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End of an Era

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Peter, U.K.

06-25-2002 11:06:45




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Today, (250602) AGCO announced that the Banner Lane, Coventry, U.K. factory of Massey Ferguson was to close with the loss of 1000 jobs. Production is to be transferred to the french plant. The excuse given is the strength of the pound against the Euro. (and they want us to join the euro!!!) This truly is the end of an era, and along with Ford's plant at Dagenham, (now also gone), we can say that British tractor building is no more. The only glimmer of hope on the horizon is that the old International plant at Doncaster, South Yorkshire, which is now producing tractors under the McCORMICK name will succeed. Let's hope so. I'm not into politics, but if McCormick can start off so well, why cant MF keep up - or am I just niaeve?
Peter.

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orlando:volant,PA

06-28-2002 05:01:15




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 Re: End of an Era in reply to Peter, U.K., 06-25-2002 11:06:45  
What effect will this plant closing have on the costs of a new tractor purchase? What about parts availablity in the future? This is very sad, especially the workers losing their jobs..that is not good at all. As for "americans destroying a company"..all it takes is ONE person to make a bad business decision and has nothing to do with that person's nationality, I believe. MF is the best tractor going in my book and I believe it will stay the best tractor.

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Graham

06-27-2002 02:52:23




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 Re: End of an Era in reply to Peter, U.K., 06-25-2002 11:06:45  
Peter,

I grew up in a family business who were MF agents which meant we had to go through another dealer to obtain parts etc. I remember when it was first announced that combine production was to cease in Scotland and be split between France and USA/Canada. We all fealt a great sadness then and even more so now. I will treasure the memories of my father telling me how he used to meet up with the late Harry Ferguson, as he lived only a few miles from us, and discuss things both agricultural and otherwise. Many a time Banner lane spares dept. contacted us for parts as they were obsolete and they were trying to complete a project.
This truely is the end of an era, and unfortunately, possibly the end of MF in the UK.
We bow our heads in rememberence.

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Ben Stanley

06-26-2002 14:23:54




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 Re: End of an Era in reply to Peter, U.K., 06-25-2002 11:06:45  
Peter,I have to agree with you there as I myself live in the UK and dont want to see one of the best tractor producers in the world gone out of our country. I think that there should be a government incentive to help them stay producing in the UK but I think it is fair to say that Mr Blair couldnt care less about british agriculture and its history!



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disgusted

06-26-2002 04:46:00




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 Re: End of an Era in reply to Peter, U.K., 06-25-2002 11:06:45  
Over 3 Million Tractors have been built at Coventry, and Masseys were without doubt the market leaders until the mid 1990's - about the time when AGCO took them over actually! We thought the Canadians were bad managers, but to really destroy a company requires Americans.



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scott AR

06-29-2002 19:14:54




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 Re: Re: End of an Era in reply to disgusted, 06-26-2002 04:46:00  
That's funny, I remember the story another way. In the late '70s the Canadians really made a good combine, then under UK mismanagement, the Americans were able to buy a bargain.



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Bob

06-25-2002 17:59:48




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 Re: End of an Era in reply to Peter, U.K., 06-25-2002 11:06:45  
Sorry to hear about the plant closing. I don,t know what is or was up with the MF managment. Massey used to be the King of the combines, but sat by and let everyone else pass them. When you lose market share it is hard if not impossible to regain it. Massey Ferguson is still my pick, but in my area everything is Green and Yellow. Our dealer is part of the problem though. He doesn,t like big tractors or combines so he doesn,t push them. Doesn,t like it if someone buys a big piece of equipment in his area either. Says he doesn,t like the overhead of big stuff.

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George From Ontario

06-25-2002 14:18:08




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 Re: End of an Era in reply to Peter, U.K., 06-25-2002 11:06:45  
Dear Peter : I am very sorry to hear this . The Banner Lane Plant made a lot of very fine high quality Tractors . It will be missed .
I wish I could do something to Help !
George



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