Crazy Horse
Well-known Member
I came across an old memory stick in my desk and found this article on it. I think it might have been from some Massey Harris club or magazine over ten or twelve years ago. Here it is, interesting stuff. I suspect a lot of manufacturers were the same way, they just assembled a tractor from outside vendors although the company itself did design the tractor, the suppliers just made what they were asked to make I guess. Anyways, here ya go ....
How Massey Harris Tractor's Were Made
Did you know that the Massey Harris plant in Racine, Wisconsin (where most Massey Harris tractors were made from the 1930's through 1958) was an assembly plant only and not a factory where any parts were actually cast, machined or manufactured? Many outside suppliers or vendors were accessed to provide parts to build the Massey Harris tractors. Here is a listing of at least some of the major suppliers that Massey Harris used in manufacturing it's line of tractors during production in 1947. Although this type of outsourcing was not uncommon, Massey Harris probably was one company that used outsourced parts almost exclusively as compared to some other tractor lines.
1. Cast tractor frames - Chicago Hardware Foundry (North Chicago, Illinois)
2. Pressed steel tractor frames - A.O. Smith Corporation
3. Transmission cases - Standard Foundry Co. (Racine, Wisconsin)
4. Engines - Continental Engine Co. (Muskegon, Michigan)
5. Powerlift gears - Rochester Gear Works (Rochester, Michigan)
6. Steering gears - Saginaw Steering Gear Division of General Motors (Saginaw, Michigan)
7. Ring gears - Milwaukee Forge and Machine (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
8. Steering Wheels - Sheller Manufacturing Co. (Portland, Indiana)
9. Grilles, hoods, fenders, gas tanks - Johnson Sheet Metal Works (Richmond, Indiana)
10. Transmission gears - Double Diamond Gears (Richmond, Indiana)
11. Lights - K.D. Lamp Division of Noma Electric (Cincinnati, Ohio)
12. Paint - Sherwin Williams Co. and Tousey Varnish Company (both of Chicago, Illinois)
13. Wheels - French and Hecht Co. (Davenport, Iowa)
14. Differential Cases - Belle City Malleable Iron Works (Racine, Wisconsin)
15. U-Joints - Borg Warner
16. Clutch facings and brake linings - Raybestos Corporation
17. Governors - Pierce (Anderson, Indiana) and Novi Co.
18. Bearings - Torrington, Timken, Hyatt, Rockwell, Bower, and New Departure
19. Ball joints - J.J. Tourek Manufacturing Co. (Chicago, Illinois)
20. Air cleaners - Donaldson Manufacturing Co. (St. Paul, Minnessota)
21. Belts - Gates Rubber Co.
22. Disc brakes - Lambert Disc Brakes (St. Joseph, Michigan)
23. Dash gauges (Rochester Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, New York)
24. Oil filters - Purolator Co.
25. Carburetors - Marvel Schebler and Zenith
26. Decals - Meyercord Co. (Chicago, Illinois)
How Massey Harris Tractor's Were Made
Did you know that the Massey Harris plant in Racine, Wisconsin (where most Massey Harris tractors were made from the 1930's through 1958) was an assembly plant only and not a factory where any parts were actually cast, machined or manufactured? Many outside suppliers or vendors were accessed to provide parts to build the Massey Harris tractors. Here is a listing of at least some of the major suppliers that Massey Harris used in manufacturing it's line of tractors during production in 1947. Although this type of outsourcing was not uncommon, Massey Harris probably was one company that used outsourced parts almost exclusively as compared to some other tractor lines.
1. Cast tractor frames - Chicago Hardware Foundry (North Chicago, Illinois)
2. Pressed steel tractor frames - A.O. Smith Corporation
3. Transmission cases - Standard Foundry Co. (Racine, Wisconsin)
4. Engines - Continental Engine Co. (Muskegon, Michigan)
5. Powerlift gears - Rochester Gear Works (Rochester, Michigan)
6. Steering gears - Saginaw Steering Gear Division of General Motors (Saginaw, Michigan)
7. Ring gears - Milwaukee Forge and Machine (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
8. Steering Wheels - Sheller Manufacturing Co. (Portland, Indiana)
9. Grilles, hoods, fenders, gas tanks - Johnson Sheet Metal Works (Richmond, Indiana)
10. Transmission gears - Double Diamond Gears (Richmond, Indiana)
11. Lights - K.D. Lamp Division of Noma Electric (Cincinnati, Ohio)
12. Paint - Sherwin Williams Co. and Tousey Varnish Company (both of Chicago, Illinois)
13. Wheels - French and Hecht Co. (Davenport, Iowa)
14. Differential Cases - Belle City Malleable Iron Works (Racine, Wisconsin)
15. U-Joints - Borg Warner
16. Clutch facings and brake linings - Raybestos Corporation
17. Governors - Pierce (Anderson, Indiana) and Novi Co.
18. Bearings - Torrington, Timken, Hyatt, Rockwell, Bower, and New Departure
19. Ball joints - J.J. Tourek Manufacturing Co. (Chicago, Illinois)
20. Air cleaners - Donaldson Manufacturing Co. (St. Paul, Minnessota)
21. Belts - Gates Rubber Co.
22. Disc brakes - Lambert Disc Brakes (St. Joseph, Michigan)
23. Dash gauges (Rochester Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, New York)
24. Oil filters - Purolator Co.
25. Carburetors - Marvel Schebler and Zenith
26. Decals - Meyercord Co. (Chicago, Illinois)