email.  After you read that you will know a bit more about me.

Once you have read that article, please feel free to send me an email, or give me a call with any questions you might have about Massey, or the Massey Collectors Association, and I will do my best to answer your questions.  You can find my phone number on the Officers Page of the MCA Website.  I am currently Treasurer.

Once again, welcome to the Organization.  Hopefully you will soon find out why we have the motto coined by my dearly departed good friend Don Snyder:  "Old Masseys Collect the Nicest People."

Regards.

John

Hi Wyatt,
At one time there was a thread on this site that listed a large number of books relating to Massey-Harris, Ferguson and Massey Ferguson history.  It does not now seem to be accessible but collectively they would be a GREAT help to you.  I am the author of one of them "Massey Legacy Vol. 1"  This is a 300 + page volume which would be most relevant to your needs although all of them are worth reading.  In it there is a detailed chronology of Massey history.  This is available from Steve Miller in MN  e mail: ssmiller0507@gmail.com    He probably has one in stock.  I am in the UK but if you need any further help please don't hesitate to contact me by e mail   johntractor@tiscali.co.uk
Kind regards and good luck with your most honourable task!!
John

Just could not help myself. John, what a great pleasure to see you on here.  While I have been reading Wyatt's pursuit, your name floated to the top first, as someone with great knowledge who could help him, or lead him in the right direction.  

Wyatt,

Sorry about the delay, but here is Mr. Lang's email address if you would like to talk to him about getting some material for your FFA speech. 

bhlang4@sbcglobal.net

Cheers,
    Dakota

Thanks so much Dakota, 
I emailed him last night and have his phone number now so I will for sure be giving him a call. He sounds like a very intresting guy with lots of experience and knowledge. I hope to gain some knowledge from him and definately use some of it in my speech. As of right now my speech doesn't have much Massey but I have only written about 2 pages so far so I have a lot of space left. But the speech will be started talking about the invention of the tractor and the replacement of the horse. I have been reading lots of old government reports published in the 1920s through 1950s. I also have a new book I think every tractor guy should read. It is by R.B. Gray, and published in 1954. It was a compilation of two books written with data and information provided to and by the Nebraska Test Lab. There have been two more books written to complete the series by other authors. The book is titled "The Agricultural Tractor 1855-1950". I have read this and used lots of information from it. This book is amazing, everyone should have it. I would also like to send a big thank you to Steve and Sandy Miller. They sent me an amazing gift of a book written by John Farnworth. I absolutely loved it and just wanted to share how generous they were. Thanks again to everyone who has helped give me information, I am still looking for more, as always so don't be shy if you have something to share I would love to hear it. 
Thanks again everyone!

Wyatt,

Good to hear. Not to take away anyone else's credibility on Massey knowledge, but Mr. Lang knows his stuff and is full of useful information, I think you'll definitely learn a thing or two from him. As you will learn from some other folks on here as well. 

And as for Steve and Sandy Miller, yes they are super cool people. Got the pleasure to meet them in person at the Expo last year. 

Good luck with your project chief.