Harvester Co

Description

Agent TypeOrganisationIdentifierUMA-AG-000001475Activities & OccupationsManufacturers, agricultural machineryHistoryIn 1885 Hugh Victor McKay developed the family’s first prototype stripper-harvester. The machine was the result of a collaborative project that included his father and his brother John, and the use of reassembled implements and machine parts. The completed model was tried and patented, and within eight months the Melbourne plough maker company McCalman Garde & Co. had completed manufacture of the first harvester. It was exhibited at the National Agricultural Show and manufacturing began under contract in Melbourne, Bendigo (Sandhurst) and Ballarat. Five years later the McKay Harvesting Machinery Co. was established (1890). Unfortunately, the 1892/93 economic crisis forced the company to re-group, which it did, and with the aid of a small syndicate a new harvester called the ‘Sunshine’ was built. The company then re-emerged in 1893 as the Harvester Co. During the late 1890s the company’s production grew substantially and it established agencies in the capital cities and began to trade overseas. In 1921 H.V McKay Pty. Ltd. was established. Hugh Victor Mackay became the governing director for life with absolute power. H.V. McKay died in 1926.

Accession

[2006.0026] Papers of Ralph McKay, Massey Ferguson (Australia) Ltd, H. V. McKay Pty Limited and the Harvester Co

[1995.0122] Administrative records of Massey Ferguson (Australia) Ltd and predecessors

Dates

Date1893-1921

Names

Other NamesMcKay Harvesting Machinery Co

Organisational Relationships

Succeeding OrganisationsH. V. McKay Pty Limited

University of Melbourne Archives

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Harvester Co