Innehållsförteckning för January 2021 från Tractor & Machinery

A contactless Covid-19 treatment centre and E-ICU unit, built by BKT at its plant in Bhuj, India, is already operational. The centre, which joins the secondary medical assistance services that already exist on the site, employs a doctor and eight healthcare operators and will be responsible for treating workers and their families affected by Covid-19. Built in just three weeks, the unit has the most advanced medical technology, equipped with remote patient monitoring, data analytics on diagnostics and medicine management, high-flow oxygen machines, remote consultations using augmented reality, data availability across the globe for e-consults through Cloud monitoring systems and an AI-enabled X-ray imaging system, providing best-in-class care at the BKT facility. It is one of the first contactless E-ICU, Covid-19 treatment structures to be built outside of a hospital…

The Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) published an updated edition of the Look Behind You guide to tractor-trailer braking on Friday 13 November. The guide is aimed at farmers, tractor drivers, mechanics and technicians – indeed anyone using, purchasing or maintaining tractors and trailers. It seeks to raise user awareness of what is needed from tractor-trailer braking systems, in order to obtain good performance and also to comply with legal requirements._It will also help users to make informed purchasing decisions and to recognise shortfalls in the braking systems of their current vehicles. Safety is a perennial issue for farming. That applies as much to the use of farm vehicles on the road as it does on farm. A key concern which comes up time and again is the safety of tractor-trailer…

With the John Deere Operations Centre, farmers and contractors can manage their farm data anywhere at any time. The app is user-friendly and customers can be linked to their machines, fields and operators on their smartphone or farm computer. The latest updates are designed to make the system even smarter and more compatible. Even machines without a telematics system can be included in fleet management by using the optional location sharing function within the MyOperations app. This function can be activated by the driver and uses the smartphone’s position to determine the machine’s location. John Deere's solution to reduce machine set-up times in the field will be available shortly.…

YOU CAN DO IT DIFFICULTY RATING Until the late 1960s, agricultural mowers had changed little since the days of the horsedrawn type. The cutting mechanism followed the same principle of a reciprocating knife using a scissor action against rigid fingers, or guides as Massey Ferguson called them. Early mowers were trailed machines and the advent of hydraulic lifts and the threepoint linkage brought us mounted versions, which were more manoeuvrable and easier to transport. When the advantages of disc and drum mowers were realised, the conventional knife mower soon lost favour, as disc and drum mowers were faster and required less maintenance! MF 732 One such mounted example was the MF 732, which was available with either a five-foot or six-foot cutting width. I have owned mine for more than…

It was not as full as in other years, owing to Covid-19, and was an online sale only – but there were still approximately 350 tractors, besides pedal tractors, signs and literature the following day. There was an excellent stock of tractors, particularly on 28 October, when a raft of stunning John Deere 30 Series models came up. The highlight was a 1958 John Deere 330 ‘Southern Special’ – a rare, ‘semi’ rowcrop tractor that worked on a cotton crop. It went on to sell for £23,678. The other John Deere highlight was a 1958 JD 435 with Detroit engine. This one was perfect and sold for £13,417, but was dwarfed by a 1973 Oliver 2255 FWA, in grade 5.5 condition, that sold for £34,727. As for the 29 October…

The next issue of T&M, along with a host of back issues, can be purchased digitally. Visit www.pocketmags.com and search for ‘T&M’ Leyland’s last It’s 40 years since the launch of the Golden Harvest range – a group of models that would be the last to bear the Leyland name. James Connolly looks back. Underrated or outdone? Jonathan Whitlam wonders if the Ford 7910 was a tractor ahead of its time – a wellbalanced, six-cylinder model that had a lot going for it. Lost in time For stubble breaking and pan breaking, the chisel plough was once the implement to have. Strong, yet relatively light, it has now fallen out of favour. We reminisce. Note: Planned features in T&M may be subject to alteration, due to circumstances beyond our control.…

Back in the 1950s and early ’60s, hay was the main crop used by European farmers to feed their cattle during the winter months. The art of making good-quality hay was very dependent on the weather. Large-scale silage making was still in its infancy and the process was a relatively new way to make winter fodder for many farmers. Hay provided reasonable feeding value for cattle. Agricultural research studies indicated that good-quality silage had a higher feed value than hay. Beef cattle feed with silage had improved growth and weight gains. In the dairy sector the improvement was even more significant. Cows fed silage during the winter months, when housed inside, showed a marked improvement in milk production. Ministry of Agriculture grants in the UK became available to farmers to…

An Internet auction is always intriguing, because nobody knows who else is bidding, but during the seven days of the charity MF 135 sale that we reported in the last issue, there was one person who was watching it with keen interest. Brian Mitchell, from Brechin in Angus, helps out at Pentland Livestock and took a real fancy to the restored 135 when he saw it. When the tractor reached £10,000, he thought that was dear enough, but auctioneer Graham Burke encouraged him to add some more bids! Brian carried on undaunted until he secured the top bid of £11,800! The MF 135 was donated to the RSABI by farmer Harold McKeever to be restored and sold in aid of the charity. It was restored by the members of the…

New & Used Tractor Parts, or NUT Parts as it is more commonly known on social media, has launched a new website that, it claims, has the potential to improve the way people buy and sell tractor parts in the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. Users have the option to either list simple ads or create their own online shop where they can sell their products directly to customers. The website also has a special feature that allows users to select multiple tractor marques, series and models when they are uploading an ad/product. This feature was created to enhance the usability of the website by making it much easier and faster for users to sell their tractor parts. Founder Luke Gardiner, a beef farmer turned tractor parts salesman, identified a…

YOU CAN DO IT DIFFICULTY RATING Work on the bonnet began in the previous issue, with a repair made to the left-hand side above the area of the side panel, which had rusted completely off. A coat of red oxide was applied to the repair to prevent any fresh rust until the rest of the bonnet could be repaired. Side panel The next step was to attack the rust in the side panel, which ran along the top and bottom edges. Availability of bonnet parts seems a little sketchy currently, but as with most of my restorations I like to retain originality as much as possible, so the left-hand panel was marked out to enable it to be cut back to clean metal and let in repair sections. The rear…

It was not until September 2020 that Imbert, known to his friends as Bert, decided to call in H J Pugh to sell his collection of 240 tractors, based at Osborne Farm, Pocombe Bridge, near Exeter. The only feasible date was the last week in October, as the calendar was full of other sales, and so the team decided that Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October were the days to go for. With that confirmed, all Bert had to do was get the tractors out the shed and cleaned up ready to be photographed. This was a huge effort and in the end Bert bought a huge batch of batteries, reputed to have cost more than, £10,000, to ensure things went smoothly. Many of the tractors had not run for…

Ted Everett’s brand-new podcasts on You Tube GOT A STORY? THEN WRITE TO THE EDITOR: Scott Lambert, Kelsey Publishing Ltd., The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent ME18 6AL email: tm.ed@kelsey.co.uk Building on the success of his book, My Life as a Photographer with Massey Ferguson, Ted Everett is releasing a series of podcasts giving voice to his memories and experiences working for the famous company. The podcasts, available on YouTube, feature Ted in conversation with another former Massey Ferguson employee, Campbell Scott, previously Director Marketing Services. Based in and around Coventry, Ted was employed as a photographer for the Massey Ferguson agricultural equipment brand from 1952 to 2018. He captured the products, the people and the events of the firm on camera throughout his 66-year career. Late last…

The Gathering of the Greens raised £500 in support of the Wales Air Ambulance, through the sale of hand-crafted, farming-themed face masks. The Gathering of the Greens is a group of John Deere tractor enthusiasts that holds an annual tractor gathering each year at Parc Grace Dieu Farm, The Hendre, near Monmouth, courtesy of local John Deere dealer Frank Sutton. The Gathering celebrates everything John Deere in true Western style and has been meeting for more than 10 years. With the postponement of this year’s event, due to Covid-19 restrictions, members of the tractor club decided to raise money to support a much-respected service, Wales Air Ambulance. High-quality, farming-themed cotton fabric was sourced by Anna Sutton and seamstress Lynne McLoughlin, of Newport, created the masks. Thank you to all that…

Leominster Vintage Club decided to beat the post-lockdown blues by organising a road run on 13 September, aimed at allowing tractor enthusiasts at least one trip out with their vehicles this year._ Knowing a full-scale working day wasn’t going to be feasible, due to a ban on large gatherings, the club’s newly-elected club chairman telephoned the committee members suggesting that the working event be replaced by a road run. It was agreed that this would be possible, where contact between participants could be reduced to just people within the same household, as per the then current government guidelines._ The outcome was a staggering 92 tractors and four-wheel drive vehicles attending, raising £1,000 – which was presented to Macmillan Cancer Support a few weeks later. The event was praised for allowing…

SHOW OFF YOUR SKILLS Send your drawings to: ‘Junior’, Kelsey Publishing Ltd., The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent ME18 6AL or, if you’re a whizz-kid like me, scan them and e-mail them to: tm.ed@kelsey.co.uk BIG BLUE Like it? I love it! Dear Junior, This is my favourite tractor, a New Holland. When I saw that you publish drawings, I got up at 6 o’clock on Saturday morning to draw my own! I hope you like it! Sean O’Hagan (aged 6), Co. Down COMBI-BINE What a great invention! Dear Junior, This is my invention of a combine and baler. Save time next harvest with my ‘combi-bine’! My Dad and granddad have already put an order in! William Wilson DAD’S DREAM TRACTOR Bendy in the middle? I wish I was!…

There were other massive records, like the County 1184TW (no. 48777) with 400 hours on the clock – at £71,000. This was the ‘sister’ to the example that Malcolm Beaton sold for £54,000 just two weeks before. Bert’s was in much better condition in my opinion. Another thumping record was £21,500 for a 1964 Roadless New Performance Major that I wrote in my programme was in grade 4 condition. It made £21,500! On top of that was the £41,000 paid for a County Super-4 754 with Select-OSpeed transmission (no. 20392). This is a rare County! If that wasn’t enough, when it came to Massey Fergusons, a 1976 MF 188 Multi-Power (no. 3666606), registered LJL 287P with just 2,708 hours on the clock and with PAVT wheels and cab) sold for…

DECEMBER 2020 29 – ONLINE ONLY AUCTION OF C H WENDEL TRACTOR & GAS ENGINE LITERATURE. Aumann Auctions USA, www.aumannvintagepower.com JANUARY 2021 2 – AUCTION OF WOODWORKING MACHINERY, TOOLS, WORKSHOP & ENGINEERING TOOLS, SEASONED & GREEN TIMBER. Hazle Meadows Auction Centre, Ledbury HR8 2LP. H J Pugh & Co, tel: 01531 631122. 8-17 – ONLINE TIMED AUCTION - South West Collective Sale of Tractors, Vehicles, Agricultural, Horticultural & Building Related Machinery, Implements & Equipment, tel: 01769 572042. www.stags.co.uk/pages/online-auctions 15-25 – NATIONAL ONLINE AUCTION of Machinery, Straw & Forage. www.brown-co.com 18 – Cambridge Machinery Sale. Machinery Saleground, Sutton, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 2QT. Cheffins, tel: 01353 777767. 19 – AUCTION OF COLLECTABLES, Coins, Jewellery, Toys, Military Memorabilia, Railwayana. Hazle Meadows Auction Centre, Ledbury HR8 2LP. H J Pugh & Co, tel: 01531 631122.…

Hi everyone! A new year welcomes us all, however, at this stage, it’s one with a degree of trepidation for most of us. We must be positive about the current world situation and believe we are going the right way to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly given the vaccines that have been announced in recent weeks. All we can hope is that by late spring we will be able to start holding events and gatherings of one kind or another. It’s with sad news that I report the passing of well-known tractor dealer James Henman, who lost his fight against cancer in November, aged 69. James was also famous for his marquee company and I first knew him when he was based in Oxfordshire – a recognisable character with his…