Massey Harris Harvest Brigade

Has anyone got any stories of the Harvest Brigade during world War 2? It has always fascinated me. Years ago a friend of my Dad's offered him a mint no. 21 for $300.00 but it was 500 miles away.
Thanks.
 
Tom,

A few photo's from my grandfather, R.W. Jones and his three brothers, participating in the Harvest Brigade. Search Harvest Brigade you find most of my family harvest photo's

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This a my Massey Harris 21 Combine. I'm restoring in honor of my grandfather.
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My grain truck waiting for me to the Massey Harris 21 combine going. I have used it occasionally to haul a few loads into town.
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Why were they hauling tractors back in the day? No grain carts then. Did they have a few pull-type combines along or swathers for the northern states?
 
My grandpa started custom harvesting in 1938 with pull type combines. Two pull types went harvesting in early years. Attached are a few more photo's
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My uncle had two 21A's with auger headers, with electric header lifts. We ran two Cockshutt SP112's that had manual header lifts.
 
That is a very nice combine. If it were me I would leave it just like it is. It's a very nice original. Fix what needs fixing and leave it like it is! Mike
 
Mike,

I have no plans to do only what must be done to maintain the combine. I will need to paint the top of the machine and back of the walker hood. I have about 2k in parts getting the motor ready for assembly. I had planned on patching the bad spots on the original canvas. I was told that was not possible so I will have make new ones. I really just need some rain for my crops to help fund the restoration. The combine will harvest again.
 
You have a real keepsake there. Not only in the originality of the machine but of the stories behind it. I wish you the best in keeping both alive. Mike
 
Hi Massey Pride, We communicated by email awhile back. I don't remember ever seeing the pictures with the Farmall M tractors. Do you know anything about those wide front ends on those tractors? They look like old truck or car front axles modified to fit on the tractors.

Sure wish you the best in getting that 21A back to full working order. If you recall, we salvaged an old 21A from 1949 for Farmamerica in Minnesota. After analyizing it, we decided to just use it as a historic display as it is too far gone to restore. I'm sad about that but we can't afford all it would take (time and dollars) to restore.

Sure would be nice to visit with you sometime. Here's an invitation to stop here for a visit to Farmamerica if you ever travel in this area.

Ron
 
Very nice pictures!
Maybe some clear coat over the 21 would make her look fantastic. I have seen that on some Lanz Raupe Bulldog that you for sure do not want to respray, because they are worth so much original. Rustoleum is selling a protective clear. Maybe some higher brands do as well.
 
Ron,

I'm striking out on your front end on the Farmall M Tractor. They were not factory front ends. I have photo's of those tractors new with narrow front tires. In late 1930's and early 1940's they drove the tractors all the way on the harvest run. They used cars to pull the wagons with supplies along with hauling the grain to the elevator. I will keep asking family if they know where the front ends came from or if they made them. Attached is a harvest photo in 1941. I bet they where made to ride better in the fields and on the roads.
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I have one of those. I recently put a hoist & new steel flat bed on it. It still a work in process but can be used. cleddy
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Cleddy,

It looks like you're doing a wonderful job. I like your black wheels on the truck. I have been looking for a old school sun visor to put on my truck. The only ones I find are all beat up or just way to expensive. Keep up the good work.
 
very nice photos from the old days. If that was my combine I would leave the paint alone. Just spray the bare metal areas with clear coat so they don't rust any worse.
 
I have a sun visor for my truck that had been on it since we got it which is green plastic sheet with chrome brackets on each end and in the center. I have no idea if it is correct but it came with the old truck in 1966 so most likely it is correct period anyway. My Dad thought it was pretty good and threatened to take it off and put it on the 1961 Chevy Impala since they had such a long slanted windshield but it never happened.

I plan on re-using it when I can see spending a bunch of money re-chroming the parts and maybe but some new pretty green plastic visors on it. I did put the old grain box back on but wondered if it would ruin the looks.
cleddy
 

masseypride -
Love seeing the old photos of the Harvest Brigade. I'm working on a online/TV show right now for Carbon TV and am hoping to talk with you about using some of these old images in one of our episodes.

Can you contact me through my website: www.hunterweeks.com
 

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