MASSEY FERGUSON 1505 and 1805 4WD TRACTORS BUILT IN DES MOINES
Between 1974-1977 the MF models 1505 and 1805 four wheel drive tractors were built in Des Moines.  Additional 4WD models were built in the late 1970s.  More information to come..

The Massey Ferguson production facility at 1901 Bell Ave, Des Moines, Iowa, along with the offices for MF's North American Headquarters, as the complex appeared in the late 1960s.

LAWN AND GARDEN TRACTOR PRODUCTION AT DES MOINES PLANT

From 1969-1978 Massey Ferguson produced many of the famous little garden tractors, styled after their big brother field tractors, at the Des Moines factory.  Massey may have also produced these lawn and garden tractors for other branding, but that information has not been confirmed.  Here's an example of some of the MF-10s, MF-12s, etc. that came out of Des Moines in the mid-1970s.

Massey Ferguson Des Moines Assembly Plant Production Timeline:

1965 - The plant opens for production; primary work is assembling machinery and implements

1969 - Massey shifts production of "recreational" equipment to the Des Moines plant, including snowmobiles and lawn and garden tractors

1974 - Last of the SkiWhiz snowmobiles produced here; lawn and garden tractors are built here, along with dump carts, rotary tiller, and combine corn harvesting heads assembled in Des Moines.
4WD tractors, including the 1505 and 1805 are produced in Des Moines.

1978 - 285 workers laid off when lawn and garden tractor production is sold and discontinued.  4WD tractors and disc tillage equipment continue to be produced.

1979 - Industrial backhoes and loader production moved from Akron, Ohio to Des Moines, allowing the 285 laid off workers to be recalled to work.   Plant at almost 700 worker high capacity.

1980 - Massey' debt load and corporate restructuring, along with the worldwide Farm Crisis, results in layoff of 300 workers at Des Moines plant, cutting production staff in half.

1981 - Massey cannot overcome corporate challenges, and plant in Des Moines fully closed.  4WD tractor production in Des Moines shifted to Detroit and Brantford, Ontario.

Massey Ferguson Des Moines plant builds the Ski Whiz (1969-1973)

Massey-Ferguson entered the snowmobile business for the 1969 season with a big, well-built machine manufactured at the company’s Des Moines, Iowa, plant. Styled and hued after the company’s very successful line of farm tractors, and propelled by an industry-first internal drive track, Ski Whiz sleds were sold predominantly through a well-developed network of rural dealers and backed by Massey’s established parts and service operations. The company thought its snow machine would be a solid hit.

But by the time Massey had a couple of seasons under its belt the company understood that it had to add some style and sizzle to its heavy, homely, under-performing snow tractor or it was not going to succeed. So for the 1973 season the Ski Whiz was redesigned.  It started with a decidedly better overall appearance. Clean, new styling rounded off the corners and sharp edges while maintaining the basic Ski Whiz shape. The trademark red hood remained, but the chassis changed color from silver to black. Many details were upgraded including the windshield, seat, front bumper, ski spindles, storage compartment, gas tank, drive belt, passenger hand holds and snow flap. Safety improvements included an engine kill switch, side reflectors, larger taillights and a bigger handlebar pad. 

Sales jumped about 60 percent for the redesigned Ski Whiz, but success was fleeting. The expanded 1974 Massey lineup was essentially some warmed over 1973 models with a red-trim-on-black color scheme and some additional equipment choices. The energy crisis from the 1973 Arab oil embargo and the growing industry-wide glut of unsold inventory hurt sales of all brands, and Massey was certainly no exception.  But the heart of the problem was that the redesigned Ski Whiz retained too much obsolete technology — particularly the heavy, steel chassis and bogie wheel suspension. It’s sub-standard ride and handling received tepid magazine reviews when it got press at all. And lacking any kind of a performance image — because the company was one of the few recognizable names that wasn’t into racing — Massey could not compete for the trail racer buyers who were becoming a key segment of the fast evolving snowmobile market.  Massey discontinued production of the Ski Whiz in 1974.

Headquarters building of  Massey-Ferguson, Inc. corporate offices in Des Moines, Iowa, circa 1966.  Massey-Ferguson moved it's North American corporate offices to Des Moines in 1965, after Massey-Ferguson purchased the Solar Aircraft Company offices and manufacturing facility.   Solar Aircraft built the offices and plant in 1951.

Massey's North American corproate offices in Des Moines employed 500 workers, who supported the operations of more than 12,000 employees across North America.  Support in Des Moines included the major share of MF's product and sales planning, finance and distribution control, personnel, industrial relations, legal services, traffic, purchasing, and merchandising.  That's why many MF tractor brochures from 1966-1980 will say "Massey Ferguson, 1901 Bell Ave., Des Moines, Iowa".  That doesn't mean the tractor or implement featured in the brochure was made here, but the corporate headquarters, and the marketing staff that produced the brochure, were.

Aerial view of the Massey Ferguson factory and corporate offices in Des Moines, Iowa, circa 1966.    Chicago & Great Western railroad tracks to north, adjacent to Gray's Lake; downtown Des Moines in the upper margin of photo. Bell Ave. to south of parking lot.

At it's peak employment in the late 1970s, the Massey Ferguson plant at 1901 Bell Ave in Des Moines employed more than 700 workers on the production line, with another 500 in the corporate offices.