DANIEL MASSEY

In 1847 Daniel Massey, a Canadian pioneer and farmer, opened a small machine shop near Newcastle, Ontario. At the time his mission was simple: perform repairs and build basic implements for the local farmers. Soon however, his business began to show signs of growth based on a fast-spreading reputation for producing outstanding machinery that stood up to the rugged Canadian land.

Eight years later Daniel Massey retired, his business firmly established and growing rapidly. The Massey family would go to build the business seeing it through the successful merger with the Alanson Harris Company.

ORIGINAL MASSEY WORKSHOPS (1847)  

AN AWARD-WINNING COMPANY

A testament to the vision of Daniel Massey was seen in the many contests and awards that Massey products won over the years. Among the most coveted of these prizes were two gold medals at the 1867 International Agricultural Exposition in Paris.

GOLD MEDAL WINNER (1889)

The Massey business continued to grow, and in 1889, Massey added to its trophy case the gold medal at the Paris Universal Exposition. Sponsored by the French Ministry of Agriculture, the Exposition was the largest harvesting machinery trial in history. Massey’s  Toronto Light Binder

trashed the competition taking home the gold medal and distinction of “ World’s Greatest Harvesting Machine”.

LITTLE BRANTFORD BINDER (1885)  

THE “BINDER WAR”

Prior to the 1891 merger, the Massey and Harris companies were engaged in a somewhat bitter “binder war”. While strikingly similar in design and performance, the Brantford and Toronto Light Binders inspired undying loyalty in their respective users. By the time the companies joined, both brands had made considerable advances in efficiency and productivity.

MASSEY’S LEGACY

Daniel Massey’s son, Hart, took over the company leadership following his father’s early retirement and death in 1856. Hart’s brother, Walter, took over in 1896, followed by Chester, and finally Vincent Massey who served as the company president in the 1920’s.  

TORONTO LIGHT BINDER (1889)