Massey Ferguson 12, nothing available

Purchased a 1973 massey Ferguson 12 recently, after cleaning and a few hundred in tires, battery etc, it runs and functions great. I'm finding that there's not much out there for this tractor, attachments, 3 point hitch, well heck, haven't really found much for it at all. Would love to hear any thoughts anybody has, I would like to get attachments made by massey, but don't think that's gonna happen, any info on other makes that are interchangeable, if not I guess ill have to make home made, or modify, thanks for any help, hoping this tractor can be more than a looker.

I personally had a MF12 and had the MF roto-tiller, snow blade, and mower deck and I think I had a snow blower for it also. They were all very good for their day and of a
high quality. Like many manufacturers, Massey used and offered a full line of Brinly for their sleeve hitch. Massey mowers did a really good job.

Here's a link to what is probably the best Garden Tractor forum on the net.

The guys there are real friendly, and can steer you towards some attachments and any other info you need.

http://gardentractortalk.com/forums/forum/2-massey-snapper-amf-tractor-forum/

I remember those days. What happened ?
I remember that just about every tractor dealer had their own small lawn/garden equipment, and WAS of good quality.
People still have to cut grass and most still have a garden.
What happened ?

SImple. money talks. If it makes very little profit, dump it. You are correct in that way back then machine companys had pride and would compete to show off how good their stuff was. As a kid like 50 years ago I can remember some of that but not anymore. In Hunterdon cty. in central NJ We had Harvester as the biggest with Allis Chalmers and Deares just behind. I can remember a couple of Olivers and Massys around too. Now everything is MTD.

I wouldn't be so quick to blame the companies.

Most if not all of the change to the throw away stuff you see today is the result of changing demographics and consumer demand.

Very few folks these days actually need a heavy duty garden tractor. They want a cheap lawnmower, and won't pay what it takes to produce a heavy duty garden tractor.

For instance, the 1998 Bolens 1220, a 12HP gear driven tractor retailed for $999.00. It is a good heavy duty tractor and will do just about anything you want for it's power.

However, with inflation, that tractor would cost $6,813.18 in 2015 dollars.

Most folks don't want to pay over $2,000.00 for a lawn mower today and would be even happier at $1,500.00.

At that price everything has to be built a cheaply as possible, so the quality of the product suffers.

As a company, you don't build $6,800.00 tractors when everyone wants $1,500.00 tractors. If you do, you soon go out of business.

Deere is one of the few places you can get a true garden tractor these days, but you can danged sure bet that they make and sell very few of them as compared to their cheap throw away models. If they had to rely on the garden tractors only, they would most likely abandon that market as it just would not be cost effective.

Dang, no edit.

That should be [b:2764592972]1968[/b:2764592972] Bolens.

I believe that the increasing popularity of small compact and sub-compact utility tractors has also
taken out the demand for heavy-duty garden tractors. Back in the 60's and early 70's tractors like
this weren't readily available so folks would get a garden tractor to take care of their acre or
two of "truck patch". Now those same people would buy a compact utility and have far more
capability. And, those same folks have probably gone to a zero-turn lawnmower so they no longer
need a garden tractor for that task. It is disheartening to think that the garden tractor era is
pretty much over since I am a big fan of these older machines. These's something very satisfying
about using a half-century old "consumer product" - such as my Cub Cadet 100 - that is built tough
and just keeps on going.

Hi MF12, welcome to the group, I'm not sure if you are looking for a 3 pt hitch or have one, but if you don't have one then your best option maybe to go to a sleeve hitch, with a sleeve hitch your selection of attachments is much larger Brinly and Agri-Fab are both building attachments from moldboard plows to rear grader blades, box blades disc cultivators, or as you posted you can build your own or modify some to fit your needs. Good luck
GB in MN

While a sleeve hitch would be possible option, a 3-pt would be more versatile.

Granted, they are more sleeve hitch implements available, and they are easier to find, a 3-pt with a sleeve hitch adapter allows you to use both types.

I feel the same way about my Ariens GT. I can find whole Cub Cadets cheaper than I can find any parts or attachments for my Ariens.... so join the club.

I have a snow blower sitting in the barn, in nice shape, a front blade that someone welded extentions onto, and a mower deck for an MF-12. I
think I have chains for the rear tires, and possibly wheel weights. I can send you some photos, but probably not until after Christmas, I have
been stuck working late every night so far this week. I'm in Pennsylvania.
These were from a project that I'm never going to get to, so I'll sell them if someone can use the stuff.

Merry Christmas!

Jerry