Tractor heritage, news and features

End of an era

Brothers Ray and Ken Toulson are the third generation of their family at Limes Farm and have decided to retire. Having acted for them for over 20 years, Richard Godson of Brown & Co’s Grantham office was instructed to sell the farm and then conduct an auction of the farm machinery. Held on a sunny Guy Fawkes’ day, the machinery sale attracted a large crowd and bidding was keen throughout.

“Top price went to a 1986 Claas Dominator combine, still in good condition after 24 seasons,” says Richard Godson. “A county based dealer beat off competition from several directions with the hammer finally falling at £10,000.” 

The three tractors also sold well with a John Deere 2650 heading off to Norfolk after a £7400 telephone bid. By contrast a local farmer drove away his newly acquired Case International 956 after paying £6100. Meanwhile a 1987 Manitou fork lift truck was bought by a bidder from Billinghay for £4600.

Earlier in the sale a Wootton 10 tonne trailer sold for £3000, a Dowdeswell plough for £1950 and a set of Simba discs for £1800.

When asked by a departing farmer what he planned to do in his retirement, Roy Toulson was heard to reply “I’ll think of something!”