Tractors and trailers

50 Massey Ferguson tractor

May 1959 - 1966

First issues had red 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 steering wheel and seat or red seat and black steering wheel. 

The lettering on the bonnet may be gold or silver with black ouline in each case.

There are two distinct colours - a bright red and deeper red and a cream or pale fawn shade for the chassis.

This tractor was also included in Gift Sets 7, 8 and 29.

51 Massey Ferguson Trailer

May 1959 - 1964

First issues had metal wheels, replaced by plastic in later models.

This trailer was also included in Gift Sets 7, 8, 22 and 29.

53 Massey Ferguson Tractor with Shovel

April 1960 - 1966

The first issue appears to be in cream with a bare metal bucket and bare metal levers. The Massey Ferguson transfer is placed on the cream arms.

Next there is a change in design of the arms and these are all cream, including the outer sides of the bucket, the inside remaining bare silver metal. There is now no transfer on the arms but appears on the tractor bonnet as for #50.

Finally, it is issued with an all bare silver metal set of arms and bucket and the transfers on the bonnet.

All editions appear to have plastic wheels and these will invariably be red, although some errors where Fordson orange wheels have been fitted do exist.

A driver was not included in the individual box but did get added to the Gift Sets.

This tractor with shovel was also included in GS22 and GS32

55 Fordson Power Major

May 1961 - 1963

August 1961  (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)

57 Massey Ferguson Tractor with Fork

May 1963 - 1966

The 50 model with a fork attachment similar to the earlier shovel.

This does appear to be consistently bare silver metal throughout its life, with black control levers.

Usually with red plastic wheels but some with orange wheels exist which have been fitted in error.

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.

62 Farm Tipping Trailer

February 1965 - 1972

This trailer was available with two raves, inserts to permit higher loads to be carried.

Also available in Gift Set 32 and later editions of the Agricultural Gift sets 22 and GS5 (1967 issue)

58 Beast Carrier Trailer

November 1965 - 1972

Also available in GS1 (1966 edition)

Another long-running farm item, the Beast Carrier came with four calves, some hay design card and a green plastic net on top.

66 Massey Ferguson 165 Tractor

July 1966 - 1972

This tractor makes a 'realistic' engine sound when pushed along, made with a device moved by the front axle.

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 the drivers changed at the same time as the hitch design and have no date for either.

Also available in GS1.

69 Massey Ferguson 165 Tractor with Shovel

March 1967 - 1972

The new 165 tractor with a shovel attachment similar to 53 but in red. Issued with a driver.

74 Ford 5000 Super Major Tractor with Hydraulic Scoop

September 1969 - 1972

Th Ford 5000 Tractor with a side-mounted hydraulic scoop. With driver.

73 Massey Ferguson 165 Tractor with Saw Attachment

March 1970 - 1973

The Massey-Ferguson 165 Tractor with a hydraulic saw attachment. 

Issued with a driver.

72 Ford 5000 Super Major Tractor with rear Trenching Bucket

January 1971 - 1973

The Ford 5000 with a rear-mounted hydraulic trenching bucket. With driver.

50 Massey Ferguson MF50B Tractor

June 1973 - 1977

A rather less detailed or well-engineered model but still 1:43 approx. scale.

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 issued in orange with a full length black roof and white wheels but without decals. Source unknown

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 shaped wheels were probably being fitted prior to the drawbar change there may be examples with a wire drawbar and shaped wheels although they are likely to be rare.

All models with free-spinning wheels will have the solid drawbar.