Down on the farm with Massey Ferguson

In May 1959 we saw the first farming issues from Corgi. This was the Massey Ferguson 65 tractor in its 'Massey Ferguson' red finish. For the first edition, that included the seat too.

Later the seat gets painted in the cream or pinky-cream of the chassis and eventually they settle for not painting it at all.

The wheels start off as metal but get replaced by plastic at some stage.

The steering wheel also starts as black but is replaced by a silver metal one. I have no idea when all these changes are made. The vast majority of models have silver seat, steering wheel and plastic wheels as well as gold lettering in the transfers. I have seen silver / white lettering and also a brighter gold which looks more like yellow but I am unsure whether these are merely replacements as parts suppliers can provide these now and many are difficult to distinguish from the originals.

Corgi concentrated on just two brands - Massey Ferguson and Fordson. In this article I will show you the Massey Ferguson tractors. There was also a 'Massey Ferguson' trailer issued in May 1959 and in October a marvellous Massey Ferguson Combine Harvester which I will return to another day.

The #50  tractor was also issued in Gift Set 7 (with the #51 Trailer), Gift Set 8 (with the #51 trailer and #1111 Combine Harvester and Gift Set 29 (with the #51 Trailer with a driver added).

The next tractor was in April 1960 when a shovel gets attached to the tractor as #53.

This is a typical example of Corgi's detailed production of operational pieces. With the two levers you could raise and lower the arms and hold or let the bucket swing down to empty it. With a pile of sand or bits and pieces you really could pick stuff up and transport it to be dropped somewhere else - well, as long as you didn't need to turn any sharp corners as all the Massey Ferguson tractors had fixed axles.

The first shovel attachment model #53 has cream arms and the transfers are fitted along them with none on the tractor bonnet. It has metal wheels.

At some point the arms section is revised, with an additional bar between them and now there is no space for the transfer so it returns to the tractor bonnet. I believe this version will always have plastic wheels but there is no definitive evidence that the wheels were changed at exactly the same time as the lift mechanism so there may be a further two variations: arms type 1 with plastic wheels, arms type 2 with metal wheels.

Near the end of production comes a known third variety. This one has bare metal arms but is otherwise in the same style as the previous one, with transfers on the bonnet. I am sure all of these will have plastic wheels.

This also appears in Gift Set 32 with a #62 Trailer with raves and has a driver.

In May 1963 the Massey Ferguson 65 tractor gets a fork attachment (available to buy as #57 in a box). This always seems to be in bare metal, very much along the lines of the final Shovel attachment.

This is also included in Gift Set 22 where, in fact, it first appeared in September 1962. There are some errors in some publications which list Gift Set 22 as having #53 not #57. I had unwittingly taken my data from these supposedly reputable sources too and have only just changed my site in that respect! Because the Shovel version was the one available at the time of the Set's issue it seemed logical to conclude that they set had #53 not #57. Now, of course, we may find that could, indeed be the case but all the new-looking sets I have seen have had the Fork attachment.

In July 1966 there is a new Massey Ferguson - the 165.

This looks similar in its traditional red but now has a grey chassis which makes the white grille surround stand out. There is an exhaust too and a driver from the start.

On the front axle is a device which makes an approximation to a chugging sound - perhaps not one of Corgi's brightest of ideas. Steering would have been a better idea, or some jewels for the headlamps like they gave to the later Ford tractor.

On its own, the Massey Ferguson 165 tractor as #66 doesn't get into any Gift Sets.

In March 1967 the 165 gets a shovel attachment, very similar to the last fork attachment but with red arms and a bare metal, more angular bucket for #69 than was fitted to #53.

This edition does find its way into two Gift Sets: the big Agricultural Gift Set 5 in October 1967 and Gift Set 9 in December 1968 with the #62 trailer.

Then we get a bit of a surprise in March 1970 when a most impressive #73 165 Tractor is issued with a working rotating saw attachment.

This is remarkable bit of engineering that uses a tightly coiled wire (essentially a spring) to translate the rotation of rear wheel teeth to turn the spring and hence the saw at the other end. As well as detailed controls and 'hydraulic' piping the attachment and arm can be positioned in many ways and there is even a safety guard in a heavy metal mesh design too.

This is not quite the end of the Massey Ferguson story as in 1973 there is a new #50 in the shape of a Massey Ferguson MF50B Tractor which gets a shovel in May 1974. These are appalling models, very basic and with such limited detailing that I don't care for them much at all. There are some interesting sets in which they appear, however, so I will write about them on another occasion. Better to end on the high note that was #73.

Corgi Toys @ 60: A Ferrari, A Mini-Cooper and a Trailer with Raves

 

February 1965 is when the Ferrari 250 Berlinetta Le Mans arrived on the shelves at your local toy shop. Only the third model to get nice wire wheels from the start and always finished in red with RN4 decals.

This can be found in two editions, the difference being on the base, later models having angled ends to the raised lines. A pretty inexplicable change! This was a long-running model, staying on the production list until 1972.

I was lucky to acquire this gold-plated edition from Percy Wilford's grandson several years ago.

I have read that Ferrari were not particularly happy with the representation of their car by Corgi. The front end does look quite different but often Corgi worked from very early design releases by manufacturers so who knows what they were provided with.

Another appearance in February 1965 was the wonderful Mini-Cooper, this time the 1965 Monte Carlo winner.

This photo of the real car comes from Mini.com and I hope they don't mind my reproducing it here as it shows how well Corgi interpreted the model this time, even creating a revised casting to include two lamps above the grille and some other differences, quite different to the 1964 Monte Carlo issue and, indeed, all the subsequent rally issues. Replaced in 1966 by another Monte Carlo Mini-Cooper, this one is now quite sought after.

This would also be the first of three 1965 Monte Carlo entries which would be combined in Gift Set 38 as you'll read about here next month!

The last release for February 1965 is a new trailer for the farming collection. #62 is a Tipping Trailer with Raves (the pieces that can be added at the front and back to help retain a higher load). This will also be available in Gift Set 32 and later editions of the Agricultural Gift Sets 22 and GS5 (1967 issue).

Tractors

I've been looking at tractors. I knew there were some variations but I had not really looked very closely before or made much of an effort to review them. The Corgi agricultural range is small but really nice and well-made - well, at least, the models from the 1950s and 60s are. Things went downhill rapidly in the 1970s but we'll leave that for another day.

First there is the Massey Ferguson 65 tractor, issued in May 1959.

At first it has a black steering wheel and metal wheels. The very first also had gold lettering and a red seat.

Later it gets plastic wheels and a slightly pink shade for the previously cream parts. Most you'll find will have silver or, more rarely, cream painted seats.

The trailer also has similar variations for the wheels.

The early trailer had metal wheels and the pin holding the mechanism in place on the chassis has its head on the right side.

Later trailers had plastic wheels and the pin head is on the left side. It is unlikely that the change of pin direction and wheel type happened at the same time so a third variation is possible although I do not know which change came first.

I also find there to be a distinct colour difference between the metal and plastic wheels on both the tractors and trailers with the metal ones being a brighter red and the plastic slightly deeper red.

Next came a Fordson Power Major Tractor and a plough, in May 1961.

It is always 'Fordson' blue and is first issued with pale orange metal wheels.

The plough has three linkage points and can only be used with this tractor. It can be quite difficult to fit but can then be very nicely lifted and lowered using a lever by the seat, operating very realistically. There is also a tin hook fitted to the first Fordson - the same type and size as can be found on Land Rovers and various other trucks at the time.

Later models have much brighter orange, plastic wheels.

Model #50 Fordson Power Major has headlamps at the side of the radiator. In December 1964 there is the same name on the transfer but now the Fordson tractor has its headlamps inset in a redesigned front end.

The new one, #60, also has a much more realistic traction rod-controlled steering and a redesigned rear linkage section, a much simpler device to which a new plough could be more easily attached. The tin hook also is replaced by a smarter type with the same lever controlling its release.

The #60 Fordson Power Major always has plastic wheels and was issued with a driver.

At the same time #61 Plough was issued which is the same basic design for the chassis and shares as before but now in blue and shiny chrome with no upper linkage. [Note that in this illustration one share is missing - there should be four.]

Normally, Ferguson tractors had the red wheels and Fordson tractors had orange wheels but you will find examples where the reverse is true. These are quite scarce and worth looking out for.

July 1966 sees the arrival of the Massey Ferguson 165 tractor. This is a good-looking model but, like its predecessor, Massey-Ferguson still miss out on the 'extras' as the only feature this one gets is a slightly pointless whirring noise from the front axle when it is pushed along. It does have a new driver, though.

The rear hook is very simple so this would not be suitable for ploughing tasks.

January 1967 brings the new tractor from the 'Ford' stable - the Ford 5000 Super Major.

This is a nicely detailed model and Ford must have been more generous to Corgi as it gets jewelled headlamps and steering as well as silver plated exhaust and other bits. However, they cannot have been that generous as the steering reverts to the dreadfully ugly pivoting axle type. No doubt a lot simpler to manufacture but it made it much more difficult for us to criticise Dinky Toys' sad steering style when Corgi come up with this! Especially as we had such fond memories still at the time of the Bentley Continental, Mercedes 220SE and Ecurie Ecosse Racing Car Transporter!

The Massey Ferguson did get a shovel #53 (April 1960) and a fork #57 (May 1963) attachment on the 65 model and a shovel #69 (March 1967) on the 165 model and it could pull some additional items: a more substantial Tipping Trailer with two extra side inserts as #62 in February 1965, a Beast Carrier #58 in November 1965 and a Disc Harrow #71, quite a surprise issue in July 1967.

There are so many variations of the shovels and fork that they will have to wait for another article! there was only one Disc Harrow, though. Even this had a special feature - the lever would raise or lower the main axle.

In September 1969 we see the first of three very detailed models, the Ford 5000 Super Major with a Hydraulic scoop attachment at the side.

Lots of detail including all the hydraulic hoses and an operation box.

In March 1970 Massey Ferguson finally get something a bit special with the addition of a mechanical saw attachment to the 165 model.

The saw element actually rotates when the tractor goes along, driven by a most inventive spring which acts like a gear against a toothed inner edge to the tyre and translates the wheel rotation to the saw unit. Quite extraordinary. [This should have a driver.]

Finally, in January 1972, a rear-mounted trenching bucket is the 'new' attachment to give extra life to the Ford 5000 Super Major.

You will see, of course, that it is merely the device used in the 1969 model with a couple of stabilisers added and fitted at the back instead of the side. All these last three models had a short life and sold only in modest volumes, farming in the 70s not having the appeal it had had in the early 60s. The last one, in particular, had a very short production period before being withdrawn in 1973 and is something I now need to replace in my own collection.

In June 1973 the last 1:43 scale tractor (with an attachment) is issued and you can see it is a very poor model indeed. It does still have young Farmer George inside but that's about all that can be said for it.

May 1974 sees it get a shovel attachment but, with most of Corgi's output now in the larger 1:36 scale, this is an odd release.

September 1976 sees the introduction of the David Brown tractor in the larger scale. The 1:43 story doesn't end there, though, as, remarkably, in April 1980 the Massey Ferguson reappears six years after its initial release and now in orange! With white wheels it is also part of a 'Block' Construction Set with the 'Block' logo on the roof of the tractor. Farmer George, though, retired and is not seen again.

Seeing these last desperate efforts, one can hardly blame him.

Corgi Toys @ 60: Fordson Tractor and Plough

 May 1961 saw the arrival of the first Fordson tractor, the Power Major model. This was much more interesting than the Massey Ferguson. You could steer it with the steering wheel - a super feature that added a lot of play value - and a very realistic lift mechanism was included at the back.

This mechanism was quite complicated and attaching the other issue in this month, a plough, was not that simple. Once you had figured out how to do it, though, it worked a treat.

This first Fordson Tractor had headlamps mounted on the outside of the radiator grille and the steering was not particularly realistic, being a simple axle that rotated around a central point. Three years later the model would get much better parallel steering on a model with the headlamps mounted inside the grille and a slightly revised rear mechanism.

Early issues had red metal wheels but these were quite quickly replaced by an orange plastic wheel.

The plough was finished in red, more suitable to a Massey Ferguson brand, but the attachment would not work on the earlier tractor so it had to be used with the Fordson. It had four yellow plastic shears. Like the tractor, this would be replaced too, in this case by a blue, much simpler type, with silver shears in 1964.

No Farmer George was included with this edition.

Corgi Toys @ 60: On the farm and the big International Truck

May 1959 brought a farm tractor and trailer to the toy shop shelves. The Tractor was a Massey Ferguson 65 model and first issues had metal wheels. You'll find the model with silver, cream or a scarcer red seat but all the examples I've encountered have had the same Massey Ferguson red bonnet and a slightly pinkish cream chassis. A driver was not included at this point. He comes later in gift sets or other versions.

The trailer has no manufacturer's brand but has the same Massey Ferguson red chassis and a bright yellow load section which lifts on a 'hydraulic' arm and has a hinged rear panel. Early editions had metal wheels. The trailer was around for a very many years and remained unchanged throughout that time apart from plastic wheels being fitted at some point.

These were the first of a good few models of agricultural implements which would be added to the range.

The military range was still being developed and May saw the introduction of the big International 6 wheeled truck, initially launched as an International 6 x 6 Army Truck.

A search of this blog will show you more detailed articles about this truck which still causes confusion with the different versions that exist in its chassis style, British and Dutch insignia, a US Army version and variations in where silver paint may or may not have been applied! As if that were not enough, 1133 is issued some time later as a US Army Troop Transporter!

The British and Dutch versions had the appropriate insignia on the front and rear and no stars. The US version of 1118 had a star on the bonnet and also on the flat roof of the metal canopy. (If the canopy has an indent for the star it is from a later 1133, which also had text along the bonnet and on the tailgate).

The difference in the two types of chassis can be seen when viewed from the side, one showing clear daylight above the chassis in places.

I don't know which came first or whether the US or Dutch versions were available this early and I think it is likely that the first editions would have been solely the British one.

None of these trucks had suspension - even later in life (although the Circus version with a crane did get suspension later). You could make an interesting collection just on the varieties of these trucks which confused me a great deal at the start - and even now I struggle for remember which US version is which sometimes, especially as many may have had canopies replaced or swapped over the years!

This International truck is a very heavy, solid model with massive wheels (and a loose spare behind the cabin which often goes missing). Look out for the tin hook at the back too which should be present. These didn't sell in vast numbers but many have survived as they could withstand being sat or trodden on pretty well!