Innehållsförteckning för April 2025 från Tractor & Machinery

This year’s Tractor World show, as you’ll gather from our report which starts on p54, was an absolute belter! Judging by the attendance figures, the event was certainly a big hit with the visiting public. Although I imagine that few arriving on Saturday morning would have expected what I gather was, at its worst, a two-hour, stop-start crawl from Upton-upon-Severn to the showground. Exhibitors supported the event very encouragingly, too, with excellent numbers of both tractors and trade stands helping to ensure that the show retained both its quality and appealing variety. Overall, Tractor World 2025 really did deliver a level of positivity befitting its status as the first big tractor show of the season. It was my first year at Malvern as editor of this great magazine, although I…

Don’t miss the fantastic profile of the range-topping 1410 and 1412 David Brown models from the 1970s in the Spring issue of Tractor & Machinery. It’ll be in the shops from March 7th. The article celebrates the 50th anniversary of these interesting, British-built and underrated tractors. #DavidBrown #db1410 #britishclassic Alan Thomas A real tractor with levers, not buttons! Cj Duck I still have a 1410 Sam Galea My 1410 is more reliable than the new ones! Brian Philip Mohan When I was searching for a tractor with a bit more hp than my Ford 3000, I looked at various makes. I was advised that Massey Ferguson would be the best option so settled for a 185. In fairness, over 20 years later, it hasn’t given me one bit of bother.…

Scruffs Worker Plus trousers are made from a lightweight but durable material to ensure all-day comfort without any restriction of movement. The work trousers also feature Abratect™ abrasion-resistant fabric on the knees and hem, further protecting against discomfort.Tuck-away holster pockets help you keep all your everyday essentials to hand. With a cargo pocket, rule pocket, mobile phone pocket and secure zipped pocket to choose from too, all the small items you need will be kept within easy reach. ● Scruffs Worker Plus Trousers Toolstation.com 0330 333 3303 £32.98…

Following on from last month’s first instalment about County’s steep incline operations, my own appreciation for these abilities grew enormously thanks to my colleague, Tim Kirtland. Tim had earned a bit of a reputation for the spectacular demonstrations he gave with County tractors on steep gradients, both in UK and overseas. There are some well-known photographs of him working on very steep slopes in South Africa. But he also made the headlines in New Zealand, as I discovered recently while researching this feature. He made it into the local papers there when he and the 1124 he was demonstrating ‘fell’ over a significant drop. Fortunately, both man and machine survived unscathed! When I was operating in the UK, my area of Southern England included a lot of steep land and…

MARCH 1ST-2ND, 2025 Despite plenty of rain heading into the event, the soil conditions were perfect when competitors from across Europe descended on the competition site at Upper Morton, Retford, in Nottinghamshire, against a backdrop of brilliant spring weather. England’s John Crowder retained his title in the trailer class with his Fordson N Special, while Richard Ingham did even better in the Vintage Mounted class, with his MF 35. What’s more, the Classic Conventional class was dominated by Jon Cole with his Nuffield, despite a few moments on Sunday. The Classic Reversible class went to Steven Watkins with his MF 135, although he only just pipped Graham Sutton who was working well with his MF 65. Elsewhere, the Vintage Reversible class was won by tractor mechanic Marius Jenniskens, from The…

30th April, 2025 To say that Nick Battelle is synonymous with Ford tractors is a bit like saying that Ken Dodd told the occasion joke! To many, Nick, who runs the Old 20 Parts Company and is president of the Ford & Fordson Association, simply is ‘Mr Ford’. Well, he’s making a welcome return to Northern Ireland in late-April to give an illustrated talk at the Christ Church Parish Hall, in Station Road, Castledawson (BT45 8AZ). He’ll be covering the era from the Fordson Major to the late 1980s, just before the Ford name was replaced by New Holland. The event will start at 7.30pm, refreshments are included and all proceeds from the £5 admission fee will be donated to charity. A line-up of classic Ford tractors will be on…

Keith Hollender worked for Massey Ferguson between 1969 and 1977 and, in his latest book, he charts the fascinating and engaging story of Massey Ferguson’s export sales force and its operations in Asia, Africa and Australasia (the 3As) during the 1970s. Of course, this was back at a time when employees operated without the convenience of mobile phones and email and, when you factor-in the often challenging environments in which the team members were working, it was a testing time for all. From Beirut to Brunei and Sudan to Senegal, their stories are retold engagingly in this well-illustrated, 112-page, softback, A5 book. A brief company history is followed by entertaining accounts from all over the world, charting interactions with ambassadors, presidents, royalty and even the odd dictator. Ploughing the World:…

April 4th April  Shrewsbury Plant & Machinery Sale Shrewsbury Auction Centre Bowmen Way, Battlefield Shewsbury SY14 3DR Halls tel: 01743 462620 4th April  Collective Machinery & Equipment Sale Ashford Market, Monument Way Ashford, Kent TN24 0HB Hobbs Parker tel: 01233 506246 5th April  Farm Dispersal Green Meadows Farm, Tickhill Lane, Dilhorne ST10 2PL Graham Watkins tel: 01538 373308 5th April  The Wakefield Collection of Vintage Horticultural & Garden Machinery Barry L Hawkins  tel: 01366 387180 5th April  Farm Dispersal Sale, Phillip Arscott Collection including modern and classic tractors, combine, forage harvester plus equipment Honiton, Devon HJ Pugh & Co tel: 01531 631122 5th April  Monthly Live & Online Machinery Sale Holsworthy Livestock Market Holsworthy, Devon EX22 7FA Kivells tel: 01409 253253 5th April  Collective Auction Ardingly Showground, W. Sussex RH17…

SAVE UP TO 58% EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE 1. Go to shop.kelsey.co.uk/TMASUB 2. Call us 01959 543747* quote TMASUB 3. Use this QR code to go directly to our website SUBSCRIPTION BENEFITS • Enjoy one whole year of Tractor & Machinery • Get each issue delivered directly to your door in 100% plastic-free packaging • Save up to 58% • Never miss an issue • Receive our monthly subscriber newsletter It’s so easy to sign up for a whole year of the action from the world of vintage and classic tractors and now with even more pages of great content, new features and special emphasis on machinery for sale, along with a fresh new look its never been a better time to subscribe to T&M! Guarantee your copy every 4…

Here’s something a little unusual. While working on my 1929 McCormick 10-20, I removed a dome-shaped metal cover that was bolted on top of the gearbox, under the fuel tank, and discovered a metal tube inside. Investigating further, I found that this is, in fact, a spacer tube that’s intended to be used if, for any reason, the belt drive pulley was taken off the tractor. When not in use, the spacer was designed to be stored where I found it. Amazingly, though, the tube was still partially wrapped in a piece of crumpled paper. Judging by its appearance, it was very old and, once I’d carefully flattened it out, I could see that it was a section of newspaper which randomly featured an article about an American actress called…

I’d like to announce to T&M readers that the Southern Vintage Engine & Tractor Club will be organising a two-day Vintage Show on June 14th-15th, at The Doctor’s Meadow, near S100 Clubhouse, Castletown Bypass, Castletown, Isle of Man IM9 1HB, courtesy of the Gawne family. Running between 9.30am and 5pm on both days, the event will include displays of vintage and classic tractors, vintage farm machinery, stationary engines, vintage and classic cars as well as motorbikes. Admission will be £3 for adults and £1 for children (aged 4-14), and further details about all aspects of the event are available from me, Orry Mitchell, on 07624 496870. Orry Mitchell, via email…

Restored Tractor 1900-48 1st 1944 Allis Chalmers C ‘V’ front, C Mathias 2nd 1924 Fordson F Hamilton transmission, Alan Sale Original Tractor 1900-48 1st 1940 Ford 9N, Edwin Hughes 2nd 1947 Ferguson TE-20, Ant Bradford Restored Tractor 1949-64 1st Nuffield DM4, David Aylward 2nd 1963 MF 65 Mk.2 Multi-Power, McDonald family Original Tractor 1949-64 1st 1964 International 275, Dai Thomas 2nd 1957 Ferguson G/G FE 35, Keith Williams Restored Tractor 1965-75 1st 1967 David Brown 880, Geraint Jones 2nd 1968 John Deere 2120, David Kerr Original Tractor 1965-75 1st 1965 Fordson NP Super Major, Bill Cowley 2nd 1970 Zetor 3511, Bolter family Restored 1976-2000 1st 1976 David Brown 1212, Dylan Davies 2nd 1991 John Deere 3050, Andrew Walters Original Tractor 1976-2000 1st 1984 John Deere 4240, David Kerr 2nd 1976…

A lthough the pioneering days of the farm tractor saw North America take a strong lead, UK manufacturers were never that far behind and, by the 1950s, the British tractor market was among the most important in the world, and exporting plenty of machines all over the world. While a lot of those manufacturers were of American origin, there was one British builder that was never owned by a foreign company, and remained staunchly independent from its beginnings in 1948 right through to its final demise following a series of new owners during the late 1980s. From Nuffield to Marshall via Leyland, this is the story of the tractors that, for several decades, were among the very best of British. BRITISH BEGINNINGS The early days of tractor production in Britain…

Q I’ve recently bought a petrol/TVO Fordson Major E27N at a sale. The tractor is in running order and starts easily, but the engine seems to rattle somewhat while it’s running. A friend has told me that it has a Lucas SR4 magneto fitted, and that I should replace it with a Lucas RF4 unit instead, as this was what it would have had fitted when new. I’ve been looking on various websites for such a magneto, but any on offer that appear to be in good working order are very expensive. All the cheaper ones I’ve seen are for spares/repairs only! Why would the magneto cause the engine to rattle, and can anything be done to solve the issue? William Smith, via email A Your friend is correct and…

Most tractors have upright exhausts and, on tractors without a cab or a roll bar, the vertical silencer is typically the highest point on the machine. As such, it’s vulnerable to being knocked or, worse still, broken by accidental impacts with low branches, overhanging vegetation or low shed entrances. Serious impacts will often result in the exhaust being snapped at the elbow, which is exactly what had happened to a Ferguson TE-F 20 that arrived in my workshop recently for a full restoration. Removing the actual manifold was relatively easy in this case as I did it once the rest of the tractor had been stripped down. The nuts securing it undid easily thanks to the area being protected from the elements and, in addition, there was a fair bit…

With more and more tractors being used for road runs these days, it’s vitally important to make sure your machine is thoroughly roadworthy. Obviously, one of the most important, safety-related aspects that needs to be in tip-top condition on any operational tractor is the braking system. The simple, drum-based brakes used on many of the vintage and classic tractors I deal with are usually capable of providing the stopping power necessary for safe operation assuming, of course, that everthing’s working correctly. In many cases, though, wear, poor adjustment and even breakages can drastically affect the efficiency of the system, leaving a tractor with dangerously ineffective brakes. I also commonly find braking problems that are caused by badly fitted components or leaking oil seals, and it’s the latter that I shall…

22ND FEBRUARY, 2025 T he sale season really sparked into life at Kelsey Media’s Tractor World show, when the HJ Pugh sale generated an impressive 86% sale-through in this 1,130-lot auction, which included 130 tractors. While the sale itself didn’t offer any real tractor gems, the bidders involved on the day were certainly keen and serious. A not-so-exciting, Lambourn-cabbed Fordson E1A Major in grade 2 condition, complete with Steel Fab Horndrualic front loader with fork, found a new home for £3,000 and the trend here was very much for original, clean-style machines. Then came a grade 2, original-style MF 35X, fitted with grass tyres and a roll bar, that sold for £3,600 (+ VAT), followed by the first of the continental machines, an Italian, 1954 OTO singlecylinder rowcrop. This was…

MARCH 1ST, 2025 HJ Pugh was back at its HQ in Ledbury in early March for a 702-lot vintage clear-up sale. Just about half of the items had been offered before and not sold, so this represented a second bite at the cherry for bidders. It obviously provided a too-good-to-miss opportunity as the auction produced an impressive 92% sell-through. Forty-two tractors went under the hammer, although many of them appeared rather on the rotten side. Nevertheless, most found new homes. There was a significant contrast among the highlights, between restored and original machines. For example, a restored Massey Ferguson 35 vineyard sold for a record £7,500, in grade 5 condition, while an original, 1924 Fordson F running on trembler coils and road bands made £4,900. However, the 1938 Fordson Standard…

MAY 2024 COVER STORY Restored County 6700-Four INSIDE Full NVTRR report, Ford 8210 forestry tractor, IH implements, MF 35 project SEPTEMBER 2024 COVER STORY 1967 Muir-Hill 101 resto INSIDE Ford 8210 owner’s tale, Claas Matador combine, MF 698T/699, chisel ploughs JANUARY 2025 COVER STORY Underrated Case 1056 XL INSIDE British Ploughing Champs, Zetor collector, Ford 5000-based conversions JUNE 2024 COVER STORY Ford 5000 DIY restoration INSIDE MB-TRAC 900, Ferguson/MF collection, Perkins engine, Safe to show?, MF 550 OCTOBER 2024 COVER STORY Superbly restored MF 148 INSIDE Ploughing Nuffields, Tractorfest '24, Fiatagri 90 spotlight, David Brown 1294 FEBRUARY 2025 COVER STORY David Brown 780 DIY resto INSIDE MF 2005 Series, Chamberlain giant, Case/IH merger, Vicon spreader, Clay work JULY 2024 COVER STORY MF 698 six-year rebuild INSIDE Dexta owner’s tale, Buck…

The prices shown on the following pages are based on tractors sold at auction, on the internet, privately and from some overseas markets, too. Prices change as time progresses, and it’s not always an upward trend, but you will get a good indication of what’s currently happening in the market by referring to our guide. If you are thinking of buying a tractor, here are a few pointers to help you. Should you be looking for something specific, weigh up your options – particularly if you have a limited budget. If it’s a popular model, then it’s not always to your advantage to go for the first one you see. If a fault is highlighted, make sure you have a good idea of how much it will cost to repair,…

1 A tractor that normally isn’t running but can be restored. Modern tractors: Rough! 2 A tractor that is running and needs some work. Modern tractors: Tatty, but you can drive it away. 3 The critical one, for a tractor that is essentially very straight and original, has good tinwork, has not been re-sprayed during its working life, runs well and usually has low hours. There can be exceptions but, in most cases, original-type tractors get higher prices than a well restored equivalent. Modern tractors: In working order but needs tidying. 4 A tractor that has been restored and normally runs with a little recommissioning, but perhaps hasn’t been looked at for a while. Modern tractors: Average for year and hours. 5 A restored tractor that does everything it should…

These may vary at events, but this is the classification used at Tractor World. VETERAN 1900-1949 Generally confined to petrol-powered tractors without a three-point linkage. There are exceptions – like the Ferguson TE-20. VINTAGE 1950-1964 For tractors built during the ‘golden era’ of farming – powered by petrol (or petrol/Tractor Vaporising Oil) or diesel, and usually featuring a three-point linkage. A ‘weather’ cab is sometimes fitted. CLASSIC 1965-1999 It is not always, but the Classic group can be split into two categories. Classic (1965-1975) encompasses the introduction of safety cab legislation in 1970, while the Modern Classic (1976-1999) is often separated as it heralded the arrival of ‘Quiet’ cab noise legislation by the UK government in 1976. MODERN 2000-present By this point most manufacturers were producing tractors that were of a new design, rather…

Washing wonder The high-power Kärcher K7 Power Pressure Washer comes with a Vario Power Spray, Quick Connect system and a clever design meaning that everything can be stored in one place.A state-of-the-art, water-cooled motor ensures top performance and durability. The extensive range of equipment includes a trigger gun with Quick Connect adapter, 10m hose, water filter to protect the pump and Vario Power spray lance. ● Kärcher K7 Power Washer180 Bar Toolstation.com 0330 333 3303 £379.98…

It often seems that the fields are empty of farm machinery nowadays. A strange comment you might think but, as tractors have grown and more and more farms have been amalgamated to create much larger holdings, a single person with a single tractor now does the work that several machines and people would have tackled in days gone by. And yet you don’t have to look back very far to see just how much things have changed. My thoughts are instantly taken back to the spring of 1992, when the farm nearest to my family home was busy getting sugar beet into the ground in April. Because the crop was being planted following the clearing of a field of stubble turnips, which had been grazed by the farm’s dairy herd,…

“I started collecting tractors in 1972, with a 1939 Allis Chalmers B which was a classic ‘hedgerow’ machine. I remembered it from my youth and knew it had an engine running issue. When I finally managed to buy it for £6, it was in quite a state. It had been in the woods for years, the rear wheels had rotted away, the engine was seized and a tree had grown up through it. “That was the first tractor I restored and I still have it today. During the engine rebuild I discovered the cause of the running issue; there were only seven valves fitted, instead of eight! I fabricated a pair of mudguards using the roof panel from a Ford Cortina estate. ● Bernard’s machines 1928 BSA ‘Sloper’ 4hp 1939 Allis Chalmers…