Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2022 i Tractor & Machinery

I must start by echoing the sentiments of so many others on what is a poignant moment in the history of the United Kingdom. All at T&M are deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on 8 September, at the age of 96. She had a selfless devotion to both her country and the wider Commonwealth, as well as having a kind heart and great sense of humour. She will be sadly missed by people around the globe and we send our condolences to the Royal Family at this difficult time. Moving on to this year’s harvest now, which was wrapped up in the UK in a fraction of the usual time. I’m sure that most of you will agree that there have been few that…

The John Deere 55 Series of tractors built in the USA at the Waterloo Works, Iowa, was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1989. The five-model range featured tractors from 128-228hp, with each using a new, 7.6-litre, turbocharged straight six and a 15-speed mechanical powershift transmission. At the front, the driven front axle featured a 13-degree castor angle – enabling the wheels to lean into turns and improve the turning circle. A rocker switch enabled the operator to engage the front axle manually or select ‘Auto’ – which disengaged drive when either brake was applied and then re-engaged it once the pedal was released. Drive also disengaged automatically over 14kph and engaged when both brake pedals were depressed, for four-wheel braking. John Deere was famous for its closed-centre hydraulic system…

Production began at Massey-Harris’ factory in Kilmarnock in 1951 and it soon established itself as one of Scotland’s engineering giants, employing a skilled and dedicated workforce that was passionate about the machinery it was building. Although tractors were produced at the factory in the early days, Kilmarnock became synonymous with combine harvesters – and it was models like the 780 and 780 Special that would change the farming landscape forever more. Latterly, models like the 400, 510, 525 would all play their part in enabling Massey Ferguson to retain a healthy share of the combine harvester market, but all good things must come to an end and in 1980 the company’s Kilmarnock plant closed its doors for good. Here, with the help of the AGCO archive and former Massey Ferguson…

The 50th anniversary of the Puff-in to Netley Marsh Steam & Craft Show took place on 22-24 July in good weather, writes Peter Love. Placed on the top of the hill at Meadow Farm, where it all started all those years ago, this is an event that has been well supported from the off and this was still the case in 2022. Tractors have always been an integral part of the show, growing in number each year to the point where more than 125 were exhibited this year. It was good to see an excellent cross section of clean original and restored machines, including a raft of classics from County, IH, Ford and John Deere, as well as Fergusons, Nuffields, Leylands, Massey Fergusons and the Fordsons that are popular in…

Back in June, when we began haymaking, I experienced trouble with my nephew’s baler, which was due to lack of maintenance. With the first field ready for baling, I had no option but to borrow my neighbour’s MF 135 and baler to get the job done. On returning the tractor, the owner commented about the excessively stiff steering and said he’d bought the parts to fix the problem. The 135 in question is one of three similar machines, one of which has been on the farm since 1965, when new. This particular tractor was acquired more recently from a local dealer and had originated in France, as is apparent by the presence of Continental-style lighting on the rear mudguards! The tractor features an eight-speed gearbox and is a real pocket…

Farmall M Q Last year I bought a McCormick IH Farmall M tractor, which has been restored and is in nice, tidy condition. However, despite the tractor’s good looks it is let down by its brakes. The tractor has quite a fast road speed, but I’m afraid to use it at its highest speed until something is done to improve matters. I removed the brake covers and discovered that the lining material is worn away badly. Can you advise me of how to proceed and where I might be able to obtain some fresh linings please? Phil Johnson, via e-mail A The Farmall range of tractors features contracting band brakes, rather than conventional drums. Replacing the lining material isn’t a difficult task, but if the brakes have been badly neglected, the…

John and Sue Illingworth’s unique collection, consisting of more than 150 vintage tractors and pieces of machinery, is to be offered by Donington Auctions at Three Springs, Western Australia, on 25 September 2022. This collection was created by the husband-and-wife team of Sue and the late John Illingworth, both originally from the UK, and features typical Australian pre-1960 tractors from Peterbro, Fordson, IH, Howard, Case, Imperial, Bolinder Munktell, Oliver, Chamberlain, HSCS, Lanz and many others, with at least 200 lots in the sale. The museum collection was assembled over 50 years, with the highlight being the 1904 (Ivel no. 352). This tractor is one of only eight left in existence, and is recognised as the seventh oldest Ivel. It was first found near Perth, WA, and acquired by a Perth…

Sunderlands held its collective at Woolerton Grange, Ludlow, on Saturday 2 July, seeing a number of tractors go under the hammer. One of these was a very clean Fordson E1A Diesel Major, in original-style condition, selling for just £2,500. A Ford 4000 with Lambourn cab, in similar condition, was yours for £4,000. A Massey Ferguson 362 raised £12,000 and a straight, but rusty Ferguson TE-F 20 sold for £1,800.…

Among the rarest and perhaps most unusual of Ford tractor conversions, the Northrop four- and six-cylinder tractors are both fascinating and perhaps something of a case of a lost opportunity. For just a few short years in the 1960s, the Northrop name was proudly used on the bonnets of four-wheel drive tractors based on the Ford 5000, yet by the end of the same decade these tractors would head into obscurity. The reasons were both product related and a result of larger company decisions and, in the end, a promising tractor design would be dropped by the wayside as new owners took over the business. Luckily, several Northrop tractors have survived and today act as a reminder of not only a then new and unique tractor design, but also of…

As many tractor enthusiasts will testify, it’s easy to be ‘bitten by the bug’ and Scotland’s Robert Chisholm is no exception. Already the proud owner of a Nuffield 342 and Leyland 245 Synchro, purchased as non-runners, he was looking for a four-cylinder model to join the fold and happened upon a 255 in 2019. The tractor was purchased from Towlaw in Co. Durham, in July of that year, but several months passed before remedial work commenced. In a bid to ascertain what state the tractor was in mechanically, Robert fitted new fuel filters and bled the system before attempting to start it. After a jump start, the Leyland 4/98DT engine spluttered into life and it soon became clear that all was not well with the 3.77-litre unit. It was evident…

There are only a few weeks to go until the Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show, with enthusiasts gearing up for one of the highlights in their calendar. So what can visitors expect on 5-6 November? Welcoming more than 1,000 vintage tractors, implements and commercial vehicles from across the centuries, there promises to be plenty of competition for the coveted trophies. And visitors will also be treated to the usual live auction of vintage equipment on the Saturday of the show, as well as the autojumble and the annual Service of Remembrance on the Sunday. Some important milestones will be celebrated this year, including the 50th anniversary of the Massey Ferguson 1200. This four-wheel drive, articulated tractor mirrored models produced in North America, including the hard-nosed bonnet design and cab…

The 56th Annual Steam & Country Rally, at Woodside Farm, Welland, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, took place in dry and warm conditions on 29-31 July, says Peter Love. Back on the scene in 2022, with a record crowd, it’s always a pleasure to attend this non-stop action show, starting with the H J Pugh & Co. sale on the Friday. In the Living History field, Ian and Pearl Davies staged what I feel is the best plant working display in the UK these days, as well as a combining demonstration and, at the bottom of the field, a road-making demonstration complete with running, narrow-gauge industrial railway. In the other field was a heavy haulage area that was hugely popular, and near the top of the field were several tractor club displays, including…

Despite being a low-hour tractor and one that’s generally in good order mechanically, I have found the restoration of the 780 quite involved regarding the cosmetic side of things. After months of work between other tasks, the project is now very near completion, and I am looking forward to the time I’m able to run it up and drive it for the first time. REAR WHEELS One aspect of the restoration that has been lingering on is the renovation of the rear wheel rims. One of the rims was extremely corroded and once the tyres were removed I decided to scrap that rim, as it was too far gone to make a decent job of it. Some time ago I acquired a pair of rear rims from a Ferguson that…

Cheffins has recently announced the first of the late Robert Wilson sales. This one will take place online between 28 September and Friday 7 October. Viewing will be Saturday 1 October 2022 (10.00am-4.00pm) in Nottinghamshire. This is the largest collection of Caterpillar and Allis-Chalmers crawlers in the UK and some of the machines on offer include: Caterpillar D9, D8 (x2), D7 (x4), D6 (x3), RD6, D4 (x8), D2, 955, 933, 50 (x2), 40, 35, 22 (x3), International TD-14, T-6, Allis-Chalmers HD14, HD10, HD6, K, M. Wheeled tractors include: Oliver 80 c/w winch, MF 2640 (x2), 2620, Nuffield, Case, McCormick, Allis-Chalmers etc. Implements include: Ransomes TS69 six-furrow plough, Ransomes C17 and C13 cultivators, Fowler steam cultivator, Maschio power harrow 4m (x2), Wilder pressure harrows, Massey Ferguson 30 drill (x2), Simba discs…

Undoubtedly one of the most well-known and visited IH collections in the world! Stew Paquette’s collection in Leesburg, Florida, is something to see and I have been lucky enough to see the collection in its prime a couple of times over the years. It features all things International Harvester and even the buildings are styled like IH premises. Tractors, trucks, implements, signs, toys, memorabilia and so much more are all represented in this monumental clear-out auction. Many people have visited the collection over the years and walk around in astonishment, not only because of what’s on display but the warm and inviting reception from Stew himself. He was well known in the collecting world and brought a smile to anyone’s face that knew him. He had a passion and it’s…

H J Pugh & Co. headed to the Welland Steam & Country Rally, on Friday 29 July, where the annual sale was taking place. The sale was not as large as in other years and the stars were not essentially in the tractor line-up, but there was enough to see a raft of items change hands – some from dealer to dealer. Massey Fergusons were in demand again; an original 1961 FE 35 petrol/TVO selling for a very good £5,500. It was said to have done just 457 hours. A 35X Multi-Power, restored years ago, reached £7,100 and an off-farm 35 went on to make £2,450. A Massey Ferguson 135 Lenfield narrow conversion, with some new bits on it, came out at £4,200, while a 445-hour 1974 MF 135 got…

After much deliberation, a delay due to Covid-19 and months of planning, David Shaw, Euan Weir and Lex Craig decided they would take on the challenge of travelling the North Coast 500 on their vintage tractors (no cabs allowed) in memory of friend and fellow tractor enthusiast Jim Muir Nisbet, writes Lynne MacMillan. All the money raised will be in aid of Diabetes UK. They planned that it would take around 10 days, averaging about 50 miles per day, and with this target the team left Ayrshire at 7am on Wednesday 27 July heading for Fortrose, where the journey would commence. David and his Ford 5000 pulled the sponsor trailer filled with fuel, spares and supplies, with Euan and his Roadless Ploughmaster 75 pulling the team caravan and Lex on…

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PRODUCTION Anyone looking for a no-nonsense tractor in the early 1990s may have had one of Case IH’s budget-spec tractors on their radar, and today these still represent good valve if high levels of sophistication are not high on your agenda. Derived from the 95 Series, which could trace its roots back to the World Wide models of the early ’70s, the ‘Stockman Special’ models initially came in two forms in the autumn of 1991 – two-wheel drive 695 and four-wheel drive 895. Four-wheel drive 695 and two-wheel drive 895 models were introduced around 18 months later. Many were fitted with loaders and found their way onto livestock units, where their basic configuration and low cab height were just what was needed in the confines of a stock yard. CLUTCH,…

With spiralling costs, difficult climatic conditions and uncertainty over the future, running a classic combine is as popular as ever – particularly for those with small acreages. Seen as an economical alternative to the high-tech machinery on sale today, machines built at least 30 years ago still have a role to play in bringing in the crops. Easy to operate and, perhaps more importantly, simple to maintain, some of these combines have often been owned for numerous years, while others may be recent additions to replace an even older machine – but all form an integral part of their respective farming businesses and are pivotal in the success of operations at this critical point in the farming calendar. Their owners are a dedicated and enthusiastic group that take pride in…

Universal Hobbies is maintaining its relentless pace of new releases and we have five more to share with you in this issue. The first, available at the end of October, is a 1:32-scale Case 1394. With Hydra-Shift, four-wheel drive and new detailing, it’s a nice model to have in any collection. Secondly, available at the same time as the Case, is a New Holland T6.180 ‘Blue Power’ Dynamic Command. Updated with new features, this 1:32 model is definitely one for fans of modern machinery – be they carpet farmer or serious collector. The final model available in October is a 1:32 Lemken Smaragd 9/600 K semi-mounted field cultivator. In the working position it’s almost 20cm wide and an impressive machine to have behind your classic or modern tractor. Available on…

The Gathering of the Greens was held at Parc Grace Dieu Farm, The Hendre, South Wales, on Saturday 2 July, by kind permission of the Sutton family and organised by local John Deere enthusiasts that form the Gathering of the Greens Club, writes Joseph Lewis. Around 40 John Deere tractors gathered, including the collection of Frank and Fred Sutton. Frank established one of the first John Deere dealerships in South Wales in the mid-1960s and owns the oldest John Deere that was present at the event – a 1924 ‘Spoker’ D. Winner of the Classic class, one of this year’s new entries, was a 1989 John Deere 2650, with Quicke loader, owned by Sam Jones. This is a relatively new acquisition featuring a 40kph transmission and is used for transporting…

As usual, there’s been lots going on in the preservation tractor sales scene. The early July sales did very well, especially the Cheffins sale near Peterborough. The later July sales didn’t see anything very exciting happen, but prices were good for the stock being offered. Things sparked up as August came and went, with good prices for the right things. David Browns have certainly not been the big hit makers in recent times – with the exception of an original, 332-hour DB 996 with loader that sold for £17,500 in July. We preview a number of the significant sales, including the late Robert Wilson sale. GTH sale The Greenslade Taylor Hunt Sedgemore Auction Centre team was at it again on Tuesday 2 August, when the dispersal sale for Derek Tottle…

SUPER-SPEC NOV 2022 ISSUE ON SALE FRIDAY 21 OCT Massey Ferguson’s ‘8’ line tractors – also known as the Super-Spec range – started to appear on farms in 1972. Jonathan Whitlam acknowledges the 50th anniversary. CLASSIC SILAGE T&M’s coverage of silage action in 2022 concludes with James Connolly’s visit to Mark Stewart’s event that was host to classic tractors and harvesters alike. CULTIVATING INTEREST The humble cultivator was once an essential part of farming operations, but this is no longer the case. Robbie Thorpe aimed to revive its popularity with a working day. PLUS Junior, Machinery milestones, Model corner, News, Readers’ gallery, Tractor Mart, Workshop & more...…