Adverts for displenishing sales are a useful source of evidence to see what implements and machines were used on particular farms at a specific point in time. They may include implements and machines that had been used for decades as well as newer ones and the latest technologies. They can show the preference of particular farmers for certain makers and makes of machinery as well. They can also be used to show how widespread some implements and machines were, especially if they were more specialised.
By the early 1950s mechanisation was a key word on Scottish farms. The horse era was giving way to the tractor era and on some farms both kinds of power were used, sometimes for specific tasks. With labour shortages both of full-time and seasonal and casual workers, there was a push to start to find more mechanised ways to deal with the handling, harvesting and processing of crops.
The following selection of adverts from the Dundee courier shows the implements and machines on a small number of farms in 1954. They show widespread mechanisation with up-to-date implements and machines to undertake a wide variety of tasks from ploughing, sowing, cultivation, management, harvesting and processing of crops.
Implements and machines from key makers were noted. They included names such as Sellar of Huntly and Alloa, Tullos of Aberdeen, Allan of Muthly, and Bisset of Blairgowrie. English and north-American names were also represented for some of the implements and machines. They included well-known names associated with particular products such as Albion (Harrison, McGregor & Co. Ltd., in Leigh, Lancashire) for mowers and binders and Massey Harris for corn drills and binders). At some farms there was a preference for particular makers: at Forteviot Farm there was a preference for the Ford-Ferguson system with its implements.
The farms were using a range of motive power. Some farms had both tractor and horse implements and machines, with the former focusing largely on ploughing and cultivating implements and machines. Others appeared to be working with horses, no tractor being listed.
Drumpark Farm, Madderty (Dundee courier, 11 November 1954)
Implements -2 Fordson tractors (1 fully power driven), R. T. box cart, box cart, 3 corn carts, tractor roller, horse roller, manure distributor, Massey-Harris corn drill, 2 hay mowers, turnip barrow, steelyard and weights, Ferguson tractor ridger, Fordson D. F. plough, potato hopper, 3 sets iron harrows, S. T. harrow for rasps, R. T. barrow, 2 Hunter hoes (new), heavy grubber, grindstone, 2 turnip slicers, ladders, horse rake, potato digger, 2 110A ploughs, 4 drill ploughs, drill grubber, double drill potato planter, berry barrels, berry wire, harness and all barn and stable utensils.
Easter Bleaton Farm, Blacklunans (Dundee courier, 11 November 1954)
Implements- 2 R. T. Ferguson tractors, 2 D. F. and 1 single furrow Ferguson ploughs, Ferguson ridger, cultivator, potato digger, mower and link box, mounted scarifier and turnip barrow, Bisset manure distributor, broadcaster, disc harrows, tractor harrows 95 leaf), chain harrows, saddle harrows, Holt bracken crusher, 3-gang roller, Massey-Harris combine drill (13 sprouts, new), Boswell rick lifter, Lister Blackstone tractor rake, horse rake (converted for tractor), hay sweep, 2 Bisset binders (one 6ft cut, tractor), 2 R.T. corn carts, 2 R. T. coup carts with frames, turnip cutting cart, R. T. tractor tipping bogie, pair of new Dunlop wheels and axle, Versco electric boiler (3kw, 242-250 volts), 2 sets fanners, turnip pulper and slicer, R. T. wheelbarrow, steelyard and weights, 300 gallon T.V.O. tank, Wolseley electric clippers, Lister horse clippers, whitewash sprayer, potato hopper and screens, portable forge, 2 dozen sheep troughs, 2 zinc feed bins, 6 wooden flakes, 3 field gates, quantity of sheep stakes, posts and boarding, 12 bosses, 12 rolls of sheep and Rylock netting, 3 iron sheep haikes, portable saw bench, 2 henhouses (sectional and one on skids), 6 hen coops, and the usual barn and stable utensils.
Clunie Farm, Blairgowrie (Dundee courier, 11 November 1954)
Tractor implements
T.V.O. Ferguson tractor (1952), fitted with cab, R. T. Fordson tractor, with pulley and iron wheels, Oliver D. F. plough, mounted for Ferguson, Sellar D. F. barpoint plough for Ferguson (new), Ransome toolbar, with ridgers, spring-loaded tines and markers; Tullos distributor (all purpose), Tullos front coverers, hay sweep (power lift), Bisset potato digger, R. T. tractor trailer, R. T. tractor cart, M. H. binder (5-ft cut), Albion hay mower, Ferguson tractor jack, Tomkin top link, set Griff tractor wheel chains (new), Fordson drawbar.
Horse implements
3 box carts (1 R. T.), corn cart, Bisset manure distributor, Balloch turnip barrow, roller, hay rake, broadcast machine, 2 sets three-leaf harrows, chain, circular ST and drill harrows, hay collector, Oliver plough, cake breaker, 3 turnip slicers, steelyard and weights, sack lifter, fanners, sack barrow, feed bins, wheelbarrow, ladders, grain lifters, divider knife, Wolseley electric fencer, sheep haik, sheep netting, posts, stack props, wire baskets, potato barrow and hopper, 1 120-gallon T.V.O. tanks, 50-gallon storage tank, fillers and oil drums, 3 henhouses, night ark, 4 Wilnots coops, D.B. gun, Qualcast lawn mower, usual barn and stable utensils.
Forteviot Farm, Forteviot (Dundee courier, 11 November 1954)
Implements-Fordson Major tractor, Ransome D. F. plough (new), tractor cultivator, tractor ridger, S. F. plough (trailer), set tractor strakes (new), Ford-Ferguson tractor (newly overhauled), Ford-Ferguson ridger, Ford Ferguson D. F. plough, Ford-Ferguson cultivator, Ford-Ferguson set tractor discs, Bamford manure distributor (new), 2 Albion corn drills (one new), 2 horse rakes, Bamford hay mower (new), Bamlett hay mower, 4 R. T. tractor bogies (3 tippers), 3 rollers, 3 Bisset binders, grass seed machine, 3 R. T. coup carts, coup cart, 2 corn carts, 2 potato diggers, Martin cultivator (new), set S. T. harrows, set tractor harrows, 2 sets iron harrows, set circle harrows, set chain harrows, scarifier, turnip barrow, horse fork, pulper, tractor hay sweep, 2 turnip slicers, 3 drill ploughs, 3 Dux ploughs, sheep haik (new), sheep haik, 3 handbarrows (R. T.), 250-gallon oil tank, steelyard and weights, fanners, feeding bins, 2 metal boilers, 2 brooders, 4 henhouses, feeding-house on wheels, incubator, 100 wire sculls (new), 24 rolls netting, props, bosses, sheep net stakes, and all barn and stable utensils, surplus dairy utensils, spare furniture, harness for 4 horses.
The above implements are all in excellent condition and worthy of buyers’ attention.
Also, Cooch potato dresser, Case power-driven mower, International manure distributor, cake breaker, riddles, horse trees &c.
Pitkindie Farm, Inchture (Dundee courier, 20 November 1954)
Implements-Ransome threshing mill, 4ft 6 in n rubbers, Ferguson tractor (T. W. O), Allis-Chalmers track tractor and pulley with ridges and fittings, Ferguson tipping trailer (3 ton, 1 year old), Ferguson single-furrow plough, Ferguson D. F. plough, Ferguson ridger, Ferguson cultivator, Ferguson hay mower, Ferguson front coverer, pulley, set circular harrows (4 sections), Massey-Harris corn drill (20 rows), Massey-Harris power binder (7 ft), Ransome cultivator, set tractor discs, set rollers (18 ft), set 4-drill turnip barrows, set harrows (5 sections), Parmiter harrows, 3 drill harrows, Bisset manure distributor, Sherriff grass seed machine (18ft), 2 hay sweeps, Bamlett hay mower, 2 drill grubbers, long marker, yoke for harrows, roller 16 ½ ft, grass seed dresser, 400 tripods with wire, tripod vents, ladders, props, bosses &c and all barn and stable utensils.
