MF 65 Front loader

[smiffy555]

A little introduction:-

I’ve got a 1963 MF65. It’s been in my families possession for over 40yrs. We are the 2nd owners of it and it’s done a grand total of just over 2000hrs.

To my 1st question, it’s got a detachable front end loader on it, I’m 100% confident it’s not an MF loader, do any of you recognise it and would anyone be able to identify it as to what make it may be.

2nd question:- would it be a loader that would be worth anything? I have no use for it and it’s impedes access when getting on or off.

 

[Hair Bear]

I would take a guess at MIL.

 

[smiffy555]

Some more photos of the loader and the attachment frame to the tractor

 

[smiffy555]

I would take a guess at MIL.

MIL, do you know anything else about them? What does MIL stand for?

 

[smiffy555]

Arrrh, just googled it, I think you’re bang on there. Brilliant. Thanks.

 

[Hair Bear]

You're welcome.
As for value really don't know, but I would think anyone interested would be wanting all the plumbing and bracketry as well.

 

[smiffy555]

Oh absolutely, it would all be sold as one.

 

[Netherfield]

Midland Industries Ltd.

Midland Industries

Midland Industries of Heath Town Works, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire (now West Midlands), was an industrial manufacture of fitting, pressed products and agricultural machinery. The company was founded in 1946. Became a public company in 1954 Later traded as MIL Ltd. (may have closed in about...

tractors.fandom.com

 

[Captain Sensible]

A little introduction:-

I’ve got a 1963 MF65. It’s been in my families possession for over 40yrs. We are the 2nd owners of it and it’s done a grand total of just over 2000hrs.

To my 1st question, it’s got a detachable front end loader on it, I’m 100% confident it’s not an MF loader, do any of you recognise it and would anyone be able to identify it as to what make it may be.

2nd question:- would it be a loader that would be worth anything? I have no use for it and it’s impedes access when getting on or off.
View attachment 1129570

Don't want to disappoint you, but I'm afraid that definitely IS a Massey Ferguson loader ....... a 735 loader in fact. Built specifically to fit the MF 35 & 65 tractors, but could also be fitted to the TE-20. I've got a brochure for it here in front of me dating from 1962.

 

[smiffy555]

Not disappointed at all….I’m fact I’m even more intrigued!!
It certainly doesn’t look like an MF loader just by its design and colour. From memory when my father purchased the tractor the loader was grey in colour. I would’ve thought if it was an MF loader it would’ve been red in colour.
The MIL loader as previously mentioned does indeed look like it.
Any chance you could upload a copy of your brochure ??

 

[Captain Sensible]

Not disappointed at all….I’m fact I’m even more intrigued!!
It certainly doesn’t look like an MF loader just by its design and colour. From memory when my father purchased the tractor the loader was grey in colour. I would’ve thought if it was an MF loader it would’ve been red in colour.
The MIL loader as previously mentioned does indeed look like it.
Any chance you could upload a copy of your brochure ??

Here you go. All MF loaders of that time were finished in grey paint ... Even the later MF 35 'box-section' loader was initially painted grey following it's Autumn 1964 launch. They subsequently moved to 'red' a few years later.
Interestingly, MF 735 loaders were still listed for in the December 1964 MF price list alongside the later MF 35 loader. Don't know why because the later loader would of course fit the 35 & 65 tractors.

 

[Tractortech]

A little introduction:-

I’ve got a 1963 MF65. It’s been in my families possession for over 40yrs. We are the 2nd owners of it and it’s done a grand total of just over 2000hrs.

To my 1st question, it’s got a detachable front end loader on it, I’m 100% confident it’s not an MF loader, do any of you recognise it and would anyone be able to identify it as to what make it may be.

2nd question:- would it be a loader that would be worth anything? I have no use for it and it’s impedes access when getting on or off.
View attachment 1129570

Now Then....
For what it's worth, I believe you have a Massey Ferguson 730 or 735 loader. When I was a lad, some years ago Obv, we had one on a 1970 MF 135. I'm sure it had a brass plate on it somewhere with Massey Ferguson on it. As you say, it hinders access somewhat ..
As to a value,,,,, it would only interest someone with a show tractor.... Absolutely useless in the modern world and with the access situation, totally hard work.. Get the spanners and take it off quickly..
Good luck all the same, ..

 

[Captain Sensible]

Forgot to say, it would have set your Dad back around £120 0s 0d back in around 1962. Reckon it might be worth perhaps £300 - 500 now, but if the muck fork & bucket are in good nick, you could be looking a £150 - 200 each for them. Not the most ergonomic loader on God's earth, but robust & a lot better than a Shovel. Could also be purchased with a hydraulically operated bucket and also as an extended-beam 'high-lift' version.

 

[smiffy555]

Here you go. All MF loaders of that time were finished in grey paint ... Even the later MF 35 'box-section' loader was initially painted grey following it's Autumn 1964 launch. They subsequently moved to 'red' a few years later.
Interestingly, MF 735 loaders were still listed for in the December 1964 MF price list alongside the later MF 35 loader. Don't know why because the later loader would of course fit the 35 & 65 tractors.View attachment 1129637View attachment 1129638View attachment 1129639View attachment 1129640

Thank you for that. I always thought it was some ‘aftermarket loader’….it’s not a particularly good design for operator access.

 

[smiffy555]

Now Then....
For what it's worth, I believe you have a Massey Ferguson 730 or 735 loader. When I was a lad, some years ago Obv, we had one on a 1970 MF 135. I'm sure it had a brass plate on it somewhere with Massey Ferguson on it. As you say, it hinders access somewhat ..
As to a value,,,,, it would only interest someone with a show tractor.... Absolutely useless in the modern world and with the access situation, totally hard work.. Get the spanners and take it off quickly..
Good luck all the same, ..View attachment 1129643View attachment 1129643

Thanks for the info….greatly appreciated.
The spanner’s are indeed coming out….the loader will be ‘stored’ for another day.

 

[Suffolk Serf]

But didn't MIL make the Massey loaders?

 

[Netherfield]

But didn't MIL make the Massey loaders?

At last.

 

[Suffolk Serf]

Ferguson and Massey Ferguson sub contracted much of the manufacture of implements out. I think that MIL did quite a bit of it at one point and Howard machinery definitely made the MF30 drill at the Harleston, Norfolk factory. In the era of that drill, MF trailers were Weeks, painted red as well as the red stuff applied to Bomford (cultivators and chisel ploughs) and Huard (ploughs).
I only know this as I definitely was a machinery geek around that time. Not so much now!

 

[Neil MP]

When did Steelfab, take over making the loaders that were fitted to 100 series?

 

[Exfarmer]

Ferguson and Massey Ferguson sub contracted much of the manufacture of implements out. I think that MIL did quite a bit of it at one point and Howard machinery definitely made the MF30 drill at the Harleston, Norfolk factory. In the era of that drill, MF trailers were Weeks, painted red as well as the red stuff applied to Bomford (cultivators and chisel ploughs) and Huard (ploughs).
I only know this as I definitely was a machinery geek around that time. Not so much now!

The MF 30 was actually originally Howard's own design, but realising they would not be able to market it that well they did a tie up with MF.