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The Avery company had been in business many years before Minneapolis-Moline purchased them. There are Avery collectors, and some parts are available. I have seen some Avery information on the internet. Use your search engine and search for Avery clubs, collectors, and shows. White/Agco dealers can get you parts for the MM Avery's. In 1951, M-M purchased the BF Avery company and began selling the Minneapolis-Moline models “V,” “BF”, and “BG” which were principally Avery tractors painted in the M-M prairie gold color and sold as Minneapolis-Moline. Model V 1951-55 - - ?? hp -- Engine, Hercules 4 cylinder Model BF 1951-57- 27 belt hp- Engine, Hercules IXB3SL Model BG 1951-57- 27 belt hp- Engine, Hercules 1X3SL
Purchase of the BF Avery company was made because Minneapolis Moline wanted to expand their marketshare by gaining a foothold in the south. M-M had been mainly in Midwestern markets since it's inception in 1929. Avery was headquartered in Memphis Tennessee and had excellent small tractors, a good reputation, a quality cultivator line, and a large dealer network in GA, AL, MS, LA, TX, SC, NC and VA. In the early 1950's Avery had a modern factory in Memphis with large capacity, but needed capitol investment. M-M had the capitol and needed a larger market.
Unfortunately the decision to purchase turned out to be a bad one. This was mainly because Avery engineering produced small tractors. At this time Deere, and International began introducing the larger (50 plus hp) tractors to the American farmer. The large tractors were a huge success. Small was on the way out and M-M had invested heavily in small. This was another nail in their coffin, because the trend to move to large hp tractors put them in a catch-up position just when their research capitol had been spent on expansion with the Avery purchase. Inexplicably they sold the modern Avery factory. Additionally they had invested heavily in their Unitractor which only had moderate success. The times demanded that their letter tractors (R, Z, U, and G) be updated with modern features (Hydraulics, Power Steering, 3-point, more power and speed.) They were strapped with small market share and a need to upgrade or die. For the remainder of the 1950's they were in a vunerable position, and ripe for a takeover. In 1963, White Motor Company obliged and purchased M-M.
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