Summary

Black and white photograph of a grain harvester at H.V McKay Massey Harris in 1952.

One of eleven photographs of self propelled grain harvesters undergoing field testing. The 'new type auto header' was designed by Headlie Taylor after World War II and was completed for the harvest of 1949-1950. Further refinements occurred during the following four years. Headlie Taylor's son, Howard Taylor, worked as a draftsman on this project and was closely involved in its development and field testing.

Part of a collection of photographs, negatives, moving film, artefacts, documents and trade literature belonging to the H. V. McKay Sunshine Collection. The McKay collection is regarded as one of the most significant industrial heritage collections in Australia. The collection relates to the agricultural manufacturing firm, the Sunshine Harvester Works. The Australian operations of this company were originally founded by Hugh V. McKay in the 1890s in Ballarat. Between 1906 and 1907, McKay moved production to Sunshine where the firm became one of the largest industrial businesses in Australia. Change in ownership is a recurring theme in the company's history. In 1930, it merged with Massey-Harris to become H.V McKay Massey Harris. In the mid-1950s, the company was absorbed by Canadian agricultural firm Massey-Ferguson. Production in Sunshine ceased in the mid-1980s, following almost 100 years of manufacturing agricultural equipment.

Description of Content

Grain harvester parked in front of a building.

Physical Description

Black and white silver gelatin photograph.

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