MASSEY FAMILY PROTOTYPES
The purpose of prototypes was to develop the designers’ ideas from a concept to an actuality and allow some field testing and evaluation by marketing and sales teams. This would inevitably lead to ideas and suggestions for improvements before final production versions were to be “mass” manufactured. If the prototype proved to be inadequate for purpose or market, then they would generally be scrapped with only a few examples surviving this fate.
Assessment
Certainly, Massey Ferguson UK Engineering would have been given model numbers for prototypes, marketing would then assess if there was a market and possible pricing. Although sometimes sales, marketing and product planning would draw up a base specification for engineering to develop a prototype for testing. Of course, the demand, particularly for a contract in a particular country, could soon evaporate.
Perhaps the most significant surviving agricultural machine is the iconic Ferguson Black tractor. This tractor revolutionised tractor design because of its light weight, three-point implement linkage system, automatic hydraulically controlled implement operational depth and automatic weight transfer from implement to tractor. This “Ferguson System” package concept has been adopted by all modern tractors in some way or other
