1952 MASSEY HARRIS 55 DIESEL

companies, M-H soon found themselves with a cash flow problem. A potential answer came in a chance to merge with Harry Ferguson Inc., makers of the Ferguson tractors in England and Detroit. That occurred in late 1953 and the company became Massey-harrisferguson. The original plan was to keep it a “Two Line” company, maintaining separate M-H and Ferguson sales identities all the way down to the dealership level. It sounded reasonable in the beginning, but resulted in vicious turf battles in the boardroom and unproductive sales conflicts at the dealership level.

By 1958, the internecine battles for turf made tough decisions necessary. When the smoke cleared, the Harris name had been dropped from the corporate identity and the equipment lines were merged into the Massey-ferguson (M-F) brand. Unfortunately, much of the Massy-harris technical DNA disappeared in a flurry of redesigns and outside-purchased, rebadged tractors taking the place of the existing M-H units. Still, things did pick up for the reformed company after that and Massey-ferguson became a powerhouse brand that still exists today in the AGCO stable of ag equipment.

The M-H Model 55 diesel was built into 1955, when it was replaced by the very similar but improved 555. The big news with the 555 was power steering and a new hydraulic system. The original 55/555 DNA disappeared in 1958, when Massey-harris became Massey-ferguson. The 555’s place in the line was taken by the M-F 95, which was essentially a restyled, rebadged Minneapolis-moline tractor. The other Massey-harris tractors disappeared in the same way and the M-H brand loyalists of today neither forgive nor forget.

 The operator’s station is typical of the era. Carroll added some padding to the steel bucket seat but, hey, it has a spring at least. No power steering in this era but it would come to M-H tractors later.