Eastern Massey Dealers of the Past.

[Massey_3115]

Apologies if this is in the wrong area!

I was only knee height in the mid 80’s and I’m interested in the history of some of the local dealers that have come and gone in the past. My grey gold was Boston tractors, the 135 was supplied by Oliver Rix, the 565 has a riches and a larkmans sticker on it and the 3115 I had was from Cowies. Obviously NFM went to TNS. Just interested to know the histories and brands they sold!

 

[76masseyman]

Boston Tractors is now Chandlers. Their Boston depot is long gone though. One of mine was from the Holbeach depot originally.
A Ford has Hartford Motors of Welton and Caistor, both long gone.
Do like to see the older dealer metal plates, rather than a sticker.

 

[two-cylinder]

F.A. Standen and sons were major MF dealers - who merged with Thurlow Nunn in mid Eighties.
Standens started at St.Ives, then added Ely, Whittlesey and Wisbech, later closing Wisbech and Whittlesey and opening March.
After their merger with Thurlow Nunn, March was the first to close, followed by St.Ives in 2001 and Ely in 2008 - when Littleport opened.

Back in the 50/60's Barclay Motors of Bury St Edmunds were big in MF, as were North's of Stamford.
Weatherhead at Royston and Hardwick
Browns at Leighton Buzzard.
Cowies took over from Eastern Tractors - who sold the most MF combines in the country, and did the early trials of the 760 in Britain.

 

[Lincs Lass]

There was Burrels at Haxey who also supplied De vill and Lear sheds ,Chandlers in Lincoln,,both long gone

 

[Gordy1]

Mark Wheatherhead, used to have a depot at Steeple Bumpstead, yard & office still stands empty but now all relocated at Royston.

 

[SMID]

A 1964 65 with the reg BEB Cambridge I think any clues where that would come from ? I got it in its original state but no sign of a supplying dealer it would be nice to know.

 

[johnniepk]

My 52 fergie has barclay of Bury st Ed dealer plates on it

 

[two-cylinder]

Mark Wheatherhead, used to have a depot at Steeple Bumpstead, yard & office still stands empty but now all relocated at Royston.

Steeple Bumpstead was formerly operated by Cowies/Eastern Tractors

 

[two-cylinder]

A 1964 65 with the reg BEB Cambridge I think any clues where that would come from ? I got it in its original state but no sign of a supplying dealer it would be nice to know.

EB registration was Isle of Ely, there was only one dealer group strong in that area in 1964 - F.A. Standen and Sons.
If you would like to know more about your tractor contact Cambridgeshire Archives now in Ely, they have the old vehicle registration ledgers.

 

[Lowland1]

Our MF 135 which apparently has just seized its engine was supplied by Wests of high street Lincoln.

 

[Lowland1]

Boston Tractors is now Chandlers. Their Boston depot is long gone though. One of mine was from the Holbeach depot originally.
A Ford has Hartford Motors of Welton and Caistor, both long gone.
Do like to see the older dealer metal plates, rather than a sticker.

My 4000 and 4600 have Lincolnshire Motors Welton on the plate

 

[76masseyman]

My 4000 and 4600 have Lincolnshire Motors Welton on the plate

Now the area is a few houses, a butcher, chinese takeaway and a disused grocery shop.

 

[Lowland1]

Now the area is a few houses, a butcher, chinese takeaway and a disused grocery shop.

A trip to Welton was a real highlight for me as a kid.

 

[76masseyman]

Chandlers MF in Lincoln is now Rilmac Scaffolding.

 

[Lowland1]

Unfortunately a trip to Chandlers never held the same excitement.

 

[76masseyman]

Unfortunately a trip to Chandlers never held the same excitement.

?

 

[two-cylinder]

Standen's in Ely is now a lidl.
I avoid going in there for fear of asking for a 690 oil filter !

 

[Gordy1]

My 52 fergie has barclay of Bury st Ed dealer plates on it

My boys had an early 50s diesel fergie with a Barclay of Bury St. Edmunds plate on it, sold it a little while ago.

 

[Pushdyke]

Have a MF 30 drill at the back of the shed supplied by Windsor & Stephenson . Newark & Mansfield?

 

[Gordy1]

Used to pop into earnest doe’s a lot at Stansted Mountfitchet Essex, especially around hay making time to get new blades for our finger bar mower, it moved away from the village sometime ago although the company is still going, the site has now been redeveloped into shops & offices now, the old man bought a new ford 3000 from there in 1970, don’t know what that’s got to do with this thread though but thought I’d say anyway ?