This website has grown out of a lifelong fascination with combines in general and the 21A in particular. As a kid, the highlight of every summer was the coming of the combines. Then in 1958 Dad bought a 1949 model 21A which I operated for several years. In 1963 I had the privilege of operating a brand new Massey 82. What a machine!

The magic of the harvest was accented by a 1953 movie starring Alan Ladd and Dorothy Lamour titled Wild Harvest. In 2013 I realized a dream of seeing that movie again—Hollywood’s version of the harvest brigade complete with pilfered wheat, a fire, and a wild chase of trucks hauling combines going through the hills of Kansas.

One of my Dad’s characteristics was his tendency to crane his neck in all directions to see what he could see as he drove down the highways. As I followed his footsteps through the years, a major focus was always combines—the “newest and latest” cutting along the highways or being hauled on the highways. But in particular I was always aware of any 21A abandoned in a field.

I asked my family not to destroy the old 21A in the trees on the home farm. And in 2016 I acquired two more 21As. This site is dedicated to the kindred spirits who have similar memories and the youth who are interested in the story.

 
 

Predecessor

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The Massey Harris No. 20 was tested late in 1937 in Argentina. Before the Model 21 went into production in 1941 some 900 NO. 20’s were built. The engineer acknowledged they were too heavy and too expensive. The above machine is in a museum in Canada. A perfectly restored machine is in The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan. See link in lower right corner of this page.

 

Bobbie Smith 21A 1944

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The Massey Harris Corporation got special permission from the War Department to acquire the materials for the building of 500 combines to go on the famous Harvest Brigade in 1944. One of these machines was purchased by Bobbie Smith of Arnold, Nebraska.

Read more under the Harvest Brigade tab.

 

Successors

 

Model 27 at bird city, kansas

1949 was the last year the 21A was made. In 1949 they also made a model 26 with a 10 ft. cut and then in 1950 introduced the 27 with a 14 or 16 ft cut.

 
 
 

“This site is dedicated to the kindred spirits who have similar memories and the youth who are interested in the story.”

— David Leach, Owner & Enthusiast

 

Featured Links

Village of Arnold
Model 20 in Dearborn
Site #3
Site #4
Site #5