dispersal sale

{farm sale}

Tractor variety tempts the bidders at Cambridgeshire dispersal sale

An attractive selection of tractors of di erent makes, models and ages was on o er at an onsite auction arranged by Che ns in late November. David Williams was there.

The auction was organised by Che ns on behalf of Wilbraham Farms, in late November, and included an intriguing selection of tractors – most of which were used on the farm, as well as some which were ‘included’ lots from local farmers. lots from local farmers.

The dispersal sale was on behalf of Wilbraham Farms and resulted from a change in farming policy by the owners who are having the enterprise contract-farmed, rather than farming it in-hand. Most of the machinery from the all-arable farm was available to buy, and the selection included modern as well as classic and some vintage equipment. The current farm manager, Phil Baynes, is staying on under the new farming regime, and he commented that a lot of the machinery had been on the farm since it was new, and most was supplied and maintained by local dealers.

Good time of year

Che ns auctioneer, Oliver Godfrey said that the sale proved very successful. “We had a good selection of well-maintained machinery to o er from the farm, bolstered by some very attractive ‘included’ lots and everything sold well.

“The attendance included many local farmers as well as some trade buyers, and we had over 220 registered online including many from overseas. Most lots were bought by end users, but the tractors were split 50/50 between trade buyers and farmers. Highlights included a Ford 7840 which sold particularly well, and a John Deere from an Essex farm which went for only a little less than it would have cost new almost 20 years ago. The two main tractors from Wilbraham Farms – modern Massey Fergusons, both sold well too. They were in lovely condition, well maintained and looked after, and both bought by farmers,” he explained.

Oliver said that late autumn is usually a good time for farm dispersal sales. “With most eld work completed, we often nd farmers and contractors from the local area come along to see what’s on o er, and to socialise with friends in the industry.

“We were very lucky with the weather for the Wilbraham Farms sale, as it rained while the indoor lots were sold and then was dry while we were outside. It was a good, genuine dispersal sale and the farm owners and our auction team were very happy with the results.” FG

This Massey Ferguson 7499 Dyna-VT 4wd had a front linkage, 50kph transmission, air brakes, front axle and cab suspension and a pick-up hitch. It was on Michelin AxioBib 2 VF600/60R30 front tyres with 90% tread, and AxioBib VF710/60R42 rears with 70%. The tractor carried local Thurlow Nunn Standen dealer stickers and had worked 7,406 hours since it was new in March 2012. It was in excellent condition inside and out and sold for an impressive £36,000.

Tractors which had been used on the farm included a Massey Ferguson 7726, a Massey Ferguson 7499, a Ford 7840 and a Ford 6710. This 2009 Dal-Bo Cultimax trailed, hydraulic-folding spring-tine cultivator was an ‘included’ lot. It had front and rear levelling boards, a stone tray and a rear drawbar. The hitch had been repaired, but it was otherwise tidy and made £11,500. Tine drills are in demand after several wet drilling seasons, and this KRM Sola MS Plus 2311 mounted hydraulic folding model with a 6m working width was tted with bout and pre-em markers. It was another ‘included’ lot and sold for £9,500.

One of the more unusual lots was this Ford 6710 2wd, dating from 1978 and registered with an A-pre x plate. It had been on the farm from new and had its original Cameron Gardner front loader. The tractor had worked 4,870 hours, including the last 2,600 on a replacement Powerstar engine. The front tyres were mixed Good Year and Supreme 10.00-16 with 40% and 80% tread respectively and the rear tyres were Danubiana 16.9R34 with 40% tread. The Ford was in very tidy condition for its age, although the seat upholstery as well as the cab lining near the door were both worn. It sold for £10,200. The farm’s Massey Ferguson tractors sold well.

Workshop tools and equipment as well as spare parts were displayed under cover and attracted a lot of interest.

Tractor front weights and weight blocks have attracted sky-high prices in recent years. On the left – this linkage mounted weight frame with eight 40kg Ford wafer weights made £420 and a set of ten 40kg Ford wafer weights with a tombstone mount sold for £500.

Another drill among the ‘included’ items – this Vaderstad RDA trailed hydraulic folding 6m disc drill came with System Disc, levelling boards, pre-em markers, a hydraulic-driven fan and a rear harrow. It was new in 2003 and had drilled 8,504ha. It sold for £10,200. A J Silk grain pusher with pin and cone mounts sold for £1,300.

An ‘included’ lot – this Vaderstad Rexius Crosskill press roller had an 8m working width and was tted with a front levelling board. It sold for £10,200.

Ideal for larger farms, this 4,000-litre capacity Kongskilde Wingjet 4024 trailed hydraulic folding pneumatic fertiliser applicator had a 24m working width. With a PTO-driven fan, an Avadex/microgranule kit, and Trelleborg Twin 404 800/40/26.5 wheels and tyres it was an ‘included’ lot and made £9,500.

This Bury St Edmunds-produced Robert Boby Limited grain cleaner was in lovely original condition. It made £220. This ‘included’ Kuhn VKM280 o set ail mower was in good condition and it sold for £1,900. This KRM M2W fertiliser applicator was a 2007 model, and still carried its Ernest Doe dealer stickers. It sold for £1,400. An ‘included’ lot, this Karcher HDS 601C pressure washer sold for £90.

Another vintage lot – this No8 y press was tidy. It was an ‘included’ item and made £230.

New in 2020, this Marshall BC/25 10t tandem-axle, steel bodied atbed trailer was on 12.5/80-15.3 tyres and wheels, and in excellent condition. It achieved a winning bid of £5,800.

Beside it – a single-axle 1,000-litre bunded fuel bowser complete with pump and delivery hose sold for £2,200.

This ‘included’ Massey Ferguson 158 2wd was an unusual lot. It was a French import with Picard dealer stickers and all the cab labels were in French. It was on Good Year 7.50-16 front tyres and 16.9R28 rears and it sold for £4,600.

The farm’s biggest tractor was this Massey Ferguson 7726 Dyna-VT 4wd. It was registered on a 66-plate and new in 2016. It carried its original Thurlow Nunn Standen dealer stickers and was on Michelin VF 600/60R30 front tyres with 40% tread, and 710/60R42 rear tyres with 90% tread. The tractor had a 50kph transmission, air brakes, and front axle and cab suspension, and it was equipped with Isobus. In excellent condition inside and out, it had recorded 6,780 hours and sold for £43,500.

An unusual Wiberg 5.8m hydraulic folding spring tine cultivator with Reekie tines achieved £600.

This Agco 1,100kg concrete front weight block made £450.

The farm’s Lemken Diamant 11VOF 7f (6+1) reversible in-furrow/on-land plough arrived new on the farm in 2015 and remained in very good condition. The winning bid was £19,000, and the 2017 Lemken Vario Pack double-row furrow press beside it made £7,500. Nearly 30 years old, this 1994 Ford 7840 Powerstar SLE 4wd had a FarmForce front linkage and was on Pirelli TM700 420/70R28 front, and Trelleborg TM700 520/70R38 rear tyres – all with 95% tread. The tractor had worked 6,944 hours and was in very good, original condition. It made £17,400.

This ‘included’ Major 9ft rear-mounted topper was very tidy and made £650. These replacement Tim Howard and He-Va subsoiler points sold for £300.

A very tidy 2012 Chafer Guardian 4000, 24m trailed sprayer was on Good Year 650/75R32 narrow wheels and tyres and it made £16,000.

This Kongskilde Vibro ex 4.5m folding cultivator had been well maintained including several new springs, and points which were barely worn. It made £1,150. Imported by Essex-based J Brock & Sons, this Farmet Kompaktomat KP600PS hydraulic folding cultivator was supplied new in 2019 and remained in excellent condition. It achieved a well-deserved £15,000.

The farm’s 2007 Simba Horsch Pronto 6DC 6m trailed drill was ready to use. The tyres were in good condition, the front discs had plenty of working life remaining and the coulters were in good order too. It sold for £19,000. A very tidy Massey Ferguson 6150 4wd was another ‘included’ lot. It was a 1996 model and it carried East Anglian Tractors dealer stickers. The front tyres were Good Year 11.2R28 with 50% tread, and the rears were Voltyre 13.6R38 with 80% tread. The cab was clean and tidy apart from a small tear in the seat, and the tractor made £10,200.

An attractive ‘included’ lot, this Fendt 936 Pro 4wd was a 2008 model registered on a 58-plate and it was in superb condition. It came with a front linkage, hydraulic top link, six rear spools, two front spools and air brakes, and it was shod on Trelleborg 600/70R34 front, and 710/75R42 rear tyres which all had 60% tread. The Fendt carried PHR dealer stickers, and it was one of two tractors entered into the sale from a farm near Sa ron Walden in Essex. The vendor explained that it had arrived on his farm as an ex-demonstrator with only 300 working hours and was now being sold with 6,047 hours recorded. The winning bid was £68,500.

From the same farm as the Fendt, this John Deere 8420 4wd was a 2003 model, registered on an 03-plate. It came with four rear spools and was on Firestone IF 600/70R30 front tyres with 70% tread and 650/85R38 rears with 25% tread. It had recorded 8,408 working hours and had remained on the same farm since it was supplied new by local dealer, Ben Burgess. The winning bid of £53,000 was fully justi ed by the tractor’s superb condition and was only a little less than the tractor would have cost new.

The 2011 HeVa Combi-Lift 5-leg subsoiler (right) had hydraulic disc and disc roller adjustment and was in good condition. With its Thurlow Nunn Standen dealer stickers, it sold for £7,800.

Beside it – the Tim Howard 3-leg subsoiler had new legs tted in 2021 and was equipped with a rear packer roller. It made £3,200. Every good farm sale features an ageing Vicon Acrobat rake, and this one was no exception. With four rotors and no missing tines, it sold for £50. A 1,000-litre Titan tank with a sight gauge made £60.

An elderly but attractive at cart on split rim wheels was a collector’s item. It was tidy, the tyres were sound but cracked, and it sold for £200.

A modest £1,650 secured this Teagle Handy 2.3m mower with side shift and hydraulic auto kick-back. New in 2016, it still carried its Pecks dealer stickers and was in very good condition.

An Opico Variocast seeder kit made £1,100. This ‘included’ Ford New Holland 4630 2wd was registered with an H-pre x in 1990. The front tyres were 11.5/80-15.3 Good Year, and the rears were Olympic 16.9-28 with a turf pattern. The cab was tidy for the age, but the seat needed re-covering. The tractor had recorded 1,680 working hours and still carried its Ernest Doe & Sons Fulbourn depot dealer plates. It was sold with a good set of 7.50-16 front, and 13.6R36 rear agricultural tyres and wheels, and achieved a winning bid of £8,500.

Cousins implements sell well, and this elderly 4.5m Dutch harrow with front spring tines and a rear crumble roller made £850.

An elderly Ransomes Nordsten Lift-O-Matic 4m drill made £550.

This elderly Krone disc mower was tidy and sold for £500.

Members of the Che ns on-site team after the successful sale: (l-r) Bill King, Paul West, Angie Ware, Oliver Godfrey, Charles Wadsley and Tom Godsmark.