Massey Harris Tractor

Lesney early large scale toys 1947-55 + Models of Yesteryear 1956 to date
Wolfie Ginsburg
Posts: 171
Joined: Wed Oct 16, 2013 12:19 am

Massey Harris Tractor

Post by Wolfie Ginsburg »

The huge Massey Harris Tractor

I have shown it with its tiny miniature brother for comparison

The tractor had great play value with the steering wheel steering the front wheels. However the smoke stacks are pretty flimsy and will come off with any vigorous playing.

The big tractor was pretty expensive in its day. In the 1956 UK collectors' catalogue it is shown at 17/6 when miniatures were 1/6 (17 times the price) - not a toy for every child


Image
I collect Matchbox Toys - big and small

Image
User avatar
johnboy
Posts: 4054
Joined: Sun Sep 15, 2013 3:10 pm
Location: Hertfordshire, England

Re: Massey Harris Tractor

Post by johnboy »

Very nice Wolfie, certainly a big beast (and an expensive one too!). I think they came in orange and red. Was there anything to hitch it up to?
John
There's nothing regular about wheels
Wolfie Ginsburg
Posts: 171
Joined: Wed Oct 16, 2013 12:19 am

Re: Massey Harris Tractor

Post by Wolfie Ginsburg »

It was a lonely beast

The only model planned in this scale was a Euclid Quarry Truck of which only one is known to survive. The truck was sold by auction at a MICA convention for £10,200. (I was there) I believe it was bought by a German collector
I collect Matchbox Toys - big and small

Image
User avatar
motorman
Moderator
Posts: 6863
Joined: Sun Sep 15, 2013 6:09 pm
Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Re: Massey Harris Tractor

Post by motorman »

Wolfie Ginsburg wrote:It was a lonely beast

The only model planned in this scale was a Euclid Quarry Truck of which only one is known to survive. The truck was sold by auction at a MICA convention for £10,200. (I was there) I believe it was bought by a German collector
I think this is what you are referring to Wolfie, can you see yourself anywhere? click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hystQuOIrks
MOTORMAN

"Kill all my demons and my angels will die too"
User avatar
nickjones
Site Admin
Posts: 2355
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2012 12:54 am
Location: Clacton on Sea, Essex, UK

Re: Massey Harris Tractor

Post by nickjones »

I was there too Wolfie, I wish I had known you were there as I would have said hello,
I have it on good authority that the large quarry truck went to live in the USA.
Nick Jones.
In sunny Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, UK
User avatar
Ewan
Posts: 783
Joined: Sun Sep 15, 2013 2:48 pm
Location: Isle of Benbecula

Re: Massey Harris Tractor

Post by Ewan »

That's lovely Wolfie, and thanks for showing it with the miniature - I had no idea the Major Tractor was that large!
User avatar
johnboy
Posts: 4054
Joined: Sun Sep 15, 2013 3:10 pm
Location: Hertfordshire, England

Re: Massey Harris Tractor

Post by johnboy »

Ewan wrote:That's lovely Wolfie, and thanks for showing it with the miniature - I had no idea the Major Tractor was that large!
Maybe when they get listed on ebay as a "Barn find" it might be true :lol:
John
There's nothing regular about wheels
User avatar
Moyboy
Posts: 784
Joined: Sun Sep 15, 2013 11:25 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia
Contact:

Re: Massey Harris Tractor

Post by Moyboy »

Sorry Wolfie but for once have to contradict you (what a rare occurrence) !!! There was also an Aveling & Porter roller planned and is shown in one of the old UK Matchbox mags at a toyfair when Prince Michael ?? visited their stand. there were around 5 or 6 dumpers looking to be in various colour schemes (but B&W photo only) and sitting on one side is a huge road roller albeit missing any wheels it might have had.
What a series this would have made, similar in size to the old Triang tinplate lorries & trucks - superb.
User avatar
Idris
Site Admin
Posts: 5940
Joined: Sun Sep 15, 2013 6:10 pm
Location: Denbigshire, Wales

Re: Massey Harris Tractor

Post by Idris »

Moyboy wrote:There was also an Aveling & Porter roller planned and is shown in one of the old UK Matchbox mags at a toyfair when Prince Michael ?? visited their stand. there were around 5 or 6 dumpers looking to be in various colour schemes (but B&W photo only) and sitting on one side is a huge road roller albeit missing any wheels it might have had.
I remember that photograph well.
It has alway struck me as being unlikely that only one of those dumpers survived. Perhaps some of them are still out there, unrecognised for what they are.
Does anyone know what identification marks the only known dumper carries underneath? Come to that, what, if anything, does the big tractor have written underneath?
Wolfie Ginsburg
Posts: 171
Joined: Wed Oct 16, 2013 12:19 am

Re: Massey Harris Tractor

Post by Wolfie Ginsburg »

Of course!

I forgot about that photo inn the UK Matchbox magazine April 1982 page 20

There is a large roller and is that a gun of some sort?

And a few Euclids - what happened to them?



Image


Does someone have a better quality photo?

The tractor doesn't have markings on its base but on its tyres it says Made in England by Lesney
I collect Matchbox Toys - big and small

Image
Locked