Last Monday marked the 50th anniversary of an important date in the history of tractor-making. That was the day when the Massey Ferguson Triple Triangle badge first made its appearance, soon to become one of the tractor industry’s best known symbols.

The Massey Ferguson company was formed after Harry Ferguson sold his tractor business in 1952 to the Canadian-based Massey-Harris company. The original name of the new company was Massey-Harris-Ferguson, but it was abbreviated to Massey Ferguson in a major reorganisation which included the new Triple Triangle badge in November 1957.

Massey-Harris history began in 1847 when Daniel Massey opened a workshop to make equipment for Canada’s pioneer farmers. MH later became the market leader for combine harvesters, but it failed to achieve the same success with tractors and the Ferguson deal offered the opportunity to acquire the world’s best-selling tractor design.

Ferguson, a farmer’s son from what is now Northern Ireland, was an engineering genius. His biggest achievement was developing the Ferguson System hydraulic three-point linkage that revolutionised implement attachment and control.

Ferguson’s interest in tractor design started in 1916 when he added a tractor franchise to his Belfast garage business. He realised that using a chain to drag ploughs and other implements behind a tractor was inefficient and he started developing the three-point linkage.

This TE20 is still earning its keep in Suffolk after 50 years

By the early 1950s Ferguson’s TE-20 – the Little Grey Fergie – was the world’s best-selling tractor with production of the British and American-built versions peaking at more than 100,000 per year.

It is not clear why he decided to sell the company, but he chose Massey-Harris as the buyer. During the negotiations Ferguson offered to settle a $1 million disagreement over his company’s valuation by tossing a coin that he borrowed, appropriately, from his finance director. He lost the $1 million.

Ferguson was chairman and head of engineering at Massey-Harris-Ferguson, but he soon fell out with his new colleagues and resigned. Meanwhile the new company retained both Massey-Harris and Ferguson dealers selling red-painted MH badged tractors and grey Ferguson models.

The launch of the Triple Triangle was the first step in a rationalisation that included introducing the Massey Ferguson brand name and red paint throughout the range.

MF’s current owner Agco marked the anniversary by unveiling new facilities at the Beauvais plant in France, including a new international training centre, driving track and visitor centre.