I was recently contacted by Bob Storm who is one of the curators of the Franklin Historical Society in Franklin, Wisconsin. He had some questions about some very early Massey-Harris photos that were donated to them I believe from the Herda family. 
The J. F. Herda Hardware store in Franklin, Wisconsin was started in the early 1920's and according to the family was at one time the largest Massey-Harris dealer in the mid-west. Bob stated that they did not want to sell the pictures but was more than willing to share them with me to post for all to see and comment about them and enjoy them. 
The first picture is of a Wallis 12-20 and the photo was dated 1927. Bob was questioning the date 1927. I told him I don't believe the date to be correct as I believe the 12-20 was first introduced in 1929. After talking with Tom Seaberg he stated it was a No. 5 Plow behind the 12-20 and said he only knows of one in existence. 
Feel free to comment, all comments welcome. Note: more photos coming as Bob continues to send.  
Joe
 

Now that's cool! Keep em coming

Here is another great photo, I am guessing this from the spring or summer of 1940 as I believe all the 1939 101 Super's had the flat top fenders and the earlier style long bar short bar tires with cast center wheels and not the steel pressed rims. Also if you look really close in the upper right hand corner of the license plate on the truck it you can see "40" stamped on the plate.
Go ahead and comment, I'm sure some of you see something I've missed.
Joe

Thes are absolutely superb photo's Joe, sorry for the delay in responding BUT I could not get access to reply, so I had to wake Gary up early this morning (UK time) to fix the website 'technical problem', I knew I was a fully paid up member, anyway I suppose I could call Gary the "MCA Website Fixer" as it seems to be working ok now.

Now back to the first photo of the new Wallis 12-20, interesting to note it is not fitted with "manifold heat shields", also fitted with a 'paper belt pulley', a few Wallis 12-20's here in England have the 'cast iron belt pulley' and no pulley brake arm behind to stop it rotating to select the gear, I can see how that design soon changed.

Please keep these lovely original photo's rolling Joe, there is so much to digest from them, even the surroundings look interesting, wonder what is on the shelves behind???



 

Malcolm,
I figured you would enjoy these, glad Gary got you fixed up so you can respond. 
This next picture is of a 1936 Challenger. I don't know if this picture was given to the Herda's from Massey or not. I've seen this tractor pop up in several different Massey Harris advertisements from the past. I believe this tractor is a Prototype. The name plate is a cast plate bolted on the front of the radiator, not cast into it. The front pedistal where the cultivator square shaft goes through in on an angle and bolted on. The starting crank pawl sticks out the front of the tractor and not sunken into the casting. Also the throtle is not on the top of the steering collum but rather down below like the Pacemakers. One thing I can't figure out is the round thing between the cultivator pivits, I will post a close up pic of it. Is it some sort of a dyno for the lights? The dyno should be on the other side of the engine.
I have Serial number 8 challenger in my collection and Damond has # 5 and we both have the earlier "weak" front end without the extra ribbing in the cast and the 2" x 2" solid steel shaft goes through square and not on an angle bolted on. Thats why mine is been broken and welded in the past.
I'm sure there is more I missed.
Joe

I love the quality of these photos...just excellent...Joe I've gotta ask, how late do these photo's go? Any pictures of any 55s? Course I guess then again there wouldn't be any that region yeah?

Dakota,
Sorry nothing that new. Here is a picture of when life was a little more simple. If you were an early farmer this would have been a very familiar sight, (looking at the back end of a horse).  I don't know what model mower this is but I'm sure someone on here can identify it. 
Joe

Joe,

Thanks so much for sharing. Really enjoyable photos!

 

Here is a very cool photo! the first machine on the left appears to be a Bagger machine. The next one to the right of it appears to have a round hopper tank but It could be just an optical illusion as I never seen one with a round tank. The machine to the far right looks as it has not been assembled yet as the header is up on the top of the combine, I would assume that is how they were shipped in the day. The two machines on the right appear to also be Bagger machines.
Joe

Here is a great picture of a Ed & Howard Arendt with a  Styled Massey Harris Challenger pulling a Clipper combine with the Bagging option on it. Interesting to see there is a muffler on the Challenger, I always thought they were just a straight pipe on them. 
Joe