ADvintage TractorClassified The place to buy and sell JCB 531-70
JCB 531-70
JCB 535-95
CASE 4230
“10” Super, c/w 4261 hours approx, tyres, 95%, POA Tel. 01476 560784. (t)
“60” Super, c/w 2,615 hours, tyres 35%, POA Tel. 01476 560784. (t)
“07”Super c/w 8435 hours, tyres 15%, tidy condition, POA Tel. 01476 560784. (t)
with Tanco loader, Servo controls, year 1996, P reg 6600, genuine hours, £8950 Tel. 07961 315000 or 01904 749056. (t)
CASE 530 DIESEL
CASE CX 130
CASE MAGNUM 230
CAT TH407 AG
in good running order, can be visited in Belgium together with 400 other tractors or at www.happyoldiron.com delivery possible Tel. Marc Geerkens 0032 477423525. (t)
2006, ex-farm use, only 3500 hours, climate control, 2 x buckets. Tel. 01652 648787; Richard 07961 960674; Paul 07827 293962. (t)
2004, 5750 hours, clean tidy tractor, available with set of rear dual wheels POA Tel. 07976 575120; 07779 248021; 07807 603870; 07972 102323. Melton Mowbray (t)
“10”, c/w 1480 hours only, rear hitch, fast road speed, POA Tel. 01476 560784. (t)
CLAAS DOM 108
CLAAS TARGO C50
CLAAS TARGO K50
DAVID BROWN
SL Maxi, 1992, 3D 17ft auto contour, 3400hrs. Tel. 01697 342191; 07775 688642. (t)
year 2002, 2700 hours, two owners from new, full farm spec withPUH (top door missing) very nice machine, £11,950. Tel. 01904 749056. (t)
2005, c/w JCB head and tines, 3100 genuine hours, tidy £15,950 Tel. 07976 575120; 07779 248021; 07807 603870; 07972 102323. (t)
1212, 1978, very genuine. Tel. 01652 651832; 07774 737966. (t)
DAVID BROWN 1190
FASTRACK
FENDT F24 LAG
FERGUSON 20
with loader bucket, fork & bale spike 2wd very nice, £4500 Tel. 01904 749056. (t)
2140, 4WS, 54 plate, 7800hrs tidy. Tel. 01652 651832; 07774 737966. (t)
in good running order, can be visited in Belgium together with 400 other tractors or at www.happyoldiron.com delivery possible Tel. Marc Geerkens 0032 477423525. (t)
resprayed, new tyres ready to rally, £1950 Tel. 01778 560111 or 07860 336044. Stamford, Lincs (t)
FERRARI F2
FORD 2600
FORD 4000
FORD 5000
in good running order, can be visited in Belgium together with 400 other tractors or at www.happyoldiron.com delivery possible Tel. Marc Geerkens 0032 477423525. (t)
2wd, (S), 3097hrs, Lambourne low cab, very tidy, £3650 Tel. 01778 560111 or 07860 336044. Stamford, Lincs (t)
reconditioned engine, 1967, poa. Tel. 01778 560111 or 07860 336044. Stamford, Lincs (t)
Giaguaro 6 cylinder 120HP, in good running order, can be visited in Belgium together with 400 other tractors or at www.happyoldiron.com delivery possible Tel. Marc Geerkens 0032 477423525. (t)
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Welcome
To put you in the mood for all those great shows that lie ahead, here’s an image of a 1963 Ford County Super-6 taken at the Great Dorset Steam Fair, 2012. Photo Colin Tyson.
W
e’re looking forward to another show season across our range of heritage magazines and who knows what lies in store and what rarities will be uncovered or revealed at the many events around the country this year. To that end we hope that UK readers will be able to plan their own personal itinerary with the aid of the free wall planner included in this issue which covers the first half of this year. A second wall planner covering the remainder of the year will be with your July edition of Tractor and Farming Heritage. In the meantime, keep a lookout on our website at www.tractormagazine.co.uk where our comprehensive database of all the heritage events will be regularly updated for you.
It is rarities indeed which provide us with many talking points about our hobby – are they rare because of the low numbers produced (thinking back to the very early tractors), were they the wrong product at the wrong time, or was it just a lack of foresight that simply none were saved and entered into preservation? It’s an interesting subject, why don’t you let us know what you think? inking of the not so rare, you will find more than one comparison between Ford and Massey Ferguson this issue, which is worth highlighting with the commemoration of 50 years since the MF 100 Series and the Ford 1000 Series tractor ranges were introduced. Ben Phillips revives that old question about which model you prefer in his Tractor Guide feature – MF or Ford. Is it the model you were brought up with or is it suitability and performance? Why not let us know; it’s a subject I love to hear about.
Meet the team...
Ben Phillips
Polly Pullar
Jo Roberts
J Whitlam
Tractor restorer – aka the tractorlad.
Photojournalist with a passion for heritage.
Professional heritage Writer and farming writer based in Wales. video producer.
Tony Hoyland
Editor
Richard Lofting Stuart Gibbard
To link to our Facebook page, just scan the image (right) with your smartphone. Alternatively, go online and visit www.facebook.com/TractorMag
tractormagazine.co.uk
Roving reporter and technical writer.
Author, historian and tractor specialist.
Also thanks to Pete Henshaw, Alan Barnes, Dave Taylor, Graham Hampstead, HR, Pete Kelly, Peter D Simpson, Pete Small, Henry Smith, Bernard Holloway. April2014Tractor
3
CONTENTS
TRACTOR AND FARMING HERITAGE APRIL 2014
Regulars 3
Welcome
18
News
20
All the latest news in the world of tractors and heritage.
26
Dave’s tractors
Dave Taylor likes his tractors to have a story with them, and his Fordson Standard Model N is something special. Signs of the
62
32
Blue Force 1000 update
We catch up with the preparations for the landmark Blue Force 1000 event in June with news that New Holland has just confirmed its support.
Graham’s Grumbles
Graham would like to meet the people who make modern everyday electrical items and ask them why they need to be so complicated,
36
22
Tractor Talk
COVER STORY
54
A collection of happy memories
Heritage
Your news, views and comments about the vintage and classic scene.
Our Model World report sees Henry Smith talking to Henry Castle about his love of the tractors, Fergusons and models…
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83 84
40 COVER STORY
Tractors as therapy?
Jo Roberts finds out about a unique venture in North Wales – a special project which really needs your help!
Caught in the act…
Vintage and classic tractors, we spot them everywhere.
Man on a mission
Graham Hampstead finally hauls out his Super Dexta into the cold light of day to assess the mind-boggling list of jobs to do for its restoration.
104 Next Month
46 COVER STORY
50
58
Preview of the May issue of Tractor & Farming Heritage magazine.
138 Last Word
Jean Brown warns what can happen when you leave your own ‘traction man’ at home unattended all day.
YourTractors 6
Modern classic at work
COVER STORY
12 COVER STORY
4
Ace photographer Alan Barnes didn’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to track down the owner of this superb Massey Ferguson 3650.
Downsizing to a Ploughmaster
Owner Mike Mitchell tells us why, when his collection got out of hand, this Roadless Ploughmaster 6/4 just had to be one to keep.
TractorApril2014
times
62
64 COVER STORY
68
Why John Deere?
Ever wonder why someone collects a certain make of tractor? We see what attracted engineer Mark Brunt to John Deeres.
72
73
The Farming Front
In the first of a new series to mark the centenary of the First World War, Stuart Gibbard looks at the state of agriculture in Britain.
Signs of the times
Pete Kelly comes across a colourful collection of animal feedstuff signs in Lincolnshire.
The Class of 64
It’s 50 years since both the MF 100 Series and the Ford 1000 Series tractor ranges were introduced. We chart the birth of the modern tractor.
Stone walling our heritage
Polly Pullar visits the isle of North Ronaldsay where a dwindling population and the skills to maintain the coastal dyke could spell the end for the unique lifestyle of the island’s sheep.
More heritage memories from the farming literature of yesteryear.
Living the dream
90
Working on the MF 135 and Ford 3000
COVER STORY
93 94 COVER STORY
Home Farm Diaries
It’s April 1974, an unforgettable year with the miners’ strike, three-day week and power cuts – but HR’s got Suzi Quatro on his mind.
Tractor Archive
88
Ditching in Dorset
A contractor’s life in Dorset, from the 1950s up to the 1980s, via AllisChalmers, Fordson, International and Same tractors.
American farmers in the early years of the 20th century who wanted to spend their money wisely looked to the makes of the highest repute such as J I Case.
Workshop
It’s a fair cop
After working under cover for the police for over 50 years, this Allis-Chalmers D-272 has been returned to the original factory livery.
Case 20-40
98 COVER STORY
Terry Danson tells us how his family-run business, Antrac Services in Canada, came about as a result of restoring tractors for a hobby.
When you’re buying a tractor, it helps to know what they’re like to maintain and repair in the workshop. Ben Phillips gives us some pointers.
Products
All the latest tractor and farming heritage related product releases.
Moulding in glass fibre
Having learned the hard way to make replacement panels for his tractor, Richard Lofting now gives us his step by step guide.
Tyre for a change
Ben Phillips shows you what to do if you’re thinking of changing the tyres on your tractor – and also what to expect along the way.
Marketplace 103 Treble tops for Forfar sale
Lawrie and Symington’s auction of George Mutch of Abernethy’s collection of vintage tractors and machinery in January.
Having trouble finding a copy of this magazine? Why not Just Ask your local newsagent to reserve you a copy each month? tractormagazine.co.uk
6
TRACTORS FEATURED THIS ISSUE
Elementary my dear Watson!
SUBSCRIBE! Only £3 per issue ✦ see page 30 for further details
Allis-Chalmers A........................................50 Allis-Chalmers D-272..............................40 Case 20-40...................................................72 David Brown 770......................................66 Ford 1000 Series (6X)..............................32 Ford 1000 Series.......................................64 Ford 3000 ....................................................90 Ford 600 Series (7A1 and 7A2)...........32 Ford Force Series (6Y) ............................32 Fordson Major...........................................50 Fordson Standard Model N.................26 Grey Fergie..................................................78 International B-250, 674 .......................50 John Deere 4020......................................66 John Deere 70 Diesel .............................36 John Deere, Model BN...........................36 Massey Ferguson 35, 135.....................50 Massey Ferguson 3650 ............................6 MF 100 Series.............................................64 MF 135 ..........................................................90 Nuffield 10/60 ...........................................66 Roadless Ploughmaster 6/4................12 Super Dexta................................................84
103
Treble tops for Forfar sale
64
The class of 64
78
32
PAGES OUR NEOF TRACT W CLASS OR IF SECTIOIED N
Tractors as therapy?
68
Stone walling our heritage
32
Blue Force 1000 update
Page 10 5
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Moulding in glass fibre tractormagazine.co.uk
April2014Tractor
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YourTractors
Downsizing to a Ploughmaster Mike Mitchell tells us why, when his collection got out of hand, this Roadless Ploughmaster 6/4 just had to be one of the select few for keeps.
Mike Mitchell has a thing about 4x4 Fords.
Like a lot of tractor people, Mike Mitchell isn’t actually a farmer, but comes from a farming family and had a love of tractors inculcated at a very young age. His dad was a farm labourer in Upton, at the southern edge of the Somerset Levels, and had access to a Nuffield 4/60 and two Fordson Majors, one of them with a loader. But as is so often the case, Mike didn’t follow his dad into farming. He went into construction and now runs a contracting business. That might have been that, until one day about 15 years ago he was putting a septic tank in and noticed that the farmer had an old Super Major out to grass. Something made him buy it. “It needed a lot doing, but I rebuilt it, and very nice it was too – since then I’ve always had tractors.”
TractorNews
The calm before the storm
W
ith only a few weeks le now until the National Road Run 2014, Ben Phillips pays Shropshire organiser David Spruce a visit to check how the final preparations are going. ese pictures show the site where the National Road 2014 is based, just outside the town centre of Bridgnorth; there is plenty of room for everyone to unload trucks with hard standing surfaces in the farm yard, and there will be Tarmac scalpings laid prior to the event. e road outside the farm is a long, straight and wide main road so big trucks will have plenty of room to manoeuvre and if they miss the entrance the first time there are options to turn around and come back. David Spruce says entries for the road run are looking good but the more there are the better this event will be. Forms to enter a tractor in the event can be found on the website at www.shropshirenational2014.we ebly.com and for any further information contact David on 01384 833929 or by mobile on 07986 170715; if you are on Facebook its page is www.facebook.com/Shropshire National2014 e address for the venue is Hermitage Farm, Stanmore, Bridgnorth, Shropshire WV15 5HW.
The field. David Spruce stands in the entrance; beyond the line behind David in the middle of the field is established grass so it’s quite hard. Inset: There are some good A-roads around this area so transporting your tractor on whatever you want should be relatively easy.
The way in. The mud you can see is only a thin layer on the surface – under it was hard standing and there will be a layer of scalpings down.
The way out once your tractor is unloaded; this is where you will go back on to the main road and on to the actual field.
Transport and traditional crafts
The Fleet and Crookham Local History Group display, ‘Troops, Tobacco and Tractors’, will show many aspects of the area’s local history such as the County assembly line. Photo Phyl Ralton.
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The Rural Life Centre at Tilford, Surrey, has a few events within its packed season which may appeal to Tractor & Farming Heritage readers. An exhibition running from March until May, ‘Troops, Tobacco and Tractors’, shows the varied history of Fleet and Crookham. Visitors will see how the Army, agricultural machinery and smoking all played their part in the community’s history. Following on in May, and coinciding with the museum’s hugely popular Village at War weekend (May 10-11), is ‘War comes to Tilford & Frensham’, an exhibition examining how the opening of hostilities in 1914 affected the rural landscape. A second exhibition starting August 2 and running through to November will be The Debt Owed to animals during the First World War. Animals served alongside humans, often in surprising roles, as revealed by this exhibition. For further information visit on the Rural Life Centre’s events visit www.rural-life.org.uk or tel: 01252 795571.
tractormagazine.co.uk
Snippets Classics on the Green
Spotted on Ross Yeaman’s display was his period framed DB 990 Implematic Poster.
A modern Case IH model on Stuart Walker and John Paul Niven’s display.
Good Case for a DMR Members Weekend
T
he DMR Machinery Club’s second Annual Members Weekend took place at the Lomond Hotel, Freuchie on January 25-26, writes Pete Small. Building on the success of last year’s event there were more displays laid out for members and visitors to feast their eyes on over the two days with models, literature and collectables all on view. As to be expected from a club interested in Case, International and David Brown these were the main topics on show. Henry Pirie came down from Aberdeenshire with DB and Case literature and some interesting letters relating to one-time north east dealer Neil Ross Tractors of Ellon. Also coming from the north east was Bill Cruickshank with a display of relevant models
as did Alistair Robertson from Glenrothes with a display focusing on crawlers. e Symington’s displayed early Case models mirroring their own full-size collection near St Andrews while Stuart Walker and John Paul Niven put on a spread to keep the classic fans happy. Guest make was Oliver and keen enthusiast Ross Yeaman had some lovely exhibits on show with more than a few aimed at DMR members. Anyone seeking further models or literature to add to their collection could visit G&M Farm Models or Japonica Press who along with Old Twenty Parts supported the event by the presence of their Trade Stands. Fiona Ross and Alex Dingle of Case IH gave a presentation on where the company, which includes the club’s three
Barnetby bash date set
Henry and Edith Pirie with some of the early David Brown literature they brought down. constituent brands, stands today. While some rare footage of David Browns working in the 1940s and 50s was shown to the audience. Sunday saw the clubs AGM take place with the main changes being the Membership Secretary’s post being taken by Jayne Bell and Andy Dallas joining the committee.
Local businesses lend a hand The organisers of the Welsh National Tractor Road Run have received a great boost in their preparations with news that three local businesses have lent their support to the cause with sponsorship toward the running of the event. The companies are, Compact Orbital Gears, a leading manufacturer and supplier of quality engineered products; Smithfield Tractors Ltd, a
tractormagazine.co.uk
All veteran, vintage and classic (pre 1970 designs) cars, bikes and other road vehicles are welcomed to Classics on the Green on July 10. The event runs from 4pm to 10pm – arrive and depart when you like. Classics on the Green takes place at Friston, Suffolk IP17 1NP; entry is free but donations to the Church funds are appreciated. For further information email: Tonymorley2000@aol.com
family run business with over 30 years’ experience; and thirdly, Ffynon Tractors, who are dealers for the Case IH range of equipment. The closing date for entries is May 5, so book early to avoid disappointment. Entry forms can be obtained from the secretary, Anne Bates, on 01597 810435 or email anne.trials@btintemet.com marked WNTRR entry.
Make a date in your diary for the Barnetby Tractor Run and Vintage Vehicle day on Sunday, March 23, at the Old Railway Yard, Barnetby, Lincolnshire. Tractors leave at 10am and all money raised is donated to the Lindsey Lodge Hospice (www.lindseylodgehospice.or g.uk). For further information tel: 01652 688652; 07841 500464.
Tractors head for Talgarth The popular Talgarth Tractor Run will take place earlier this year on April 13 to avoid a clash with the National Tractor Run at Bridgnorth. Last year over £3000 was raised for the Wales Air Ambulance and Usk House bringing the total raised by the annual event to over £20,000 for various good causes. The run starts from the car park in Talgarth at 10am, for further information contact Brian Kite on 01874 711524 or 07831240510.
April2014Tractor
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LastWord Farmer Brown takes home improvements just one step too far.
Confessions of a tractor widow
WORDS Jean Brown CARTOON Anita Waters
T
here didn’t end up being any romance between my friend Nicky and Farmer Brown’s friend Ken in the end. I sent Nicky a text to see how her date with ‘traction man’ Ken had gone (the name Traction Man is her little joke because I sometimes call Farmer Brown ‘Action Man’, but only in an ironic way of course). “Hilarious and terrifying,” came Nicky’s brief three word text answer. It seems that Ken had ‘showed her his tractors’ and that was that. It wasn’t until we met up later that Nicky told me that she reckons Ken is ‘mental’. Funnily enough he’d said the same thing about her, which you’d think would make them perfect for each other, but Farmer Brown disagrees. “People can be mental in lots of different ways,” he says wisely. I stare at him, as this is one of the most philosophical things I’ve ever heard him say.
Home alone
So having listened to exactly what he has to say I’m now going to completely disregard his advice and carry on regardless. I’ve changed all of the names in this column so I don’t see that it matters, and anyway I want to tell you all about an incident that happened to Farmer Brown last week, and hopefully it will serve as a warning about what can happen when you leave your own
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‘traction man’ at home unattended all day. I almost always cook fresh food, but I do have a little stock of easy food in the cupboard for Farmer Brown to make himself when I go away. is time he’d spotted a jar of hot dogs, and he’d gone to the basket in the porch where I leave the ready to use vegetables from the garden and he picked up a couple of what he took to be small onions. He then fried them up and ate them in a sandwich with the cold, straight from the jar, hot dogs. Although it is said that daffodil bulbs are poisonous it seems that Farmer Brown managed to eat two without noticing that they weren’t onions, and without suffering any ill effects. He claims I was ‘trying to bloody murder him’, to which I retaliated, saying that at his age he should know the difference between a daffodil and an onion, and in any case why do I always feel like I have to look aer him? He’s a grown man aer all... ings were a bit frosty between us for a while, but it’s all alright again now. But this isn’t the first time this kind of thing has happened, once before when he was ‘home alone’ Farmer Brown decided that instead of mowing the lawn as instructed, he would take the opportunity to erect a homemade solar water heater on the roof of the shed. is plan utilised two
old radiators, a vintage water pump and a whole lot of pipework, the idea being that he could create some sort of free hot water system for the workshop.
A step too far
Anyway, as he got on to the roof carrying the radiator he accidently kicked the ladder away, which meant he was stuck up there with no way down. For eight hours. On a sunny day there are worse places to be than the roof of a shed, and it certainly gets one out of mowing the lawn, but the downside for Farmer Brown on this occasion was that he had no flat cap, no sun-cream, no drink, oh and no phone. His bald spot was burnt to a blister and he was really rather cheesed off when I finally got back home and found him. He was more peeved at the fact that I couldn’t stop laughing and then even more irritated when I proceeded to spend the rest of the evening on the phone telling everyone we know all about it. It still makes me laugh now. I remember when I got home that night, and I couldn’t understand why the house was in darkness, and it was only when I heard the plaintive cry of “Jean, Jean, I’m up here,” that I realised he was on the roof. Sometimes I wonder if he’s safe to be le alone, I really do. ✦ tractormagazine.co.uk