SPN Posted December 25, 2011 Share Posted December 25, 2011 Can anyone give an overview of the history of MF seed drills from the 60s through to the 90s? The MF30 was by far the most popular drill around these parts for a very long time. I remember seeing a few older MF29s when I was young, and I've recently come across a couple of MF500s. When were the different models introduced, and what do people think of them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tractorbob Posted December 25, 2011 Share Posted December 25, 2011 remember a grey one we had then we had a mf 30( think it was)with 135 wheels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJB1 Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 nice little 732 still in use here , don't know the production dates though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 Ferguson 720a Drill 1949 -1957- 14,949 made MF732 1950-1964 – 16,470 made MF728 Superseeder – an old Massey Harris product 1955-1964 – 14,089 made MF29 (also known as 729 for a while) 1965 – 1972 – production figures n/a MF34 (also known as 734 for a while) 1965 – 1972 – production figures n/a As for the MF30... you'll just have to buy a copy of the current edition of Classic Massey as there is an article in it that tells you all about the production periods etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 Just call me Wikipedia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 Not forgetting the MF(7)32 Unit seeder.... in an attempt to compete with the stanhay drill I guess 1962 -1966 - only 439 made I don't think you'd call it a runaway success then really \ As for the answer to your question Stan.... an MF30 will serve you well... it was they most popular selling drill of all times I do believe. Simple, easy to work on and very accurate as well. Check for parts availability though... I'm not sure if things like the rubber boots and tubes are still readily available.. MF will have stopped officiually servicing them for parts many years ago now. Also... coulter selection (type) is most important and always pertinent to your seedbed type too. I've got full sacnned copies of these if you do decide to take the plunge and buy one. Oh... an you'll need a 'small seed kit' to sow grass properly .. but I guess you'd just broadcast that anyway ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 Given the number of those MF32's made Mark I wonder how may have survived today... \ I suspect they are probably worth more now than when new....if you could find one that is ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractorman810 Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 i asume you mean the 732 bill?? if so pretty easily found http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seed-Drill-Massey-Ferguson-732-corn-seed-drill-/200691470525?pt=UK_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item2eba24d0bd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 No not that one Sean the one Marky said only 439 were made between 1962 and 1966. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPN Posted December 26, 2011 Author Share Posted December 26, 2011 Dear Mr Universal Hobbies, and Ms ROS. Hint, Hint! (ps: Thanks a million Mark. Very much appreciated) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 Dear Mr Universal Hobbies, and Ms ROS. Hint, Hint! (ps: Thanks a million Mark. Very much appreciated) My pleasure Stan... if you need anything else mate just ask... happy to help i asume you mean the 732 bill?? if so pretty easily found http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seed-Drill-Massey-Ferguson-732-corn-seed-drill-/200691470525?pt=UK_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item2eba24d0bd Gets a tad confusing mate.... that's a Drill and not a 'unit seeder' ... not forgetting the MF732 mower fromthe same era :D Given the number of those MF32's made Mark I wonder how may have survived today... \ I suspect they are probably worth more now than when new....if you could find one that is ;) Indeedy Bill... Can't be many left now I am sure... I've never seen one myself either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nashmach Posted December 27, 2011 Share Posted December 27, 2011 MF 30 here and heading into its 7th season now I do believe - how times fly. Very happy with it and worth more now than we paid for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toyfarmer Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 great info mark . growing up on the farm in the early 1970s dad used a ferguson drill that he thinks was a GPE 15, (which replaced a massey harris 720A). from memory this looks very similar to the 732 drill pictured by marcus. just wondered if these drills were renumbered following the merger with massey harris. the gpe15 was eventually replaced by a mf30 drill.regards sid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 I'm not a Ferguson man really I must confess... but I'm, sure you are correct in what you say. Most of the early MF implements were simply rebadged versions of those made for (but not usually by..) Harry Ferguson Ltd. I'm pretty sure the Ferguson drill was called the 'Universal seed drill' and was manufactured by Rubery Owen Ltd. of Darlaston Staffordshire. I'm not sure if MF would have have the drill made by Joseph Sankey & Son's Ltd. soon after as they seemed to favour them over other previous manufacturers. I wonder if the 720A was what became the 728 superseeder then perhaps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deere-est Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 MF 30 here and heading into its 7th season now I do believe - how times fly. Very happy with it and worth more now than we paid for it Popular export machine now, Colm. I've picked up a few over the last year, suprising what good nick many are still in aswell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nashmach Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 Popular export machine now, Colm. I've picked up a few over the last year, suprising what good nick many are still in aswell. I am actually surprised at that Tris - where to mate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractorman810 Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 I am actually surprised at that Tris - where to mate? dont know why colm ,very good reliable machines mate, as you know, very few moving parts to deal with ,what are can easilly get sorted in field if needed ,like pipes ect, perfect for africa ect ,we had one from new, moved between the farms, and was mainly a back up for the last 10 years as we moved to a maschino drill combo,but wuldnt have sold it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 There still a few 30's in use around here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 this is a the African way of drilling Sean E baby... MF style anyway It don't come more simple than that really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractorman810 Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 very true mate, nearly as simple as me :laugh: i guess a 30 is a big step up for african areas if thats where they go of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 :D not as simple as you mate.. nothing in agriculture is that simple * Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deere-est Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 Bit of weight on that and some different tines, bean drill! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdc Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 this is a the African way of drilling Sean E baby... MF style anyway My father was an advisor in the Sudan in the 40s and they had drills like the 720 but wider, in gangs of 5 pulled by Cat D6s & D8s - fields were up to 3 miles long. We had a 4m 30 in the mid 80s. I thought it was a great drill but the transport kit was a bit of a fiddle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJB1 Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 never really got into the drills & assosiated machinery mark , & although simillar in design if i remember the 30 was a precision drill & the 130 a direct drill ? so i would assume the 500 would be the next generation 30 ? funny, if you ask farmers they will always say how much more acreage they covered with these drills compared to the powerharrow/ drill combinations & for some how much cheaper it was as well , especially on the lighter soils, which begs the question why change to the combination drill ? any info on these 510 drills mark , how many were made & how much of an impact they made considering they came into a pretty well established market with the dominant sellers like accord & the like ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillview Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 Thanks to Mark for sending me brochures on the MF 32 unit seeder. Here is a picture of the seeders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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