Tractors and trailers
50 Massey Ferguson tractor
May 1959 - 1966
First issues had red or orange metal wheels, with red plastic wheels on later models. There was no driver with this model but you may find drivers on tractors that were issued later in some Gift Sets.
This can be found with a silver or red seat.Â
This tractor was also included in Gift Sets 7, 8 and 29.
53 Massey Ferguson Tractor with Shovel
April 1960 - 1966
Most models have cream attachments and bucket, with silver inside the bucket and black levers.
Variations are an all-silver bucket, all silver arms and bucket and a later edition has a slightly different casting with transfers on the sides. these later editions appear to be more white than cream too.
This tractor with shovel was also included in GS22 and GS32
55 Fordson Power Major
May 1961 - 1963
August 1961Â (GS18)
The first Fordson Power Major Tractor. This had simplistic steering and easily identified by the lamps on the outside of the radiator housing.
This may have orange or scarcer red wheels in metal, later plastic.
It was not issued with a driver either in the individual boxed issues or in Gift Set 18.
54 Fordson Major Tractor with half-tracks
March 1962 - 1964 with Type I tractor (as 55)
April1964 - 1965 (assumed) with Type II tractor (as 60)
A later issue in 1964 /early 1965 was based on the 60 model Fordson and usually had black tracks
The first issue, based on the 55 Fordson with separate lights outside the grille and usually grey tracks
60 Fordson Major Tractor
December 1964 - 1966
March 1964* (GS13)
March 1965 (GS33)
This is the second issue of a Fordson Power Major, now with more realistic steering and a driver.
Available with orange or scarce red plastic wheels
*It appears that the revised model was available in the Gift Set 13 much earlier than the individual boxed edition.
67 Ford 5000 Super Major Tractor
January 1967 - 1972
This tractor has steering which reverts back to the 'non-realistic' type. This came with a driver in the box for individual as well as Gift Set issues.
There are two types of rear hitch for mounting equipment and two different drivers. I don't believe that teh drivers changed at the same time as the hitch design and have no date for either.
Also available in GS1.
Rear hitch Type 1
Rear hitch Type 2
54 Massey Ferguson MF50B Tractor with Shovel
May 1974 - 1981
First model from an individual box or Farm Gift set 4 or 5 had a short black roof section and a driver.
Also issued in orange and cream wheels with 'Block' decals in Block Construction Gift Set 2 which contained a cement mixer and Mazda Pick-up 440 model in 1:36 scale! Dates of this set issue unknown.
Also issue in orange with a full length black roof and white wheels but without decals. Source unknown
100 Dropside Trailer
June 1957 issued with a wire drawbar
December 1962 revised with a fixed drawbar.
Always cream on a red chassis.
101 Flatbed Trailer
January 1958 with a wire drawbar
December 1962 with a fixed drawbar
Available in several colours:
blue on a yellow chassis
silver on a yellow chassis
silver on a dark blue chassis
white on a pale blue chassis (from GS21 with milk churns)
red on a blue chassis (from GS19 with Elephant Cage)
all yellow (from GS22)
Early trailers will have fixed wheels, first smooth and then shaped, and later editions will have free spinning shaped wheels.
Because free spinning wheels were probably being fitted prior to the drawbar change there may be examples with a wire drawbar and free spinning wheels although they are likely to be rare.