Beginning in 1947, Massey-Harris built a series of tractors referred to as the “Four Horses.” The Massey-Harris “Four Horses” were designed for use on small farms, and the series included the Pony, Pacer, Colt and Mustang. Production of the series took place in three countries and spanned a 14-year period.
Gary Emsweller, Danville, Indiana, is a Massey-Harris aficionado and avid collector. He launched his antique tractor collection in 1995 with the acquisition of a Massey-Harris Model 444. Massey-Harris 444 tractors were built in gasoline, LP gas distillate and diesel versions. Built from 1956-’58, the 444 featured live hydraulics and a live PTO as standard equipment. “It turned out to be a great launch for my collection,” Gary says.
The Emsweller collection features nearly 40 pieces produced by Massey-Harris, Massey Ferguson and Ferguson. Gary is among a select few collectors with all “Four Horses,” in full-size and scale model pieces.
Maintaining a connection to farm country favorites
Gary grew up on an 80-acre farm with an additional 150 rented acres. Like most farm boys, Gary worked alongside his dad. His first tractor-driving experience occurred early in life. “My dad farmed primarily with Massey-Harris equipment,” he says. “I was about 7 when he let me drive a tractor for the first time. It was a great thrill raking hay with the Massey-Harris Model 30. I felt a sense of responsibility because dad wasn’t close by.”
That original family farm was small and became even smaller with time. “The equipment became old and the farm could not support a family of five children,” Gary says. “By 1970, my parents sold the farm and Dad went to work with Pioneer Seed Corn.” Gary was in college at the time and missed the equipment dispersal. “Back then,” he muses, “I could not have imagined collecting Massey equipment and scale models.”
During a 32-year career as the Hendricks County (Indiana) Extension director, Gary maintained a connection with tractors, especially Massey-Harris models. His son, Drew, quickly caught the bug. “As a youngster, Drew had farm toys,” Gary says. “He spent lots of time as a carpet farmer. When I started collecting, Drew loved to attend farm toy shows with me. He has since joined the collecting craze, both scale models and antique tractors.”
Today, Drew’s son, Dane, is the third generation Emsweller to catch the fever. “I’ve lost track but there are a few thousand toys in the scale model collection,” Gary says. “I’ll admit, Drew has allowed some off-colored green models to slip into our collection.”
Collecting the Massey-Harris “Four Horses” tractors
The tractors in Gary’s “Four Horses” collection tell the story of a unique series produced in the U.S., Canada and France between 1947 and 1961. All of Gary’s “Four Horses” had been restored when he added them to his collection. “We have grown to appreciate the great qualities of Massey-Harris tractors and implements,” Gary says. “We’re fortunate to have gathered these ‘Four Horses’ for our tractor stable.”
The Massey-Harris Model 11 Pony tractor was introduced in 1947. The smallest tractor in the Massey-Harris line, it was well suited to use in vegetable farms and gardens. Worldwide, Massey-Harris built more Pony tractors than any other model, producing a total of 28,746. Production ended in 1957 in the company’s Woodstock, Ontario, plant. Gary has two Ponys: a 1952 model acquired through a private sale in Pennsylvania and a 1957 model he bought in Ontario, Canada.
Following the 1953 merger of Massey-Harris and Ferguson, some versions of the Pony were painted Ferguson gray with a Pacer front end. The Pony met the Ferguson line’s need for a small garden/utility tractor.
The Model 14 Pony was an industrial version of the Model 11. Just 74 were produced from 1951 to 1953. French-built Model 811 and 812 Pony tractors were produced from 1951 to 1961. These tractors looked like the Canadian Pony but were built on a different frame, and were equipped with either a Simca or Peugeot gas engine or a Hanomag diesel engine.
The Model 16 Pacer was introduced by Massey-Harris in 1954. A larger version of the North American-built Pony, it featured several improvements as standard equipment, including a larger, 91-cubic-inch Continental engine, a padded seat and hydraulic lift. Through 1956, a total of 2,767 Pacers were produced. Gary’s 1956 Pacer – the second tractor he purchased for his collection and the first of his “Four Horses” – came from Prince Edward Island, Canada, in 1995.
Replacing the Model 20/22, the Massey-Harris Model 21 Colt and Massey-Harris Model 23 Mustang tractors were the same tractor apart from engine size. Both were equipped with Continental engines. The Colt engine was a 2.0L; the Mustang had a 2.3L engine. The Colt was produced 1952-’53 in Racine, Wisconsin, with 1,669 manufactured. Gary acquired his 1952 Model 21 Colt at an auction in Canada.
The Model 23 Mustang replaced the Massey-Harris 22. Improvements included a downward exhaust, three-point hitch option and a mounting step at the front of the operator’s platform. The Mustang was produced from 1952-’56 with a production run of 3,832 tractors. Gary’s 1953 Model 23 Mustang came out of Iowa, a gift from his wife celebrating his recovery from cancer.
Displaying a unique Massey-Harris tractor
Gary is an active member and past president of the Massey Collectors Assn., Inc. The international organization encompasses Massey-Harris, Massey Ferguson, Ferguson and Wallis enthusiasts. In 2011, the Emsweller family hosted a Massey Days open house attended by more than 300.
In 2022, Gary and his family were invited by AGCO to display his 1954 Massey-Harris Model I-330 U.S. Navy tractor at the Iowa Farm Progress Show. The display recognized the 175th anniversary of the Massey brand.
“We have met tremendous people through our collecting hobby,” Gary says, “and wonderful friendships from around the world have resulted. We are blessed to have traveled, met, interacted with and become friends with many collectors.”
A Proud Tradition
Massey name among the giants of North American agricultural technology.
Daniel Massey established Newcastle Foundry & Machine Mfg. in Newcastle, Ontario, Canada, in 1847. Massey’s son, Hart, subsequently renamed the enterprise Massey Mfg. Co. In 1879, Massey relocated its operations to Toronto. The A. Harris, Son & Co. was launched by Alanson Harris in 1857 in Brantford, Ontario. These two firms merged in 1891, forming Massey-Harris Ltd.
With the merger, Massey-Harris Ltd. Immediately became the largest farm equipment manufacturer in the British Empire. The company produced threshing machines and reapers and, responding to a craze in the 1890s, bicycles. By the time the company was purchased by Thomas Bradshaw and J.H. Gundy of Toronto in 1927, Massey family members had moved on to other ventures and had no subsequent involvement in the company.
Massey-Harris entered the tractor business in 1914, selling the Bull tractor developed by Bull Tractor Co. of Minneapolis. In 1917, Massey-Harris built a factory in Ontario, Canada, to build the American-designed Parrett tractor. Models No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 were the first three Massey-Harris tractors, but production was suspended in 1923.
In 1927, Massey-Harris agreed to sell the Wallis tractor built by J.I. Case Plow Works of Racine, Wisconsin. One year later, Massey-Harris purchased J.I. Case Plow Works. Through this acquisition, Massey-Harris gained an established engineering staff, a manufacturing facility and a network of dealers across the U.S. Despite market success, the Wallis tractor was discontinued by 1932. After that, all tractors manufactured at the Racine factory carried the Massey-Harris name.
In 1953, Massey-Harris acquired Harry Ferguson, Inc., forming Massey-Harris-Ferguson. Four years later, the name was shortened to Massey Ferguson. The company was first headquartered in Ontario, Canada, and later in Buffalo, New York. It was acquired by AGCO of Duluth, Georgia, in 1994. Massey Ferguson is currently among several brands of agriculture equipment brands produced and marketed around the world by AGCO. FC
For more information: Email Gary Emsweller at MasseyH@aol.com.
About the author: Freelance writer Fred Hendricks of Mansfield, Ohio, covers a vast array of subjects relating to agriculture. Email Fred at fwhendricks@gmail.com.
Originally published in the April 2023 issue of Farm Collector.
