Summary

This image forms part of the extensive H.V. McKay Sunshine Collection, which includes images, film, objects, trade publications and oral histories relating to the Sunshine Harvester Works.
Founded by Hugh V. McKay at Ballarat in the 1894, the business relocated to the suburb of Braybrook (later known as Sunshine) on Melbourne's western outskirts in 1904-1907, were it rapidly developed into one of Australia's largest industrial entreprises, with a peak worforce of over 2,500. The business focused on the design, manufacture, importation, distribution and sales of a wide range of argricultural equipment through an extensive Australia-wide network of agents (and later dealers). The company became known as H.V. McKay Pty Ltd in 1921, then in 1930 merged with Australian operations of the Canadian-based firm Massey Harris Ltd, becoming H.V. McKay Massey Harris Pty Ltd. In 1955, remaining members of the McKay family and other local shareholers sold out to their Canadian partners, with the Australian operations then fully absorbed into the Massey-Ferguson global entity, and renamed Massey Ferguson (Aust.) Limited in 1958.

Description of Content

Close-up of the local Sunshine & Massey-Harris machinery dealer, Mr Bruce Sloane, meeting with farmers A.T. Coates & Son, of St Arnaud, to discuss their new Massey-Harris 'No.780' model self-propelled combine harvester imported from the United Kingdom. First offered in 1953, the MH-780 was manufactured at the Massey-Harris harvester plant in Kilmarnock, Scotland, which opened in 1948 and operated until 1980. It was one of the first new self-propelled harvesters released onto the Australian market following WWII. Bruce Sloane, is standing at the rear, with his hand on the ladder up to the driver's seat. Behind him is the screw auger that allowed mechanical un-loading of grain from the harvester's bulk grain bin (or grain tank) into a mobile bin trailer or truck, either while the harvester was stationary or moving.

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