Geography and the "Color Wars"........

[JoeinTX]

    It is interesting to me to see the connection between where a person lives and what their brand loyalties are.  I see a great deal of John Deere fans in the upper Plains and Midwest.  Case people are roughly the same area.  I see AGCO folks through the South and lower Plains etc, etc.  Has anyone else ever really paid attention to this?  For example where I am in Texas, JD isn't that prominent.  Historically it hasn't been in the past.  Case was a little more known and used.  International Harvester, Allis-Chalmers, Ford/New Holland and Massey Ferguson have always been more popular here-especially in the past and it still seems so today.  I gauge this by the old tractors I see compared to the new ones I see.  Many old Farmalls and Internationals up to the 86 series.  Quite a few AC's of the 7000 and 8000 models.  Gleaner combines of every variety built over the last forty years sitting everywhere.  A few old Case Power Kings and Land Kings.  And Ford tractors of every description old and new.  Not many old or new JD's, Versatiles, Whites, or many other brands of combine.  I know that years ago International and Allis had many dealers here and that would explain a lot of what I see.  Todays dealers here are mainly AGCO, New Holland or foreign off-brands.  Anyone see a particular pattern in brand loyalty and geography?  How about you guys from Europe?

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This is an intersting subject to me. I may not be all the way correct, but here are my thoughts. I think that before the early 80's in the US, it was more true than today. John Deere and IH were the traditional leaders in the corn belt.They probably had twice the dealers of other makes too. I think Case. Oliver, and AC tractors were popular in corn country too but not in numbers comparing to the big two. In my mind, Case and Minniapolis Moline tractors were popular plains tractors especially before 4x4's. Versatile was king starting in the later 60's in the more arid and northern plains. Massey and Gleaner combines (Gleaner especially in the southern plains) were giant on the plains and strong in corn belt too where there were many Deere as well as IH combines. Farmers financial problems, company problems, and reduced  product lines devistated their dealerships. Many customers who once were loyal to other makes, went to CIH (with their Axial Flows) and John Deere who retained dealers in many areas.I feel  New Holland was the company that really gained with all the changing ownership. With the New Holland hay machines and combines and the Versatile lines, they had access ,to many White, AC, and Versatile dealers. I believe many New Holland dealers were once primarily White or AC tractor and combine dealers especially in the midwest cornbelt. In Canada an MF dealer told me that FordNH could make dealers carry only their major line if they wanted. I don't think that's true anymore. Yes, I think some areas prefered some makes that weren't as popular in other areas. It all depends on what years you're talking about. Cockshutt combines possibly outsold Massey at one time in Canada. Steiger and Versatile became major players in the machinery business. What's next?

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Correction on previous post. Cockshutt possibly outsold Massey combines in Canada at one time. Almost every town of any size had a Cockshutt dealership at one time in The Great White North. I guess that was true of IH in North America too.

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I don't know what's wrong with my previous posts on the last part. I meant to say Cockshutt not thingyshutt. This site may be programmed to not use the first part of the company name since by itself it could be a " BAD" word. No bad language or insult is intended on my behalf.

[Jack_D_Kid]

hi ya
In New Zealand you don't see the colour wars the same as i'm seeing on other forums sure you have ford fans, case nuts ,jd frecks..most comes down to the dealer and what deals they can do ,some towns have a strong case dealer the next town a good ford guy ..i have spoken to some of the top guys in Oz and NZ the best reply i heard is this" all tractors now are about the same, 3 things to look for 1 parts 2 backup (guy who know how to work on them) 3 dealer .."the days of buying on colour are long gone i have to say i had both green and red blood for years but the model and size i wanted both let me down ,nothing wrong with them but both models i looked at were based on flat ground (oil pick ups,motor size,etc etc)i  note more makers in the EU are looking at the 200 Hp +market i have seen some of them up close and with working on big farms in Oz i think thay will have a hard job to knock the US out of the market ,time will tell .
catch ya
JD Kid

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Here in England, there is brand loyalty but its not in areas its always been in years e.g.

15 years ago everybody used Massey Ferguson (699, 2680 etc), then people moved to Ford (7610 etc), then they moved onto Case (956XL, 1056XL etc), then they moved onto the Deere (3350 and 3650) and only in the last 5 years have we seen people stick with makes.

Within 20 miles of where i live (near birmingham - central england) i would say that case is the big player with ford close behind.

i can think of only 2 farms using massey and there are a handful of deere users. 1 valtra user.

This is very interesting subject and makes you think. therefore i have conclueded for this area we dont really have brand loyalty. Me personally think there are pro's and cons to every make, but i would not stick with one brand just because.....

Lee

[Laapa]

Interesting...
By thingyshutt, do you perhaps mean Cockshutt? If the last sentence said thingyshutt twice, how about "Cockshutt" or K-O-K-K-S-H-U-T-T. Is that what you mean?

Hmmm...Let's try something... not trying to offend anybody. Just curious what will happen...

Did I tell you, I used to have a BIG COCKshutt combine with a STRIPPERheader that I got real cheap. In fact, the dealer was GIVING HEADs away. He's wife was in he's office with her cat and she was STROKING HER PUSSY as we closed the deal.
Unfortunately my combine later exploded while my wife was driving. I guess you could say SHE BLEW MY COCKshutt up.

Mr Moderator, please remove this post immideately if it is found to offensive.

[Woodbeef]

Interesting post there Laapa!! You're not starting to show that Green Cult programing now are you? Hey you're correct though. I just went back and checked where I posted the name CS,and it says Cockshutt,not CS.

As for local brand loyalty. I live in a very heavy Massey Area,might be the last stronghold in North America for Massey. I'm told that at one time in the 70s and 80s massey had 80% of the market here in the Quinte region of Ontario. Back then there were 5 dealers within a 25 mile radius. Today there is one,and he also sells Landini and Dodges. Deere is starting to make in roads with the big $$$ dairy guys lately. We also  have a very viable (still growing bigger every year)Rainbow Brigade dealer,and a so/so CIH Kubota dealer. Unfortunately our local Valtra dealer has closed due to health reasons,but I'm told we will be getting a new one soon.

In Western Ontario Deere has about 65% of the market,but Valtra and Fendt are getting bigger yearly out there.