The Ferguson Tractor (full name Massey-Harris-Ferguson Tractor) seems at first to be an odd model for Dinky to choose as a Dublo toy but the range was designed to compliment 'OO/HO gauge' Railways and in a rural layout it was a valuable addition. Ferguson tractors were common on British farms during the 1950's and the model was probably based on the T20.

 

Dinky designed the Tractor as a hollow casting in one unit which included flanges for the axles and it was painted inside and out in a bright mid-blue colour. Interestingly, the actual colour of the real Ferguson tractors was grey but perhaps Dinky thought this a bit dull. At that time, Fordson tractors were the blue ones!

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On the rear of the model a tinplate tow-hook was rivetted which was a good addition although there was nothing in the Dublo range for it to tow!

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Inside the hollow body of the tractor 'Dublo Dinky Toys' and 'Meccano' were cast.

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The Tractor had a number of variations. The most noticeable one was the colour of the rear wheels. Usually these were dark grey but Dublo also used pale grey or cream plastic wheels quite regularly, and these varied in shade and evenness of colour. By contrast, the little front wheels were always dark grey.

 

A second variation was in the casting of the radiator grille which had either seven or eleven bars. Both wheel colours and both radiator castings seem to have been interchangeable.

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The Tractor was first issed in the usual yellow picture box but this was soon replaced by the second type, a plain yellow one with red bands at each end and descriptive text on the sides, but no pictures. 

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The Tractor was also issued with Hornby Dublo model railways as the load on the Low-sided Wagon No.4649. It was in production until Meccano was taken over by Tri-ang in 1964.

 

The Ferguson is a fairly easy model to collect but good boxes are scarce and the picture box is a rarity.​​