Massey Discussion Forums > Massey Talk > DIVERSIFY!!!!
Order posts by: 

DIVERSIFY!!!!

In recent posts we have heard how there is more to the Massey enthusiasts' movement than tractors!  This is very true so I thought I would draw up a list of some (NOT ALL!!!) possibilites for diversifying away from a purist tractor enthusiasm.  There is just simply so much more to the whole Massey heritage which of course includes Ferguson and Massey Ferguson as well as makes that Massey has in the past associated with such as Sawyer, Blackstone, Dickie and Sunshine as well as makes that they have taken over such as Verity and others in Canada.

Therefore I respectfulkly give a listing of what else is possible for you to indulge yourself in, much of which is lower cost than tractors, doesn't take up much space and will realise to you the great divesity of Massey heritage that is out there to be tracked down.  Believe me it is fascinating and is usually of more interest to the ladies than tractors!!!  I can truly confirm that in my collection I have examples of all that I list.

So here goes - and it is by no means a complete listing - others can add to it - but I will start the ball rolling:

Write books and articles
Document factories and dealerships
Interview and document past employees' experiences
Documment collectors' and enthusiasts' experiences
Create modern artwork
Collect:
Books and articles
Instruction and parts books
Full and part line catalogues
Employee contracts and Terms etc
Tractor Xmas cards and birthday cards
Event/show catalogues recording Massey entries
Calendars
Newspapers and magazines
Employee training and other certificates
Period photos
Your own photos
Posters
Original art works
Sales literature
Playing cards
Period and modern toys and models
Parts stores counter and floor mats
Postage stamps
Post cards
Company mail and envelopes
Paper money
Cast implement parts
Bricks and materials from factories and dealerships
Tractors!!!!!
Stationary engines and associated equipment e.g. speed governors and pump jacks
Implements for horses and tractors
Massey associated company items e.g. Sawyer, Blackstone, Dickie, Sunshine
Barn machines
Domestic utility items - stoves, freezers etc
Field machinery e.g. combines, balers
Clothing - new and period,
Cream separators
Wrenches and other tools
Parts boxes - wood and cardboard and other packaging
Signs - wood, tin, electric
Desk ornaments e.g. paper weights, pen holders etc
Seats - cast and tin
Dealership memorabilia
Pens and pencils
Sales brochure and parts book racks
Mugs, crockery, cutlery
Childrens items e.g. puzzles, games
Watches and clocks
Cigarette lighters
Match books
Watch fobs
Belt buckles
Special event gifts e.g. table weights, pen holders etc etc
Anniversary memorabilia - e,g. Massey 100th,125th, 150th and the recent 175th
Wooden and steel implement wheels
M-H tyres
For the Ausies - gates and fencing
Tractor badges (e.g. 135) and sterring wheel centre pieces
Oil and oiling cans. grease guns
Paper and cloth banners
Flags
Bicycles and associated equipment
Tool boxes

I rest my case and hope that I can further inspire the Massey movement to get out there, aquire the odds and ends (at less cost than tractors!!!!) and enjoy the truly vast and great Massey heritage.

John

 
Attachments
IMG_4486.jpg

RE:DIVERSIFY!!!!

One diversification that I forgot to mention is to VISIT ONTARIO.  More specifically visit Newcastle where Daniel Massey started his business in 1847 where you will see his old factory, the Massey Hall housing some Massey artifacts, and a church built by the family.  One of the Massey family houses is still proudly standing. You can also go to nearby Bond Head from where he exported implements across the lake.  Then up the road is Bowmanvill where you can visit Daniel's grave.  In Toronto you can see the famous Massey Music Hall , part of the old Toronto Massey factory now apartments and in one of the Toronto cemetries you can visit the Massey mausoleum.  Lots of great Massey history to be seen and mentally digested.

John

RE:DIVERSIFY!!!!

Well said John,

The first thing I say to visitors at my place "everyone thinks I collect tractors, well there is much more to M-H than just tractors".
For the ladies amongst the visitors they always show real enthusiasm at the clothes pegs, thimbles and pillow cases, even if they are not really into tractors.
And most visitors get a kick out of when I say you can collect money, an Australian visitor one day left me a $5 dollar note which has the Sir Edmund Hilary Ferguson on, it goes well with both versions of the Harry Ferguson Irish £20 note with the Ferguson Brown tractor on.

As John mentioned previously "The Home of Massey in Newcastle Ontario"  is steeped in Massey history and here is a photo of clinker which continues to rise to this day in the current garden on the site where Daniel Massey's original blacksmith's shop was.

Some people tell me tthis is the point my collecting hobby turned to be an obsession. But for me there is just as much interest in the 'small collectibles of M-H and associated companies' as their years of tractor production.

Enjoy the "Massey Collectibles" they don't take up much space.





 
Attachments
Diversify-1.jpgDiversify-2.jpgDiversify-3.jpgDiversify-4.jpgDiversify-5.jpgDiversify-6.jpgDiversify-7.jpgDiversify-8.jpg
Malcolm

RE:DIVERSIFY!!!!

John,
While looking through pictures I found this one, it is in Mike Popps collection and is a pretty cool piece of the Massey history of companys. Wish I had it in my collection...
Joe
Attachments
IMG_4070.jpgIMG_4068.jpg

RE:DIVERSIFY!!!!

Keep posting the 'Collectibles Joe'. 

Here is another safe, I saw this one on my travels in a dealers office in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1996.

 
Attachments
Safe-(2).jpg
Malcolm

RE:DIVERSIFY!!!!

Malcolm mentions the "clinker" or as I would call it "foundry slag".  I too have a piece of this from the same site in Newcastle, Ontario which I probably treasure above all my other artifacts and memorabila.  WHY?  Well quite simply because they are possibly the oldest Massey artifacts in existence.  Craig, as now the senior Massey historian in Ontario, Canada would you care to comment as you may well have seomething of the same vintage in you astounding collection of Massey treasures?

John

RE:DIVERSIFY!!!!

Another unusual "Massey Collectible" is the 'single vinyl record', I am sure many of you remember those from your earlier years of playing pop music, way before cassettes, cd's and all modern music streaming.?

Well I have three here in my collection, the first two from the late 1940's were dealer promotion for playing at the open evenings for the launch of the new British 744 PD tractor and 726 combine harvester.

The third one is titled "M-F Kind of Man", from the North American Dealer Convention, dated 1959.

I am sure there are many other variations out there amongst your collections, let's see them ?


 
Attachments
Vinyl-1.jpgVinyl-2.jpgVinyl-3.jpgVinyl-4.jpgVinyl-5-(2).jpg
Malcolm

RE:DIVERSIFY!!!!

Malcolm,
Now you need to find a Massey Harris record player and a pair of Massey Harris dancing shoes and put them records to good use.

Back in 1997 when Jo and I went to the 150th show we were touring around Racine sight seeing. We came across a graveyard with head stones that looked like a house. I told her to pull in to check this out as I've never saw anything like this before. We drove up to one of the largest ones and it was J.I.Case's grave stone. Just next to that were the Henry and Jessie Wallis stones. I snapped a couple pictures and now have them in my collection. Like you said John, not a lot of money involved in collecting stuff like this.
Joe
Attachments
img516.jpgimg515.jpg

RE:DIVERSIFY!!!!

Thank you Joe,
It's always great to see a new piece of 'old history with great historical sgnificance'. What you photographed back in 1997 really fits that bill.
All the times we have been to Racine together and I have been on two occassions on my own I never thought about looking for these graves, thank you for posting.

The first photo here is the first time John and I visited Daniel Massey's grave in Bowmanville around 1996 and  then one of this last September 2022. We have been a few times inbetween those dates and noticed the gradual deterioration and ageing of the stone, plus we have grown a little older too !!

 

Attachments
Bowmanville-Grave-(2).jpgDSC00134.jpgDSC00133.jpg
Malcolm

RE:DIVERSIFY!!!!

John, 
Here is my latest addition to the collection I got for a Christmas gift. Made of repurposed license plates cut up and pieced together. My how the Wallis sign has changed in the last 100+ years. Something different for the collection.
Joe
Attachments
Resized_20221226_124101.jpeg