Tractor heritage, news and features

Welcome... July 2010

Although well known as a traditional show for cattle, livestock, horses and many other country-related activities, there is also a growing tractor section there. This month I thought I’d use the welcome page to highlight just a few of the tractors that caught my eye.

A. James Hardstaff’s County CD 50 Full Track Crawler Swamp tractor has been in his possession for only three years after it was bought at a sale in Lancashire. Manufactured in 1961, it originally worked for the Forestry Commission based in London. James does not believe there are all that many examples of this tractor in preservation and to date he has gone through the transmission, carried out an engine rebuild and fitted new tracks and pins.

B. International W6 of 1942 (GAL 28) belonged to two Nottinghamshire farmers until 1970 when it was bought by Michael Hart for the princely sum of £40. Later, when Michael was visiting the yard of the late George Blatherwick, he swapped the W6 for a John Deere model H. George brush painted the International and put it in a shed, where it remained. It was then handed on to Alwyn Blatherwick after George passed away. Unfortunately, Alwyn passed away last June and the tractor ended up at a Cheffins sale where it came back into Michael’s hands at a cost of £1800.

C. This original International W4 of 1940 belongs to John and Paul Bartle (John pictured driving). It is a standard version of the  Farmall H 26hp rowcrop and is one of the first batch of 500 to come to England.

D. This Swiss Meili tractor belongs to Geoff Brandon from Haig, Wigan. It is powered by a four-cylinder Mercedes-Benz diesel engine. There is no hydraulic lift on the back but there is provision for a mid-mounted mower. The wide mudguards offer provision for a passenger to sit.

I was saddened to hear of the death of John Rainthorpe, aged 68, on 28 April this year having lost his short fight with cancer. John lived on the family farm at Reasby Hall – a short car journey from our offices. A farmer and an archivist, he was an invaluable source of information, helping me through the early days as editor of this magazine. Though I only knew him for a relatively short while, I had great admiration for the knowledge he held at his fingertips. Whatever question I asked of him, he always had the time (and patience) to explain the subject fully and how it fulfilled its part in our farming heritage. I will certainly miss my visits to see him.

Tony Hoyland
Editor