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.
Did they ever build any "regular" 2 wheel drive tractors there, or strictly large articulated 4 wheel drive?
ReplyDeleteDouglas, so sorry it's taken me awhile to get back to you. I needed to do some maintenance and additions of information to this blog, but was away for a number of months. Regarding "regular" tractos being built in Des Moines, there never were. Des Moines' production was initially implements, then lawn and garden tractors, then addition of the large 4WDs like the 1505 and 1805, and then backhoes in 1979. Production at the plant ended in 1981. Your tractor serial number plate will have a clue as to the production plant. In general, the serial number will have an A, B, or C in the string of numbers. "A" meant the Detroit production line; "B" was Brantford, Ontario, and "C" was Des Moines. Hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteHi Mel,
ReplyDeleteMy father was Patrick Kelly and he was the Vice President of Retail Enterprises for Massey Ferguson USA from 1974 - 1983. He came over from Australia after working with Massey in Sunshine for a number of years. Vince Tracy bought him and the family over.
I am doing the family history and wondered if there was any history about his job there.
Kind regards, his daughter, Karen Ash (nee Kelly)
Hi Mel,
ReplyDeleteMy father was Patrick Kelly and he was the Vice President of Retail Enterprises for Massey Ferguson USA from 1974 - 1983. He came over from Australia after working with Massey in Sunshine for a number of years. Vince Tracy bought him and the family over.
I am doing the family history and wondered if there was any history about his job there.
Kind regards, his daughter, Karen Ash (nee Kelly)
Hi Karen, I'm a relative of Vince Tracy. I found your post while looking up his information at MF. I will update you if I find any information out about your father...
DeleteGood luck with your search! Heather
Karen, the only thing I have available to me are the digital archives of the local newspaper "The Des Moines Register", and I found a brief reference in a business news column from Sunday, March 26, 1978 that says, "Patrick L. Kelly was appointed vice president, retail enterprises." I don't have access to any business archives directly from Massey Ferguson otherwise. Sorry I can't be of more help.
ReplyDeleteKaren Ash, send me an email chris@elfpen.com
ReplyDelete