Summary

Negative of an image showing a freshly painted Sunshine Model O steel-wheeled tractor inside the Sunshine Harvester Works in 1919. The tractor is started using a crank handle and has a belt pulley (in front of the rear wheel) for powering stationary farm equipment. Photograph is located in an album: Volume No. 5: 'Tractors, Engines, Sprayers and Chaffcutters: 1918-1956', page 2. This is one of 25 albums that provide detailed visual documentation of the activities of the McKay enterprise.

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

Man seated in an early model tractor located inside the Sunshine Harvester Works factory. He is wearing work overalls. Note the crank handle for starting the engine and the flat-belt drive-pulley for powering various stationary farm implements such as chaffcutters, saws, threshers, elevators, etc. Note the linework on wheel guards and engine cover.

Physical Description

Black and white negative

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