Tractor and Farming Heritage January 2015

I

t is incredibly difficult to think of a superlative to describe the turnout of tractors at the Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show in November but if I had to choose one it would be everyone’s a winner.

It was while reviewing the show (see page 12) that I noticed that over 40 trophies were awarded to tractor owners over the weekend. It’s great that they should be rewarded for their sometimes herculean efforts of restoration, but equally each tractor entrant at the show should also be recognised for coming from miles afar just to attend and take part in the annual tractor fest. For me it was certainly a case of the more you looked the more you saw, and I wish I had another weekend to

Welcome finish looking round them all. e Dutra D4K (above) belonging to John Pickard gives some idea of the diversity of tractors at a show which was predominantly celebrating 50 years of Massey Ferguson 100 and Ford 6X series.

And with a range of marques varying from concours to hedgerow condition there was plenty to admire. I also got the impression that there was a tendency for more restorers to be looking to bring their charges back to original spec with a workmanlike factory finish, rather than a highly-polished showroom condition.

On a more sombre note, I would like to pass on the sincere condolences of the whole editorial team to the wife, family and friends of Donald Bowler who passed away on November 3. Donald was a valued contributor to the magazine from my early days as editor and his enthusiasm for all things tractor and heritage and will be sadly missed.

Meet the team...

Ben Phillips

Dave Bowers

Tractor restorer - aka the tractorlad.

Feature writer with a keen technical eye.

Jo Roberts

Pete Small

Professional heritage Farming heritage writer based in Wales. historian and writer.

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 Alan Barnes, Graham Hampstead, Tony Rimmer, Peter Hammond, Henry Smith, HR, Old Sump Plug, Jean Brown.

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CONTENTS

Back on the farm

TRACTOR AND FARMING HERITAGE JANUARY 2015

Regulars 3

Welcome

18

News

20

All the latest news in the world of tractors and heritage.

Graham’s Grumbles

28

In our new feature we invite you to send in your tractor snaps – you never know, you might win the prize we’ve got up for grabs.

30

It’s time to get mad as a badger as Graham Hampstead has to deal with those helpful chaps at the DLVA.

COVER STORY

24

Tractor Talk

36

54

It all began with…

72

Your news, views and comments about the vintage and classic scene.

Henry Smith reviews Roger Townshend’s range of fantastic handmade models, which scooped the award for the Best Collection of Exhibits at the Newark Tractor Show.

The lean & green SFV machine

Jo Roberts tracks down the owner of an SFV Super 202 and discovers that Tony Jones not only has an eye for the unusual but also a passion for all things rural and industrial.

80

The last knockings

Graham Hampstead is on the last leg of the Super Dexta restoration – and sometimes they just don’t give up without a fight!

104 Next Month

Preview of the February issue of your Tractor & Farming Heritage magazine.

138 Last Word

Farmer Brown sees a newly made Shepherd’s Hut and decides he’s more than capable of making one himself for a fraction of the cost.

38

44 COVER STORY

46 COVER STORY

50

Back from the dark side

COVER STORY

12 COVER STORY

4

This Ferguson TEA-20 was inexplicably painted black, and the tinwork had rotted away but has now been superbly restored to its original specification.

A feast of tractors

What better event for tractor addicts to attend for a complete fix than the 12th Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show at Newark Showground on November 8-9.

TractorJanuary2015

This International B-275 industrial restoration is a fine job worthy of the Wedgewood pottery factory where it once worked.

Kitchen or tractor

When Tony Rimmer’s friends moved into their new home in France, the lack of a kitchen came as a shock, but a discovery in one of the outbuildings was a little more pleasant.

62 COVER STORY

66

Bulls in Britain

Stuart Gibbard uncovers the history of the Whiting-Bull – an American tractor with an interesting British connection.

Stepping up a gear

What better way to keep the old grey matter active than start a tractor restoration, and this Fiat Someca 20D is something a little different.

All steamed up

We review the Scottish Ploughing Championships 2014, which took place at Newlands Farm and Pittendreich Farm, Milnathort, on October 25-26.

Ultimate British accolade

Hampshire hosted the 64th National Ploughing Championship in October and ploughmen from around the land descended to decide who the best of British was.

Tractor of the decade – 1940s Our workshop expert Ben Phillips nominates his own favourite tractor from the 1940s and as far as he is concerned it’s the Ferguson T-20 – no contest.

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94

Turriff Show

Bring me some sunshine

Heritage

YourTractors 6

Show Us Yours

Home Farm Diaries

January has arrived again, it’s cold, but at least Christmas is over for another year and slowly things get back to what is considered normal at Home Farm.

Tinplate Tractors

Stuart Gibbard looks at more Christmas presents from the past, uncovering a colourful world of clockwork and battery-operated mechanical marvels.

67

Tractor Archive

More heritage memories from the farming literature of yesteryear.

Workshop 84

Getting particular with powder

COVER STORY

93

Workshop expert Richard Lofting goes in search of the perfect paint finish and explores just what powder coating has to offer for tractor restorers.

New Products

All the latest tractor and farming heritage related releases.

Marketplace 94

Turriff Show’s March of Time

Turriff Show is Scotland’s biggest two day agricultural show and this year celebrates its 150th anniversary – we trace its illustrious history.

98

Sales & Marketplace

No rain on Cheffins’ October parade at the firm’s last big sale at the Sutton Showground this year.

SUBSCRIBE! Free polo shirt ✦ see page 22 for further details

tractormagazine.co.uk

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Bulls in Britain

PAGE 105

38

Stepping up a gear

33 PAGE TRACTOR CLASSIFIED SECTION

72

Lean, green SFV machine

12

Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show

98

Having trouble finding a copy of this magazine?

Why not Just Ask your local newsagent to reserve you a copy each month?

84

Powder coating

Cheffins’ October parade

36

Taking everything but the tractor

50

Ferguson T-20

tractormagazine.co.uk

January2015Tractor

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YourTractors

Back from the

dark side When Kevin Waugh got hold of this Ferguson TEA-20 it was inexplicably painted black, but as most of the tinwork had almost rotted away it was one less hurdle to overcome in bringing this black sheep of the family back into the fold.

WORDS & PICTURES Alan Barnes

F

or a tractor that was restored over 10 years ago Kevin Waugh’s 1950 Ferguson TEA 20 looked in pretty good shape as it emerged from its shed. e sun glinting off the Perkins badge on the radiator grille gave a clue that there was perhaps a little more to this tractor than you would expect from a ‘Little Grey Fergie’.

Kevin explained: “Towards the end of 1999 I started to look around for a tractor which would make a good restoration

It’s a good job there’s a stunning view to take in, that field may take a while with a Ferguson two-furrow plough.

project. I am still not sure why I wanted to restore a tractor as I see enough of them and other vehicles in my day job.

Family connection

“My father was an agricultural engineer with Elders in Berwick-upon-Tweed so he knew a thing or two about Fergusons. I suppose I had really followed in his footsteps and I served my time with Sherriffs the John Deere dealership which is also in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

“Now I have my own business and deal with a wider range of work than just

agricultural engineering. Obviously repair work on tractors is a large part of the business but I also deal with a variety of other horticultural equipment as well as cars. I had known about the Ferguson for some time as it belonged to Herbert Mole, my mother’s uncle, who lived at e Priory, Horncliffe which is right on the England-Scotland border.

“He had owned the tractor for many years and it was permanently set up to power his saw bench which he used to cut logs for his stove and fires in the house. ➤

Kevin believes the original engine was replaced by a P Series Perkins diesel during the 1960s.

For a tractor that was restored over 10 years ago Kevin’s Ferguson TEA-20 still looks in pretty good shape.

YourTractors

About the restorer

Kevin Waugh followed in his father’s footsteps in choosing to train as an agricultural engineer and later setting up his own business. Although working on tractors and horticultural machinery every day he is not averse to tackling some classic tractor restoration in what little spare time he has.

The Ferguson which was completed a few years ago has a family connection which was one of the reasons why he undertook the restoration. The fact that the old machine was something of a ‘basket case’ was a challenge that he could not resist.

Other than that it was painted black and was usually covered in sawdust. I knew nothing about the history of the tractor.

“Herbert had used the tractor for a good while and I never gave the Ferguson a second thought as a possible candidate for restoration as I thought that he was very unlikely to sell it and the old machine was practically rooted to the spot. However, early in 2000 my grandfather raised the possibility of buying the Ferguson and much to our surprise Herbert agreed to sell and not long aerwards a deal was agreed. “e tractor had not moved in years but the engine had been in regular use to drive the sawbench so it started without any trouble at all. at was probably all that the poor old thing had going for it as most of the tinwork including the bonnet and mudguards had rotted away, the tyres were

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practically shot and it seemed to be firmly stuck in first gear. However having extricated the machine from the garden I did manage to actually drive the tractor the few miles to my workshop near Berwick-upon-Tweed, although it refused to come out of first gear which made the trip a rather lengthy one.

“Back in the workshop it was time to take stock of exactly what I had bought. e problems with the tinwork were obvious as was the issue with the gearbox which even aer the trip home was still stubbornly refusing to leave first gear and I discovered that the steering was not all that it could be. “e back end would have to be looked at and once I had lied the bonnet I could see that the fuel tank was just about on its last legs. However, the engine seemed to run well, although it was certainly not the tractor’s original power unit.

Conversion

“At some time during the tractors working days, possibly in the 1960s, the original engine had been replaced by a P Series Perkins diesel but this conversion work had

already been carried out by the time Herbert had bought it to power his sawbench.

“Why the tractor had been painted black I just don’t know it seems a strange choice of colour but the paint where traces of it remained had obviously been applied many years ago. I decided that the engine would present the least of my problems so that could wait until most of the other work was completed. “e first task was to strip down the tractor completely and all the parts which could be saved were taken over to David Harvey’s farm near Yetholm to be sandblasted. ese included the main chassis, axles and wheel centres which were all taken back to bare metal. I also managed to get some of the sand in my eye – a painful experience which I am in no hurry to repeat.

“No amount of shotblasting would be able to save the bonnet, front cowl or the mudguards which were so rusted that they practically dissolved as they were removed.

However, the mudguard brackets were found to be sound and I managed to source new wing skins which were fitted on the original brackets. ➤ tractormagazine.co.uk

Beefing up the power plant Kevin said: “TE-20 tractors were fitted with the Standard Motor Co four-cylinder engine and a diesel model was not added to the range until 1951 the year after this tractor had been built. However, it was not until the late 1950s that Massey Ferguson took over Perkins and began to use their engines with the A3.152 3 cylinder engine being used on the FE-35.”

Initially the Perkins P3 was considered but it needed significant and expensive modifications, so Ferguson had a new engine designed and this was built by the Standard Motor Company. This proved to be slightly too large to be fitted to the TE20 tractors but Perkins developed the P3 (TA) conversion pack for the original engine and this was strongly promoted by the Ferguson dealers.

Skinned knuckles

The upgrade kit included 12v electrics, brackets to raise the radiator, fuel tank and bonnet to accommodate the larger P3 engine as well as an infill panel which fitted between the bonnet and the dashboard.

The increased height of the bonnet and the dash infill sometimes caused the operator a few problems and skinned knuckles appeared to be an occupational hazard for drivers of these converted Fergusons.

With the increased power from the P3 engine some owners also ‘beefed’ up the rear end and there are examples fitted with the TEF 20 rear end with its heavier axles. Kevin’s tractor still retains the original TEA-20 rear end.

Starting problems

As well as fabricating a new fuel tank, a new bonnet and replacement front cowl and grille had to be sourced. tractormagazine.co.uk

The early Perkins P series engines experienced problems when used in tractors, the cast iron pistons caused bent con rods, incorrect adjustment of the timing chains resulted in starting problems and cylinder head gasket failures were common. The P6 engine, which was introduced later, addressed many of these issues and became a very popular choice.

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YourTractors “Aer a short search I also managed to source a new bonnet and a replacement front cowl and grille. As far as the fuel tank was concerned it was past saving and although nowadays these tanks are more readily available, at the time I was working on the tractor originals were rarely to be found and having a new one made cost a fortune. But using what was le of the original as a template I made an exact duplicate in my workshop, even down to the ‘dimples’ on the pressed ends. “e hydraulics were stripped and completely overhauled, the main difficulty was getting everything freed up. With the tractor having been used only to power the sawbench it seemed unlikely that any of the arms and linkages had been moved for years.

Once stripped down most of the parts, once they were cleaned, were found to be sound and I only had to fit new bushes and seals on the cross sha.

Selector

“e gearbox was stripped down and the reason for the problem with gear selection became apparent as I discovered the selector sha was stuck in first but this was freed without too much difficulty. e rest of the parts inside the gearbox were like new and although it appeared that a little water had got in at some time and the oil in the box was rather cloudy. Once everything had been cleaned I replaced the seals on the input sha and put everything back together. e clutch was also overhauled and while not in first class condition it was serviceable and it did last another 10 years as I only had cause to fit a new clutch last year when the old one finally gave up the ghost.

“Having checked over the steering and the front axle I found a few problems. While the steering box itself was in pretty good condition and I only had to replace the seals on the steering sha, I found that the pivot pin and the bush on the front axle had worn rather badly. I replaced the bush and the pin and cleaned the wheel bearings which I repacked with grease. “e old wiring looked rather suspect so rather than replace a few of the wires I elected to remove the whole lot and made up and fitted a new wiring harness.

“By now the tractor was coming back together nicely and the freshly sprayed bonnet

Wheels in motion

The front wheel centres were sound although the tyres were perished and were stripped off before the centres were sandblasted and painted and then new tyres were fitted. The rear wheels were also given the same treatment and new tyres fitted. The rear axle was fine and needed little more than cleaning and taking back to bare metal before being primed and painted. Kevin painted all the parts while the tractor was dismantled with the exception of the new tinwork which he arranged to have professionally painted by a chap in Morpeth.

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Around the water works The water pump was in poor condition but replacements proved hard to find and were expensive so Kevin took the whole thing apart and carried out the necessary repairs. As the tinwork and front of the tractor had been badly affected by rust he was half expecting the radiator to have suffered as well but was pleased to find that it was in very good condition. It was flushed through and cleaned and there was no need to have it re-cored which helped the old restoration budget!

The Perkins engine was fitted in Kevin’s TE-20 sometime after it was produced as it came off the production line a year before a diesel model was added to the range in 1951.

Engine sound

Although the engine was a runner and had sounded reasonably healthy when Kevin drove the tractor home, no corners were cut and the Perkins was completely stripped down. The cylinders were rebored, new pistons and new timing chain fitted, bearings replaced and new filters and seals fitted. The cylinder head was overhauled as were the injector pump with injectors and new nozzles fitted.

The original fuel tank had rust damage so Kevin made a new one, although nowadays they are more readily available.

Kevin enjoys a bit of ‘pleasure ploughing’ with the Ferguson two-furrow plough he has also restored. and cowl looked rather smart in their new coat of Ferguson Grey. e whole job had taken something close to 18 months and I don’t think Herbert could believe it was the same tractor. Although when first restored I took it to a few local shows I do not really have the time to go to many events so in truth the Fergie does tend to spend far too much time parked up in its shed. However, on occasion it is good to fire it up for a spot of ‘pleasure ploughing’ using the Ferguson two-furrow plough which I have also restored and I think that they make a good-looking combination.

“Since the Fergie was completed I have also rebuilt a Massey Ferguson MF 690 which I more or less saved from the scrapman but that, as they say, is another story. ✦

Even though the Fergie spends far too much time parked up in its shed, it’s beginning to wear nicely. tractormagazine.co.uk

YourTractors

A feast for the eyes

and a meal for

the mind

What better event to attend than the 12th Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show at Newark Showground on November 8-9 for tractor addicts to get a complete fix.

7WORDS & PICTURES Tony Hoyland

T

here’s always a bit of a buzz about the place when like-minded people get together to share their experiences and this year was no exception at the Newark Tractor Show.

How time flies as this is now the 12th chapter in the history of the show, and like the ‘12 good men and true’ it still stands by its principles of packing as much in as possible to attract and entertain tractor and heritage lovers everywhere. is year we were celebrating the 50th anniversary of Massey Ferguson’s 100 series and the launch of the Ford 6X Series. e Friends of Ferguson Heritage had the honour of hosting the special feature marquee. FoFH vice-chairman, Rob Sowden, said: “It was an amazing sight to see so many Massey Fergusons on display. Centre stage was rightly taken by fine examples of the four tractors launched, the 130, 135, 165 and top of the range the 175.

“en throughout the marquee were the other various models that made up the 100 series range throughout the 14 years of the ‘Red Giants’. We were lucky enough to get many variations including two ultra-rare four-wheel drive tractors, a 135, a French 158, also from France a 148, and a 165, to name but a few.

“It was nice to see the 100 series’ big brothers in the form of the two 1080 tractors, one in four wheel drive form, and the mighty 1130 and 1135 from America. Not forgetting our heritage, also taking their pride of place were a vast array of the good old Grey Fergies in about every form, from the very first Continental engined TE-20 right through the range, including a few of the narrow versions.

“Another first for us were two present-day Massey Fergusons with the range topping 2014 ‘tractor of the year’ 8737 towering over the little Grey Fergie alongside; a big thanks to Chandlers for providing these. Now we’ve shown what we can do, I’m already looking forward to next year.” ➤

This splendid one owner MF 135 4x4 was exhibited

by George McDonald, it features the AD3-152 threecylinder 2500cc engine producing 45.5hp.

The pre-1930s tractor section, predominantly those on steels, had found new welcome surroundings in the Lady Eastwood Hall, but Malcolm Robinson was taking no chances of spoiling the new home with his Titan 10-20 from 1918.

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Lewis Weaver’s Fordson F 1922 Narrow version looks at home on the pre-1930s tractor display. tractormagazine.co.uk

The Blue Force assembly

Best Fordson Derivative at show was Harvey Stephenson’s County 1124; the 1971 tractor was in a very rough condition until refurbished by Osbournes. tractormagazine.co.uk

Amazingly not exhausted from its efforts at the Blue Force 1000 event in summer, members of Blue Force put on a fantastic display at the show which also included commercial vehicles and construction and industrial plant.

In total 107 exhibits around the showground were entered through the club by members. Their annual meeting was held at the show on the Sunday and this saw Philip Gibson elected as new chairman replacing Jamie Shaw-Brown who stood down earlier due to family commitments.

Jonathan Whitlam is also the new editor of the club’s magazine Heritage replacing Peter D Simpson who has decided to reduce his workload after being involved in starting the club four years ago. The committee wished them both well in the future and thanked them for all their invaluable help over the years.

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YourTractors Moving on from the Feature Marquee to the Stanley Sheldon Hall we were pleased to see that the NVTEC Clubs had been gathered in one place to showcase their work, and we were certainly not disappointed with the displays from NVTECs: Notts, East Anglia, East Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Pennine, Rutland, plus the Vale of Belvoir Machinery Club. e Nottinghamshire NVTEC group has historically been closely involved with the show, not just as visitors, but also as helpers assisting the event organisers.

Liz Bradshaw of the group said: “is year has been a prime example of this cooperation, with many of the judges coming from the group members. e chief steward Terry Shaw, along with 35 others from the Nottinghamshire ranks, supported the show by helping on the gate, organising halls and on traffic duty etc.

“Needless to say, the group is delighted to be involved and take pride in being one of the groups asked to nominate their prize winning tractors and stationary engines to be displayed alongside other prestigious machines in the George Stephenson Exhibition Hall. ➤

A busy weekend for Gordon Carson working on the NVTEC East Anglia stand promoting the Stradsett Rally next year, but he still found time with Bryan Beba to win the top award for Best Vintage Tractor restored to original manufacturer’s specification with this 1944 John Deere BR.

Best Original International was Mick Patrick’s splendid International 8/16 from 1912.

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Proper ‘Gents’ reunited at Newark Show

The Nuffield & Leyland Tractor Club stand was the meeting place for the retired ‘gents’ who used to work for Nuffield, Leyland and Marshall. The retired ‘gents’ started to make a yearly visit and gather at Newark show.

Graham Towndrow of the club said: “As a club we never expected the retired ‘gents’ to be as interested in the tractors as they only made and sold them. We welcome them and

Roger Townsend won the award for Best Collection of Exhibits with his quarter scale working models which were on display at the Starting Handle Club stand. But don’t just take our word for it – turn to page 54 to see the full story.

never thought they would have as much interest in preserved tractors. The club members appreciate the knowledge they are prepared to give them.”

Pictured right to left are: James Lavendar, Tony Thomas, Chris Browning, Kier Wyatt, Julian Bown, Roy Bassett from the US, Alan Hawes, Moir Russell, John Paterson.

The Best Collection of Tractors Award was made to Norfolk-based Bob Parke who displayed a 1957 Massey-Harris Mustang and a 1957 MH Colt alongside a 1957 Ferguson Pony.

A very original McCormick International Farmall Super FC-D 1956 thought to be the only one of this model in the UK, exhibited by John Wheelwright and nominated by the Halifax Agricultural Show. tractormagazine.co.uk

Starting Handle stalwarts Ever present at the show is the Starting Handle Club, which is in now in its 40th year. Vice-chairman Michael Curtis told us: “Newark Show allows our club to exhibit itself outside our normal event area which normally takes place across Norfolk.

We think it’s beneficial to meet with other clubs and societies and exchange views and ideas.

“We have always felt it a big honour to be in the George Stephenson Hall and our overall impressions of the show were good, we felt that everything appeared to be well run and organised.”

The club runs and attends many events throughout the year so the website at www.startinghandleclub.co.uk is well worth a visit.

This 1975 Massey Ferguson 1080, belonging to Thomas French (Jnr), went on to win the Best Massey Ferguson in Show award.

A little grey rooster?

Barry Cuthbertson from East Renfrewshire is the third owner of this 1955 Ferguson TEF-20, his uncle Ian was the second, from whom he inherited the tractor. Every tractor deserves a name he says and this one is Rooster, hence the figure on the bonnet which is a tribute to his uncle whose nickname was Rooster.

The box and milk churns on the front mounted carrier box are also a nod to the family’s farming roots in the milk industry.

A well-deserved winner of the Mortons Heritage Media Cup for Best Vintage Tractor restored to original manufacturer’s specification with owner’s modification.

Helen Mitchell from Buckden, Cambs had a great weekend collecting three prizes; here is her 1939 Case Rex which scooped the Best Unrestored Tractor award, the Best Tractor Entered by a Lady and Best Case. tractormagazine.co.uk

Henry Dixon’s Fordson E27N P6 has just undergone a full restoration and claimed an award for Best Ford & Fordson at its first showing.

Polished to perfection is this RAF Industrial Selectamatic 1966, one of the very few DB tractors (postwar) to join the services from new, still showing its RAF number; a very rare tractor believed to be the only one in the UK. January2015Tractor

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YourTractors Newark show by the numbers 40 Trophies awarded to winners at the event.

50 Years since launch of Ford 6X and Massey Ferguson 100 series.

100 Years since the beginning of the First World War, commemorated at the Sunday Remembrance service.

100 Number of trade stands at the show 405 Miles; furthest distance for a tractor travelled to the show by John McGann from County Galway.

900 The number of vintage tractors, engines, vehicles, displays and collections at the show.

“e Nottinghamshire group had its own stand featuring a display of tractors, stationary engines and memorabilia. ey even had a member from Berwick-on-Tweed arrive on Saturday morning to provide a tractor for the group stand. is is not only a focus for members but also offers advice and hospitality to visitors, to the extent that seven new members were signed up over the weekend.”

But in contrast to the amazing array of nominated entries on display in the George Stephenson Hall there was time to reflect at a special display to commemorate 100 years since the beginning of the First World War where the Friends of Lincolnshire Tank kindly supplied artefacts displayed alongside a Ford Model T ambulance, a quarter size plane and French Camion trucks in military livery from that era. ey provided a poignant backdrop for the annual Remembrance service, a highlight for many of the vintage tractor enthusiasts, to remember the brave men and women, particularly those from agricultural backgrounds, who served, died or were injured in conflicts around the world in the name of freedom and justice. ✦

The Best Leyland in Show, nominated by the Nuffield & Leyland Tractor Club was Barry Garfoot’s Leyland 485, which had been imported from New Zealand and subsequently restored.

No room at the inn, Michael Trout’s 1970 Massey Ferguson 1130 was outside the feature tent, but fortunately the skies on Sunday were clear blue.

The BMB Club was exhibiting here for the first time, and this fine example of a BMB President with hydraulic finger bar mower belonging to David Howell was a fine representative.

Have your say

Undoubtedly the Best Marshall at the show Paul Ducksbury’s 1941 Marshall M, which spent most of its working life running a saw bench.

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Best Nominated Exhibit was David Aylward’s MasseyHarris 744, PD 1952; the stunning result of a three and a half year rebuild.

Well there’s our impressions of the show, now why not tell us what you thought too.

Whether you were an exhibitor, stall holder or a visitor, as a sponsor of the show Mortons Media would be pleased to hear from you. We will pass on your views to the show organisers, who we know are a progressive bunch and are always on the lookout for ways to improve what is already one of the best tractor shows in the country. Write or email to the usual address as shown on page 24 of this issue.

tractormagazine.co.uk

TractorNews

Premium prize for a premium event

I

n hosting the 2016 World Ploughing Contest, e Society of Ploughmen is actively seeking funding for the prestigious event which will take place over four days (September 8-11, 2016) at Crockey Hill, near York, writes Peter Hammond. e cost to the registered charity is likely to be in the region of £250,000 and as such a World Ploughing 2016 Fund has been set up to cover expenses of promoting this event, which has been held in England on four previous occasions.

One fundraising project for this showpiece event is the Cheffins Raffle Tractor which was officially launched at the National Ploughing Championships held this year at Wootton St Lawrence, near Basingstoke. To be raffled off, the outfit comprises a fully refurbished Massey Ferguson 135 tractor, a rebuilt Ransomes plough courtesy of Westlake Plough parts and all carried on a Graham Edwards trailer.

Society of Ploughmen chairman, Alan Jones and senior director John Plowright with Oliver Godfrey (centre) as the raffle prize is officially launched.

Principle sponsors of the raffle prize are Cambridge based auctioneers, Cheffins, and specialist auctioneer Oliver Godfrey was on hand to present

the prize to Alan Jones chairman of e Society of Ploughmen and John Plowright who had been the driving force in obtaining the prize ensemble,

Highland dispersal sale

On Saturday, January 17 Auctioneers Dingwall and Highland Marts will be holding an auction at Thrumster near Wick in the Scottish Highlands, writes Jo Roberts.

This dispersal sale will mark the retirement, due to ill health, of farmer Bill Hazell.

Bill has farmed using classic machinery for many years, but must now sell off all his farming equipment, so please contact auctioneers Dingwall and Highland Marts on 01349 863252 or see www.dingwallmart.co.uk for further details. The tractors going under the hammer on the day include a

The Ford 7610 4x4 with rebuilt New Holland engine will be part of the Bill Hazell dispersal sale to be held in January.

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complete and original Massey Ferguson 698 two-wheel drive tractor with an 80 loader, and a Massey Ferguson 2640 4x4 with front weights and front tyres which are 65% and rear tyres that are 95%.

There’s also a Massey Ferguson 35 with four-cylinder engine and loader in good original condition with excellent tinwork. Also selling is an International 434 with new rear tyres, a Nuffield DM4 with a hand clutch and rear tyres that are 95%, and a 1966 Massey Ferguson 165 with a 203 engine.

A second Massey Ferguson 165 comes with a 212 engine, a cab, and a new pair of wings, and dates from 1970. Both the 165 tractors are in original condition.

There is also a Fordson Dexta, which is being sold as a rebuild project, and a David Brown 1490 for spares or repairs. Also for sale on the day will be a Ford 7610 4x4 which has been fitted with a rebuilt New Holland engine and not used for the last two years.

Other machines include a 525, 12ft combine and a Massey Ferguson 50B digger with 70% tyres and four buckets to fit. Last but no means least is the much admired Track Marshall 55 Crawler complete with a set of heavy Ransomes Crawler Disc Harrows.

Implements and trailers include a Ransomes eight ton Tandem axle bulk trailer, a ‘Gull’ eight ton Tandem Axle trailer, a Walker six ton high tip single axle tipping trailer, a CLAAS Rollant 44 round baler, front and rear bale handlers, round and conventional bale wrappers.

which will be visiting shows up and down the country during the next two years until the winning ticket is drawn on September 11, 2016.

New chapter for Japonica Japonica Press, the publisher of machinery and rural interest books based at Hutton, near Driffield, East Yorkshire, has acquired the stock of Farm Power Publishing of Louth, Lincolnshire.

Japonica Press is now the sole distributor for the three titles previously published by Farm Power Publishing. These are: The Best Job Ever by John Hull; Flying the Flag – My career with Nuffield, Leyland and Marshall Tractors by Tony Thomas; and Inside Massey Ferguson – A Story of Service by David Walker.

For all enquiries relating to the titles previously published and distributed by Farm Power Publishing, please contact: Japonica Press, Tow Green Farm, Hutton, Driffield, East Yorkshire Y025 9PX. Tel: 01377 270209 or visit www.classictractors.co.uk

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Snippets Rolling and roaring

Classic workhorse; this MF 165 Multi-Power (old P reg) looked like an ideal restoration project for an enthusiast. It had 6952 hours on the clock and it sold for £2850.

The princely sum of £6300 would have bought you this K reg Massey Ferguson 3085.

Massey Mania at

Barry L Hawkins Sale

N

orfolk based auctioneers Barry L Hawkins held a joint dispersal sale on behalf of Mr P Taylor and Mr M Legge at Fenway Farm, Ten Mile Bank, Nr Hilgay on the November 15, writes Jo Roberts.

Customers came in large numbers to support the sale, despite the wet conditions, farmers and tractor enthusiasts it seems are rarely deterred by a spot of rain.

A Ransomes 108 three-furrow plough sold for £240, a D reg MF 31 Combine with a 14 header, air con and a straw chopper sold for £3000, while a Y reg MF 665 combine with a 12 header sold for £1050.

This M reg Massey Ferguson 3120 Dynashift 4WD tractor came with 7116 hours on the clock sold for £7400.

Ready for work, this P reg Massey Ferguson 575 went under the hammer at £3500.

We want your news and views

This shipshape M reg MF 3125 with Dynashift came with 9067 hours on the clock and sold for a tidy £8400. tractormagazine.co.uk

Write to us at Tractor, Mortons Media Ltd, PO Box 43, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ or email news@tractormagazine.co.uk

Jac Vaughan organised his 11th annual tractor fun run at Crymych, Pembrokeshire on September 27. They rolled and roared their way around North East Pembrokeshire, they passed Bwlch y groes and went off-road for a good stretch through the heart of Ffynone Woods. Over 60 tractors took part and the fantastic bunch of enthusiastic characters raised £640 to be donated to two local charities.

New Easter Rally for Cornwall

A new event for your diaries in 2015 is the St Dennis Steam and Vintage Rally (April 4-5), which will take place in the village of St Dennis, part of the China clay area, mid Cornwall, couple miles off the A30.

The committee would like to get as much support for their very first rally as possible and are seeking entries from steam engines, tractors, commercials, stationary engines, vintage motorcycles, vintage cars, traders, crafts and model displays. For further information contact general secretary Tony Lobb on adlobb@sky.com or chairman Ian Lobb lobb81@googlemail.com

Wonderful Warks show

The Model Tractor, Plant & Construction Show returns to the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre on Sunday, February 15 for its fourth successful year. Visitors will be treated to displays featuring scratch built, customised and converted models; dioramas; and machinery including fantastic competition entries.

There will also be a number of magnificent full sized vintage tractors on display courtesy of the Warwick Tractor & Vintage Machinery Society (WVTMS) and the Friends of Ferguson Heritage.

For more information on the show go to www.modeltractorshow.co.uk or tel: 01926 614101.

January2015Tractor

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TractorNews

Graham’s Grumbles

Don’t get me started

T The Ford 1000 Series ploughing line-up at Barnetby, North Lincolnshire finishing the 24-hour ploughing marathon.

The Force is still strong

A

er the stunning support from members that made the Blue Force 1000 event at the Newark Showground in June such a success, the club has gone on to hold two very enjoyable working weekends during September. e first was held at Lilbourne in Warwickshire and saw an amazing selection of Ford and Ford derived tractors at work from a Fordson Model N to an FW60 and many more in between.

A special feature of the event was a re-enactment of the Tractors At Work trials that used to be held at Long Sutton in Lincolnshire in the 1970s and

saw a Ford 5000 with prototype four-wheel drive pitted against a Roadless Ploughmaster 75 and a County 754 on the Saturday while a Ford 9600, County 1174 and Roadless 115 competed on the Sunday all with similar ploughs. e second working weekend was held at Barnetby in North Lincolnshire, the same site as last year. is event once again saw a huge variety of tractors at work including Ford, Fordson, County, Roadless, Muir-Hill and Doe as well as a Ford Force 2000 complete a 24-hour ploughing marathon at the end of which it was joined by a 3000, 4000, 5000 and 7000 to finish the final furrow.

his month’s moan is, I feel, a legitimate complaint and I bet if it happened to most folks they too would be as mad as a badger.

If you have been following my monthly column over the past year you will know I have been restoring a 50-year-old Super Dexta.

You will also know that it’s 99.9% finished and I’m at that stage of sorting out the registration documents so I can order a nice new shiny black and white square number plate to fasten on the restored brackets on the rear axle. I say that I sort out the paperwork but in reality Mrs H does it for me as I have no patience at all for such matters.

Mrs H doggedly stuck to the task and, aer days of being put on hold and told they were “experiencing a lot of calls” and she was being “put in a queue”, she eventually spoke to a chap at the DLVA. He told her that unfortunately the tractor’s original registration number had gone and we would have to have a new number. e paperwork arrived and all the enclosed forms were for the application on a new number for a new vehicle, not what I wanted at all.

Courage

The Lilbourne event saw a re-enactment of the Tractors at Work trials that used to be held at Long Sutton in Lincolnshire.

It’s a record breaker

New holland Agriculture reclaimed the Guinness World records title back in August for harvesting an impressive 797.656 tonnes of wheat in eight hours with its powerful 653hp Cr10.90 combine. the record was set on August 15 at hr Bourn and sons Farm in Grange de lings, near Wragby, lincolnshire. the entire day’s activities were overseen and verified by Mr pravin patel, official Guinness World records Adjudicator, assisted by Alan robson, chaplain for Agriculture of lincolnshire as the second independent witness.

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TractorJanuary2015

Aer plucking up courage for a few days, I broached the subject with Mrs H. It’s all right handing over such matters but you have to tread very carefully if things don’t seem to be going as you would like.

Once again my faithful unpaid secretary went about the painful process of getting connected to the monolith that is the DLVA. is time when she was connected once again Mrs H explained the situation to the helpful lady operator and gave her the original registration number.

Aer a few minutes’ wait, when I presume she was punching buttons, she said the number was available and she would send the paperwork to retrieve it. Mrs H explained

about the previous conversation with her colleague and she said “I don’t know where he got that from”.

So there we have it, a fair example of the service we seem to get nowadays from most departments connected to the Government. What a shambles. Who is right? Is the number still available or not?

He could be right and she could be wrong, what will the next person say? How on earth would you go about complaining? Is there any wonder I steer well clear of such a farce. I know I am not strong-willed enough to refrain from explaining just what I think of the service offered.

So it looks as if I had the easy job restoring the tractor and the real challenge is going to be obtaining that little square plate with the right number on. is there something that gets your goat? Why not drop us a line and tell us all about it? We’ll gladly pass on your observations to Graham – we’re sure he’ll have something to say about them. Write in to the usual address or email editor@tractormagazine.co.uk

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