THE MEASURINGSTICK OF THE TRACTOR INDUSTRY©
Part V
The Boom Years
1946-1953

Dan Whalen 2165 Berry Road, Amelia, OH 45102
As printed in the Wild Harvest 1999 #6

1946 was the beginning of an unprecedented, never to be repeated, era of a seller's market. Not just for tractors and farm equipment but for anything manufactured. A whole generation went through not only a world war but also The Great Depression, making due scraping by, and not having two nickels to rub together, which fostered an attitude and a way of life will into the 60's and 70's. "If it's old, get rid of it", didn't matter if it still worked, looked good, etc.

This is the atmosphere Massey-Harris entered into in 1946. And makes you appreciate that anything that exists manufactured before 1946 truly is a survivor.

The main thrust of Massey-Harris prosperity was centered in its North American manufacturing and sales activity I.E. Racine, Wisconsin, United States.

The first challenge of 1946 was being able to produce, answering the call of pent-up demand. The second challenge was material shortages. Adding to the frustration was steel strikes in the U.S. and Canada. Shortages in steel, rubber, and other supplies were chronic, didn't see any relief until 1947.

The total volume of production at the Racine plant tells the story.



	1947 - production volume was 14,272

	1948 - production volume was 23,387

	1949 - production volume was 31,100

	1950 - production volume was 30,910

	1951 - production volume was 34,114

	1952 - production volume was 21,634

	1953 - production volume was 17,083

As can be seen by these figures, there was an obvious problem in sales by 1952. Most dealers were not exclusive dealers. Many dealers became combine dealers who had no interest in developing a tractor market for Massey-Harris. There was such a demand for the Massey-Harris combine, if there were a requirement with so many tractors and pieces of equipment with each self-propelled combine, the sales network would have been improved.

1948 the new Massey-Harris tractor line up was in place, which was the model 20, (succeeded by the 21, 22, and 23.) the model 30, (which after 1952 became the 33) the model 44, 55, 11 Pony, the model 21 Colt, and 23 Mustang introduced in 1953.

The 55 closed the large tractor horsepower gap in the line up with the 44 being the obvious all time Massey-Harris success story.

At this time the Ferguson System was the hot ticket. All manufacturers were scrambling to develop their Hydraulic Systems. Massey-Harris had the Hydraulic "Depth-O-Matic Control" which did not have the weight transfer and an external ad on unit.

The company's research and development department went to work on a Ferguson type prototype tractor, which was called the Pitt Tractor. It was a failure and abandoned.

Production costs amounted to 75% of net sales, which was higher than the cost of other major U.S. Companies. Attention was turned to reducing these costs. 24% the cost of manufacturing the tractor was the engine of which, unlike many years before, Massey no longer produced itself. It was decided to reduce cost, the increase of control over supply would reduce cost. The board even authorized making their own tractor castings but nothing was implemented. The company made no progress in its dependence on outside supplies.

By 1953 tractor sales in North America was week but 60% of its volume sales was world-wide which was impressive compared to all the other medium sized companies. There was high production cost, technological lag, market weakness, the technological lead in combines was diminishing, which all lead to one of the most interesting, complicated chapters to the Massey-Harris History Part VI - "The Merger Years".

Many hours of research has gone into this ongoing series. If you have any information to add, please relate this and documentation to Dan Whalen. There are too many books, articles and VCR tapes on this subject that are in whole or in part inaccurate and misleading which has damaged and eclipsed the reputation of Massey-Harris Company U.S.A. and the fine tractors and equipment it engineered and manufactured as the facts show.

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