The Highland Show in 1927 was held in the Edinburgh Show District. This was an important district for the exhibition of implements and machines, and usually had one of the largest displays. The show in 1927 was no exception. It had a large number of new implements and machines entered for the new implement award. Let’s look at them – along with some history of the implement yard from an article in The Scotsman of 26 July 1927:
“The Highland Show
Extensive display of implement
Survey of stands at Edinburgh
The 96th show of the Highland and Agricultural Society, which has been eagerly looked forward to by the farming community of Scotland, opens in Saughton Park, Edinburgh, to-day under circumstances which betoken the prospect of a successful exhibition. The Society have succeeded in bringing together a wealth of exhibits unrivalled for variety and quality, and, from the visitors’ standpoint, the exhibition will prove more attractive than at previous Shows. The weather throughout yesterday was delightful, and the numerous pavilions and structures, many of which are tastefully adorned with foliage and flowers, presented a pleasing appearance in the brilliant sunshine. The work of preparing the various stands was well advanced yesterday, and before night everything had been got in readiness for the opening this morning. Exhibitors were busily engaged in stalling and penning their stock, and all these were forward last night.
Growth of the implement section
Although the Show was not open to the public yesterday, there was much animation in the implement yard. The number of stands is 336, as compared with 280 at Kelso last year; and the implement entries number 2,874, a considerable increase on previous Edinburgh meetings. A hundred years ago only fifty implements were exhibited, and the number did not reach four figures until 1869, when 1900 implements were exhibited. From 1884 onwards over 2,000 implements were on view, except on the last occasion when the Show was in the Meadows. Then there were only 1,605 implements, and the paucity of exhibits was due to the fact that it was the first post-war Show and manufacturers had not got back to their peaceful activities.
No fewer than 9,800 feet in frontage is occupied by the implement yard, and here are displayed all the latest exhibits of the leading manufacturers of agricultural implements on both sides of the Border. At Kelso last year the stands in feet of frontage amounted to 7,610 feet, and at Glasgow two years ago the frontage occupied 8,777 feet.
New implements
The competitive section
Twenty-one exhibitors have entered new implements for competition for the Society’s silver medal. The judges-Messrs G. Bertram Shields, Dolphingstone, Tranent (steward of the implement yard), Mr Phipps O. Turnbull, Smeaton, Dalkeith (assistant), and Mr George Will, Dumfries-who were assisted by the Society’s consulting engineer, Professor R. Stanfield, Edinburgh, began their work yesterday.
Local engineers are well to the front in this section. Messrs Ballach, Gorgie, Edinburgh, have entered a two-row disc drill scarifier, for which it is claimed that it affords adaptability with a large and sufficient adjustment to work drills in all soils from 18 in up to 30 in, and is specially suited for crops grown on narrow drills, such as sugar beet.
A Corstorphine plough
One of the novel features of a plough entered by the Morton Engineering Co., Ladylands, Corstorphine, is the share of sock made in three parts. The first part has an adjustable and reversible point. The second deals with the landward side of the share, which is adapted to fit on the head of the plough, the latter being provided with a shoulder, against which the former abuts. The landward part is provided with a tongue-piece which enters a recess in the head of the plough, and also with flanges which serve as guides to receive and support the point, The wing, which is detachable, is bolted to the head of the plough, so that a different wing can be easily removed. By this form of construction the life of the landward side, it is claimed, is substantially prolonged, with a corresponding reduction in the usual upkeep of the plough. It is fitted with an improved type of renewable coulter-blade, provided with a deflecting plate or self-clearing device for grass, weeds, and the like.
Pig crate
Pig breeders will be interested in the “Dak” pig crate, invented by Mr J, Murray Fisher, Dalmakerran, Tynron, Dumfriesshire, and entered for competition by Mr James H. Steele, Harrison Road, Edinburgh. The sides, front, and back are detachable, and the base may be used as a sledge for ordinary farm purposes. The front frame is provided with two vertical adjustable levers, by which it is possible to hold a pig during any operation, such as ringing, &c.
Root thinner
Storie (Ltd), agricultural engineers, Kelso, exhibit Russell’s root thinner, a Yorkshire patent. It is constructed on an entirely new principle, all the hoeing mechanism being built to the road or travelling wheel, thus dispensing with gearing, and so making the draft exceedingly light, and well within the power of one horse. The hoes are pivotally mounted to the hub of the road wheel, and are only operated at the bottom centre, thus following the inequalities of the ground with the road wheel.
Hygienic milk carrier
Mr James D. MacTaggart, Spring Bank, Oban, exhibits his hygenic milk carrier, made by the Dairy Supply Co., Edinburgh. It is an ingenious device, and is adapted for cart or car. The carrier hangs from iron standard supports with chain and spring attachments. The milk is steadily carried, thereby preventing the “splashing” and churning of milk while in transit over any rough or uneven road. The lid is the same diameter as the drum, and free access is available for cleansing purposes. An important feature is a crystal stamped measure which does away with the pouring of milk into the hand measure.
Windmill for generating electricity
McBain Brothers (ltd), Berwick on Tweed, exhibit their electric wind-engine, consisting of a windmill driving a small electric dynamo. The four vanes are mounted on a lattice-work tower, and modern experience in aerodynamics has gone to the perfecting of the vital part of the machine, which is, of course, the windmill itself, A McBain windmill has been in successful operation for generating electricity for lighting for several years in the Scilly Isles.
Crop drying plant
The crop drying plant for curing vegetable materials, including hay and corn crops, which has been invented by Dr Owen and Mr C. Tinker, of Kilmartin, Inverness-shire, will attract much attention. The plant consists of a portable air heater, fan, and slack-centre structure. Air is drawn past a series of heated tubes by means of a centrifugal fan, the air raised to the required temperature by radiation. Heat is supplied to the tubes by means of two low-pressure fuel oil burners. The air is passed through a tapered metal duct into the centre structure, which is so designed as to allow the heated air to permeate the stack equally in all directions.
Among the other new implements are the rick-lifter and rick-drawing tackle, shown by Mr Wm Kirkwoood, jun, Bogindolla, Forfar, and a portable reeling machine from the Banff Foundry and Engineering Co. (Ltd).”
