Massey Ferguson Men and Women

I am writing a biography on one of the giants of our Australian agricultural machinery industry and have found a wonderful pictorial collection of the people and places Massey Ferguson operated in the late 1950's through to their plant closures during the 1980's. For anyone interested in the history of the factory take a few minutes to check it out.

In this link, it shows a very young Ian O'rourke who was part of the harvester test team for the MF 585. The photo shows him operating a self propelled unit: https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/1476906

More on Ian's story can be found here: https://machinerymen.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2014-01-14T10:34:00%2B10:00&max-results=7

Don Mason remembers Norm Fiegert

With news of Norm Fiegert's passing, former Sales Manager for the Ford Motor Company Tractor and Equipment, Don Mason wrote to share some of his memories of Norm and his time in South Australia. 

In his own words, this is Don's story:

It was 50 years ago, plus or minus a couple….It was hot and windy, with the north wind dust blowing everywhere.  In line with Ford’s marketing plan, Reg Flanagan had been searching for a solo tractor dealer in the Cleve area for a while and he was taking me to meet this bloke, Norm Fiegert.

We drove up to an all galvanised iron shed of 2 tractor capacity and in the main street, as I recall.  Norm was a big robust man wearing his overalls and was half-way under a Ford 5000 at the time.  You couldn’t help but like Norm, he was an open, upfront, you-get-what-you-see individual who looked and talked like he didn’t mind hard work.

To cut a long negotiation story short, we filled out a dealer application and sent it to Head Office.  Back came the reply in the person of Jim Parker, Tractor Division General Manager.  Needless to say, coming from the high volume tractor dealer operations of the UK, Jim was totally unimpressed with the proposed dealer premises, investment, etc, etc, and insisted we show him the competition, which was a well set up MF dealer and a less than well set up Chamberlain dealer.  Jim was reluctant to sign off on the application especially when he learned that Norm’s then net worth was measured in an old Ford Consul, a refrigerator, a work bench and a good stock of tractor mechanics tools.  Jim Parker’s English based training was to say keep looking, ours was to ‘give him a go’. 

So in the tradition of lies, lies and damn statistics, Reg Flanagan cleverly massaged the figures and undertakings and we finally got Norm on board.  If my memory serves me correctly, David Beak was the Field Manager and assisted in the success of the dealership.  On mentioning David Beak, I am reminded of a call he gave me one morning from the west coast to the effect that he had just had a kangaroo land on his lap, after coming through the front windscreen of his vehicle.  It was raining steadily and David asked what he should do to get it fixed.  He never forgave me for asking him to drive straight back to Adelaide, which he managed to do, replete with swimming goggles!

Thankfully Norm’s tractor and business attitude was service, service and service.  Soon the message got around.  I recall him saying that a farmer he sold a 5000 to had real problems in the middle of harvest one night.  He rang Norm and Norm left within the hour, driving the 150k that took him well north of the Eyre highway and got the tractor going.  As I mentioned, the word soon got around and Norm soon got busy with Ford tractors.

A bout of nostalgia for those West Coast days helped me recall that Norm, together with Gordon Abbott and Laurie Curtis really put Ford broadacre tractors on the map.  So much so that due to West Coast demand we offered a bench type seat on the 5000 and really pricked Chamberlain’s balloon. 

Although I was moved back to Melbourne head office via a stint as NSW tractor manager.  I still retained a close interest in South Australian performance and particularly pleasing was the West Coast’s continuous success.  I learned that Norm had moved his tractor dealership near to the sale yards and as someone said, “continued to brain them”. 

Norm obviously had an interesting and chequered career.  He will be remembered by myself and many others as a larger than life hands on bloke.

Don Mason  

Cleve Field Days circa 1978

Here is a rough home movie from 1978, there is some sound, but as with all 8mm cameras held by a dicky operator, the quality could be better. Features the Ford stand with shots of Onga Pumps, Steiger tractors and Versatile farm tractors and equipment. You can see a young Darryl Anesbury, Mark Goldsack and Wally Bencic in this film.

Old Tractor Movies

As a fresh faced kid of nineteen I joined the Ford Motor Company Tractor and Equipment  Division as a demonstrator. I had a lot of fun made a lot of friends and carved a career out of selling and servicing tractors and machinery.

Here is a clip from a day with farmers in Tasmania way back when. The tractor I was showing them was the new FORD 3000 6Y series 8 speed manual.

The film is damaged and grainy but the ground was steep and the drivers had more courage than me.

Take a look and leave a comment if you would like more films like this posted.

Ian Blow RIP

Below is a message from Ian O'Rourke advising me of the passing of Ian Blow one of the gentlemen of Australia's tractor and machinery industry. More on Ian later.

It is with sadness that I pass on to you that Ian passed away at 10 PM last night after a battle with poor health over the past 6 months.

 Would you please inform any colleagues of this that are not on my .Email.

When I receive any more details I will let you know

Ian O'Rourke

Rest in Peace, Sir Jack Brabham

Back in the early eighties I was a small town Ford Tractor dealer and joined others like me, for the release of the new TW series tractors in country Victoria. We didn't know it at the time, but one of my heroes would be on hand to introduce the machines. The Ford Motor Company, had engaged Sir Jack Brabham, to be the figure head for the release of this exciting range of new tractors.

Geoff Smith and I watched a twin engined plane land in a paddock opposite the test field. We were surprised to see Sir Jack strolling across the stubble to meet us. He chatted as we walked back to the group, telling us he had used the tractors on his Wagga Wagga property. He was genuine in his praise for the machines and down to earth in his descriptions.

Later at lunch, I was able to get him to sign a menu for me, as a souvenir of the day.

With his passing yesterday, the memory came back to me. The motor racing world has lost a great champion, Australia has lost a living Legend, and for the surviving Ford tractor dealers we have lost a good friend and product ambassador.

Rest in Peace Sir Jack

Leo Wignell: Ford Tractor Man

Last week I travelled to Euroa in Central Victoria and took the opportunity to visit Leo Wignell, a legend of the tractor and machinery industry. Leo is still putting his story together for AgList and I hope we have something from him soon.

The past year has been a bit traumatic for him with recurring health problems but he assures me he is on the mend and will be building up a Chevy van as a motor home complete with diesel power and four wheel drive.

More from Leo later, for anyone wishing to send him a message you can do so by posting in the comments column below.