Massey-Ferguson 135

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Founded in Ontario, Canada, in 1847 by Daniel Massey, the Massey Manufacturing Company quickly became the largest maker of agricultural equipment in the British Empire, making their first tractors in the late 1920s.

In 1953 they merged with the Ferguson Company (the famous British tractor company formed by Harry Ferguson and David Brown in the early 1930s and responsible for the iconic TE-20 ‘Grey Fergie’), becoming Massey-Ferguson in 1958. The first mass-produced tractor to bear the new Massey-Ferguson name was the FE35, a hugely popular machine that sold in vast numbers across the globe and was nicknamed ‘Gold Belly’ due to the gold engine and gearbox.

Their next smash hit was the MF135, the first of the long-running MF100 series, which won a loyal following thanks to its compact size, its power and its utter reliability compared to most other machines of the time.

This particular MF135 has had just one local owner from new, being bought from Avon Valley Tractors of Evesham by the proprietor of G Welsh & Sons, Days Farm, Eckington, in May 1969. Used only very sparingly for light duties around the farm, it has clocked up less than 5,700 hours running time in its 48-years to date.

A rare ‘round mudguard’ model, it was last taxed and on the road in 1991 and has been barely used since, spending its last few years before that date serving as a runabout for Mr Welsh who used it to go shopping in Pershore when his car licence was revoked in the late 1980s due to his advancing years! Slumbering peacefully in a dry barn for most of the time since then, it burst into life immediately when given some fresh fuel and a jump start shortly before our visit, despite not having been touched for at least three years previously.

Still running sweetly today and in highly original condition throughout, it comes with some useful accessories including a draw bar, a stand and an A-frame. All it needs now is a caring second owner who can give it the more regular exercise it so clearly craves. With its good power output and compact dimensions, it would make a perfect tool for a country estate or small-holding, but is also ideal for nipping to the shops in, as Mr Welsh would no doubt testify were the poor chap still among us.