A few weeks ago we looked at the cutting of thistles as a summer job.
In 1955 if you wanted to buy a thistle or a bracken cutter you could buy one from a number of makers in Scotland and also England. They included a number of the key makers that had been making them for a number of years and were renowned for them.
If you wanted a machine from Scotland you could choose one from five makers: J. Bisset & Sons Ltd, Greenbank Works, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, made a tractor drawn machine with a horizontal rotary propeller driven by a land wheel. It could cut bracken, thistles and other weeds.
In Lanarkshire, you could purchase one from James A. Cuthbertson Ltd of Station Road, Biggar. This was a tractor drawn machine, described as a multi-wheel cutter, which was adaptable to undulations of the ground.
In Edinburgh (and Kelso), George Henderson Ltd made its Jubilee thistle cutter which could also cut thistles and weeds. It was powered by tractor or horse. It had a horizontal blade.
In south-west Scotland G. C. Irving, Main Street, Dalry, Castle Douglas, made a machine powered by a Villiers engine and three speed Albion gearbox with a 4ft wide wide cutting bar. The operator walked behind the machine holding the handles. From Ayrshire, G. Henderson, Catrine Road, Mauchline, had a tractor mounted, vee belt from a pto driven pulley with a 8ft cut.
From England, makers included W. Aitkenhead, Stamford Works, Lees, Oldham, W. M. Brenton Ltd, East Cornwall Iron Works, Polbathic, Torpoint, Cornwall, Crawford, Prince & Johnson Ltd, Syston, Leicester, and R. S. Warren, Covert Lane, Scraptoft, Thurnby, Leicester.
Gavin Callander, Palmerston Iron Works, Dumfries Duncan Cameron (harrows), Bank Street, Aberfeldy, Perthshire Campbell & Anderson (harrows), Mauchline, Ayrshire David Cassells, smith and millwright, Newton Mearns, Renfrewshire James P. Cathcart, agricultural implement merchant, agricultural machinery, and every description of manufactured iron; estimates given for erecting hay sheds and wire fencing, 135 Buchanan Street, Glasgow; depot Graham Square, Glasgow Thomas Chalmers (ploughs, mowers &c), Howes, Annan, Dumfriesshire John Christie, Kinellar, Aberdeen Clark & Sutherland, Smiddy Brae Works, Kingswells, Aberdeenshire The Clockmill Engineering Co., Cammo Foundry, Duns James W. Cobban, millwright and agricultural implement maker, Union Works, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire James Coltart (ploughs, harrows and reaping machines), David Street, Maxwelltown, Dumfries A M. Core & Co., Springfield Road, Glasgow James Cossar, Elsrickle, Walston, Biggar, Lanarkshire County Garage (Lanark) Ltd, Hyndford Road, Lanark F. D. Cowieson & Co., 3 Charles Street, St Rollox, Glasgow James Craig (ploughs, harrows), Auchnasaul, Kilninver, Oban Craigrossie Engineering Co., engineers and millwrights, Auchterarder, Perthshire James Crichton, engineering works, Strichen Nathan Cromie, Clayton Works, Sheuchan Street, Stranraer Peter Crowe, smith and implement maker, Trades Lane, Coupar Angus, Perthshire Cruikshank & Company Limited, general ironfounders, Denny iron Works, Denny, Stirlingshire James A. Cuthbertson, agricultural engineer, Biggar, Lanarkshire
We have focused on some of these makers in previous posts. They include some well-known makers. James W. Cobban, millwright and agricultural implement maker, Union Works, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire was an agricultural engineer, millwright, implement, machinery and equipment manufacturer from at least the late 1940s until at least 1960. It exhibited its ‘Ardconnon’ power drive trailer, invented by A. R. W. Gordon, Ardconnon, Old Meldrum, and made by it at the Royal Highland Show of 1954 at Dumfries.
Craigrossie Engineering Co., (Craigrossie Engineering Co. Ltd from 1923), Auchterarder, Perthshire, was a short-lived business, exhibiting at the Royal Highland Show in 1921; it voluntarily wound up its business in 1933. It was an innovative business, exhibiting a number of new implements at the Royal Highland Show from 1921 to 1926. These included a sheep drawn cleaning machine, invented by James Parker, smith, East Mill, Auchterarder; a wind-driven dynamo for supplying electric light and power, invented by John H. Garty, managing director of Glasgow Electrical Engineering Co. Ltd; a self-feeder, invented and made by it; and improvements on the threshing machine.
James Crichton, had his business at the engineering works in Strichen, Aberdeenshire in 1920. In 1926 the business became incorporated as Crichton’s (Strichen) Ltd, and held premises at Strichen and Perth. It changed its name in following years as James Crichton & Co., engineer, Turriff, Aberdeenshire in 1934 and as James Crichton, millwright, Turriff, Aberdeenshire in 1946. Crichton was an engineer and millwright; by 1969 it was a millwright, bodybuilder and engineer. It was renowned for its threshing machines. It entered for the new implement award at the Royal Highland Show in 1924 an improved 4’ 6” type double crank standardized threshing machine with ball-bearings throughout which it invented and made. In 1935 it also entered a one belt thresher C. M. type; drum width 27 in. (patents pending), which it invented and made.
The Clockmill Engineering Co., Cammo Foundry, Duns, first advertised in the Scottish Farmer on 1 March 1919. It infrequently advertised in following years until the company was wound up in 1974. It was also an infrequent attendee at the Royal Highland Show when it largely visited the Kelso show district. It did so in 1926, 1936 and 1952. It was an agricultural implement manufacturer and an ironfounder. Its manufactures included petrol turnip cutters, reapers and grubbers in 1930.
Adams of Old Deer, Mintlaw Station, Aberdeenshire Alex Adie, Upper Crichie, Old Deer, Aberdeenshire Adrolic Engineering, Clober Works, Clober Works, Clober Road, Milngavie Agral Patents Co., agricultural implement and tool manufacturers, 70 Sword Street, Glasgow The Agricultural Implement Co. (Dundee) Ltd, 10 Reform Street, Dundee, Angus Henry Alexander & Co., Nottingham Place, Edinburgh Allan Brothers, Ashgrove Engineering Works, Aberdeen J. D. Allan & Sons, Culthill Implement Works, Muthly, Perthshire Alley & Maclellan Ltd, Sentinel Works, Polmadie, Glasgow Alexander Anderson, Watten, Caithness Anderson Brothers, general ironmongers, standard, beam and weighing machine maker, tinsmiths, gasfitters and coppersmiths, 93 Stockwell Street, Glasgow James Anderson, agricultural implement maker, Monifieth, Dundee, Angus John Anderson, smith and implement maker, 14 Polton Street, Bonnyrigg, Midlothian John Anderson, implement maker, Cockburnspath, Berwickshire Lyall M. Anderson, Caldhame Engineering Works, Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire Armour Brothers (ploughs, grubbers, harrows &c), Hopetoun Implement Works, Linlithgow, West Lothian Armstrongs & Main Ltd, Corn Exchange Buildings, Edinburgh Auchinachie & Simpson Ltd, Keith, Morayshire W. & T. Avery Ltd, manufacturers of weighing and testing apparatus, Birmingham, 304 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, and 20 Victoria Street, Edinburgh Ayr Structural & Stamping Co., West Sanquhar Road, Ayr Ayrshire Elevator Co. Ltd, Ayrshire Elevator Works, Knockentiber, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire
This is a selected list of implement and machine makers from across Scotland in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Some of these names will be well-known to readers, while others are less well-known. Some have been features in past posts on Scottish agricultural implement makers.
Let’s look briefly at one or two of them. Adams of Old Deer, Mintlaw Station, Aberdeenshire, was well-known for their trailers from 1959 onwards. In 1961 their works at Mintlaw Station were known as the Challenger Trailer Works. By 1970 the company – which became Adams Trailers Ltd – were agricultural, industrial and commercial trailer specialists. From 1959 the company was a regular exhibitor to the Royal Highland Show. It entered a number of its trailers for the new implement award at the show in 1967, 1968 and 1969. These included Vari-tip’ trailer invented by F. Murchie, Lodge Farm, Great Ravelry, Huntingdon, and made by exhibitors and the ‘vari-tip’ trailer invented and made by exhibitors.
Another contemporary business was Ayrshire Elevator Co. Ltd, Ayrshire Elevator Works, Knockentiber, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. It was also a regular exhibitor at the Royal Highland Show from 1960 to 1968. It also entered a number of its inventions for the Society’s new implement award. In 1960 these included the Automatic bale pick-up attachment which fitted to the Ayrshire elevator, invented by Gerry Harris and made by exhibitors, a sugar beet cleaner, fitted to Ayrshire elevator, invented by Gerry Harris and made by exhibitors, and attachments for bulk storing potatoes, fitted to Ayrshire elevator, invented by Gerry Harris and made by exhibitors. The business was dissolved in 1982.
A much older business was Auchinachie & Simpson Ltd, Keith, Morayshire. In 1866 when it was set up it described itself as Auchinachie & Simpson, Mid Street, Keith, Morayshire (1868). At that time its specialities were ploughs, harrows and other machines. By 1913 these included ploughs, harrows, grubbers and manure sowers. Before 1914 its trades included agricultural implement maker (1877-1913), general implement dealer (1877), machinery broker and dealer (1878-1883), mechanical engineer (1878-1913), smith (1877- 1913), and smith and farrier (1903). Like the other businesses noted above it was also a regular exhibitor to the Royal Highland Show from 1868.
One of the well-known names around the rally field is Allan Brothers, Ashgrove Engineering Works, Aberdeen, whose oil engines and engines can still be seen. It is perhaps more widely known for its threshing mills which it started to manufacture in the 1930s. In 1898 the company was based at 102 West North Street, Aberdeen. It moved to Ashgrove Engineering Works, on Back Hilton Road, Aberdeen by 1901 where it continued to undertake its engineering, engine manufacturing and millwrighting until it was voluntarily wound up in 1956. It was also a regular exhibitor at the Highland Show until 1949.
A number of trade directories provide information on the agricultural implement and machine makers and their activities. One directory from 1951 – The Scottish National Register of Classified Trades includes a detailed supplement of agricultural businesses. These include the agricultural implement makers. There are also lists of tractor dealers, dairies, dairy implement makers as well as agricultural engineers.
The following is the list of agricultural implement and machine makers. It is one of the most comprehensive lists I have seen. I quote it at length to give a good idea of who was in business and the wide range of businesses and locations throughout Scotland. There are a good number that started in business in the mid to late nineteenth century. Another group started in the early 1920s with the increasing use of tractors and cars – some car garages also started to sell and service tractors.
How many names do you recollect?
J. R. Adamson, 34 High Street, Blairgowrie Agricultural Industry Development Co. (Inverness) Ltd, 16 Telford Street, Inverness Aird Engineering Co. Ltd, Beauly William Alexander (agent for all leading makers of agricultural machinery), Ruther, Watten, Caithness Alexanders of Edinburgh Ltd, Semple Street, Edinburgh Allan Bros. (Aberdeen) Ltd, thrashing machines, Back Hilton Road, Aberdeen Ayling McLean & Co. Ltd, Rochsolloch Road, Airdrie A. Baird & Sons Ltd, Pleasance Implement Works, Dumfries George Baird, Avon Place, Linlithgow J. L. & J. Ballach, Gorgie Implement Works, Edinburgh Banff Foundry & Engineering Co. Ltd, agricultural implements and machinery makers and exporters, Banff Foundry, Banff Barclay, Ross & Hutchison, 67-71 The Green, Aberdeen; 56 Castle Street, Forfar; 39 High Street, Montrose, Glasgow Road, Perth Barford (Agricultural) Ltd, Mount Harriet Stepps, near Glasgow R. Begg & Sons, Implement Works, Dalry James Borland & Sons Ltd, 9 St Marnock Street, Kilmarnock Harry K. Brown (Motors) Ltd, Raith Motor Works,Nicol Street, Kirkcaldy George Bruce & Co., 14 Regent Quay, Aberdeen Cairns & Souter, Strathearn Engineering Works, Crieff John Cameron Ltd, 84 High Street, Maybole Central Motors (St Andrews) Ltd, 106-108 South Street, St Andrews Chapman of Inverness Ltd, 49 Eastgate, Inverness Clockmill Engineering Co., Cammon Foundry, Duns James W. Cobban, specialist in haymaking machinery, carts and bodies, Union Works, Inverurie James Cowie & Co., 4 Dunlop Street, Strathaven James Crichton, Chapel Street, Turriff Cumming & Dempster, Dee Street, Banchory James Cuthbert & Co., 8-12 Commerce Street, Arbroath
Dairy Equipment and Supplies, 22 Baker Street, Stirling Dalblair Motors Ltd, 44 Dalblair Road, Ayr Wm Dickie & Sons Ltd, Victoria Works, East Kilbride John Doe Ltd, Errol, Perthshire Wm Donaldson (Engineers) Ltd, Bridge Street, Linwood, Paisley G. B. Drape, St John’s, Whithorn Thomas Duff & Son (Annan) Ltd, High Street, Annan A. Duff & Sons, Forth Street, Stirling The Dunlop Motor Co. Ltd, 30 Grange Street, Kilmarnock Adam Duthie & Co. Ltd, Tarves, Aberdeenshire Ednie & Kininmonth, 14 Castle Street, Forfar William Elder & Sons Ltd, Tweedside Works, Betwick on Tweed Elgin Central Garahe Ltd, Fordson Main dealers for NW Banff, Moray and Nairn, High Street, and Hill Street, Elgin Errington Ross & Co., Castle Heather Works, Inverness
J. D. Falla & Son, Bonchester Bridge, Hawick Ferguson & Hood, 28 Swan Street, Brechin James Ferries & Co. Ltd, 86 Eastgate, Inverness P. & R. Fleming & Co., 367 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow and 32 and 52 Keith Street, Partick, Glasgow George Fowler & Sons, East End Garage, North Berwick Fraser & McColl, Eastgate, Inverness Frew & Co. Ltd, 14 Princes Street, Perth C. S. Fillerton, Ferndene, Carmyllie, by Arbroath R. G. Garvie & Sons, 2 Canal Road, Aberdeen W. & A. Geddes Ltd, High Street, Wick W. Gibson & Co., 62 George Street, Whithorn Gillies & Henderson, 59 Bread Street, Edinburgh D. R. Gordon Ltd, 30-40 Hopetoun Street, Bathgate Gordon & Innes, 69-71 Bogin Street, Huntly James Gordon & Co., Newmarket Street, Castle Douglas J. Graham & Sons, Millhousebridge, Lockerbie E. A. Grant, Standfast Works, Craigellachie, Banffshire William F. Grant & Son, Ashgrove, Elgin Grassick’s garage Ltd, Commercial Street, Blairgowrie Eddie T. Y. Gray, Fairbank Works, Fetterangus, Mintlaw Station, Aberdeenshire James Gray, 138-140 High Street, Laurencekirk James Gray & Co., 7 Upper Craigs, Stirling
Hamilton, Anderson & Co., Goatfield Haddington D. Hamilton & Sons, Townfield, Haddington John Harkness & Son, Newfield Burn Works, Ruthwell, by Dumfries John Harper & Sons, Perth Street, Blairgowrie Harper Motor Co. Ltd, Holburn Junction, Aberdeen Henry Harrower, Luggateburn, Haddington George Henderson Ltd, East Bowmount Street, Kelso, 18 Forth Street, Edinburgh Hillside Foundry & Engineering Co. (Cupar) Ltd, Hillside Foundry, Cupar, Fife Howe Agricultural & Engineering Co., Mundamallo, Newtyle Inverness Motor Co. Ltd, Strothers Lane, Inverness David Irons & Sons, 22 Castle Street, Forfar G. C. Irving, Main Street, Dalry, Kirkcudbright
Alex Jack & Sons Lt, Maybole, Ayrshire James Jack, Hyndford Place, Lanark Jack & Renwick Ltd, West Silvermills Lane, Edinburgh Jeffrey Bros, Townfoot, Langholm Geo. W. King, Ltd, specialists in chaff cutters, binder canvasses, grain and pea lifters, bush pullers, wire strainers, sack lifters, pneumatic grain storage and conveying plamt, ropelock pulley blocks, byre fittings, 153 Oxford Street, Glasgow Ladyacre Engineering Co. Ltd, Ladyacre Road, Lanark L. O. Tractors Ltd, Coronation Works, Coupar Angus, Perthshire Leslie McRobert Ltd, makers of threshers and potato sorters, Schoolhill Works, Turriff John Limond, Viewfield Road, Ayr Lindsay & Co., 14-18 Rotterdam Street, Thurso Lyon Brothers, 22 Oldmeldrum Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen
John McBain & Son Ltd, Churnside, Duns Alex McCutchion, Auction Mart, Falkirk James Macdonald, 105 West Port, Edinburgh McDougall Duncan Ltd, Royal Hotel Buildings, Oban James McHarrie (Stranraer) Ltd, 8 Strand Street, Stranraer Alexander S. McIntosh, The Garage, kennethmount, by Huntly, Mackay & Jardine Ltd, West Cross, Wishaw Alex Mckenzie & Son, Achnagarron, by Invergordon Kenneth McKenzie & Sons, Evanton, Ross-shire Pat McKenzie, 131 High Street, Forres James Mackintosh, Angus Engineering Works, Don Street, Forfar Macknight (Motors) Ltd, York House, Dumfries George McLean Ltd, 30 Ward Road, Dundee George MacLeod, specialists in horticultural tractors and cultivators, 110 Candleriggs, Glasgow James McLeod & Son, Clyde Garage, Glasgow Road, Uddingston John Macleod & Son, Evelix, Dornoch MacNeill Tractors Ltd, 20 Graham Square, Glasgow
Benjamin Main & Son, 4 Stormont Street, Perth Hugh Martin & Co. Ltd, 55-63 Washington Street, Glasgow James Martin (kirkintilloch) Ltd, Kelvin Valley Works, Kirkintilloch A. C. Mathers, 97 Muirton Place, Perth Massey-Harris Limited, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire; head office, Barton Road, Manchester J. M. Millar Ltd, Callendar Road Garage, Falkirk A. T. Mungall Ltd, Castle Street, Forfar William Munro, Royal Hotel Garage, Invergordon Alex Newlands & Sons, Linlithgow, West Lothian James F. Ogg, Bridge of Muchalls, Stonehaven Olympia Garage, Kittybrewster, Aberdeen John Oswald & Son, Damacre Road, Brechin
Paisley Motor Co. Ltd, 85 Causeyside Street, Paisley A & W. Pollock, Station Road, Mauchline, Ayrshire Ramsay & Wyllie, Townfoot, Elsrickle, Biggar Reekie Engineering Co. Ltd, Lochlands Works, Arbroath; and at Redmyre Farm Depot, Fordoun Allan W. Reid (Ayr) Ltd, Main Roads, Whitletts Road, Ayr William Reid (Forres) Ltd, St Catherine’s Road, Forres Wm. Reid & Leys, 8 Hadden Street, Aberdeen Rogerson & Jamieson, 23-25 High Street, Lockerbie G. A. Ross & Co., Friockheim, Forfarshire Neil Ross, Bridge Street, Ellon, Aberdeenshire and at Greyfriars Street, Elgin A. M. Russell Ltd, agricultural implements, Sinton Works, Gorgie Road, Edinburgh John Rutherford & Sons Ltd, Coldstream, Earlston, St Boswells, and Kelso John Scarth, Ayre Road, Kirkwall
Alexander Scott, Caledonian Implement Works, St Ninian’s, Stirling Alexander Scott, Crossgatehall, Dalkeith Henry Scott & Son, 24 Chapel Street, Airdrie Scottish Farm Implements Ltd, Crosshouse, Kilmarnock A & J. Scoular, Main Street, Thornhill, by Stirling Geo. Sellar & Son Ltd, head office, 30 Great Northern Road, Aberdeen, works – Kelliebank, Alloa; branches, Granary Street, Huntly and Victoria Street, Perth Shepherd’s Engineering & Blacksmith Work, Harbour Place, Wick Thos. Sherriff & Co., West Barns, Dunbar A. Simpson & Son, Clerk Street, Brechin Thomas Sinclair, Reston, Berwickshire A. Simpson & Son, Clerk Street, Brechin Thomas Sinclair, Reston, Berwickshire Peter Small, 15 Queen Street, Forfar J. B. W. Smith Ltd, Cupar, Fife W. Smith & Son Ltd, Market Street, Aberdeen James H. Steele Ltd, “Everything for the Farm”, agricultural engineers and millwrights, 61 Harrison Road, Edinburgh; Assembly and service depot: Gray’s Mill Engineering Works, Longstone Road, Edinburgh Stirling Implements Ltd (agents for James H. Steele Ltd), Field Marshall, Fowler and M. M. Tractors, Land Rollers, Combines &c, 28 Orchard Place, Stirling Alex Strang (Tractors) Ltd, Pipe Street, Portobello W. D. Syme, Ferguson & Hood 21-23 Hugh Street, Brechin
J. & W. Tait, Broad Street, Kirkwall Thomson Bros (Kirkcaldy) Ltd, 238 High Street, Kirkcaldy Thurso Engineering & Foundry Co. Ltd, Millbank Works, Thurso Tullos Ltd, manufacturers of agricultural implements and machinery, including threshers, sheaf loaders, manure distributors, car trailers, power mowers. Potato front coverers, potato sorters, hay sweeps, Aberdeen Alexander Waddell, 47 and 49 Wesleyan Street, Glasgow Fred Walker, The Garage, Fettercairn, Laurencekirk J. Wallace & Sons (Ayr) Ltd, Smith Street, Ayr John Wallace & Sons Ltd, 34 Paton Street, Glashow Wm Wallace & Son, 36 Kyle Street, Ayr J. S. Webb & Son, Edina Cottage, Dechmont, Broxburn James M. Wells, 14-16 English Street, Annan E. Whitelaw & Son, Gladsmuir, Tranent, Longniddry James Wilson, 77 Hammerfield Avenue, Avenue
A decade later this list was to change significantly.
Before the spraying of crops for weed control became common place, much work was spent during the summer months controlling weeds.
In 1805 the farmers and agriculturists of East Lothian had a number of hand tools and implements available to them to tend the crops. Robert Sommerville describes them at length in his General view of the agriculture of East Lothian, published in that year. He writes:
Implements used during the growth of the crops. The implements, used during the growth of the crop, are the horse and hand hoe, the small and double mould-board plough, the Dutch-hoe, and the different kinds of weed hooks. The horse hoe or scuffle is so well known as to need no description; that the implement is now so constructed, as to be easily accommodated to any width of a drill; it is used more or less in all drill crops. Hand-hoe-The hand-hoe is very generally used, as will be seen, when the different kinds of drill crops come to be noticed, it is differently formed, but every variety of it is so well known as to require no description. Small plough-The small plough is the same as that used for ordinary tillage, but upon a reduced scale, and is used in giving the first, second, and third ploughings, to turnips, beans, potatoes, &c. Double mould-board plough-That implement differs in nothing from the foregoing, except in having a temporary mould-board of wood added to the left side, and a double-pointed share or sock; it is employed only in laying up the earth equally to both sides of the drill, after the other ploughings are given, and is considered the finishing operation, unless where hand-weeding and picking may afterwards be thought necessary, for taking out such weeds as grow in the drills amongst the crop, and which cannot be destroyed in any other way. This implement is not much used.
Dutch hoe-The Dutch horse hoe, provincially called scraper, is used very generally in cleaning beans or turnips, and a hand-hoe of the same name is often used in gardens; there cannot be a doubt, that, if the drilling of white crops were more general, that implement would be found very useful. Weed-hooks-The common weed-hook is chiefly used in this county and is a useful instrument for cutting weeds of a certain description, such as thistles, &c; but, as the former of these, when cut either at an early period of the season, or before much rain falls, are apt to spring up afresh and produce four or five stems in place of one, they ought, perhaps, in every instance, to be pulled, or, if they are cut, the operation should be done with a chisel, which, if properly used, will cut them below the surface.
What were your experiences of using these implements in the twentieth century for tending the crops?
A number of trade directories provide information on the agricultural implement and machine makers and their activities. One directory from 1951 – The Scottish National Register of Classified Trades includes a detailed supplement of agricultural businesses. These include the agricultural implement makers. There are also lists of tractor dealers, dairies, dairy implement makers as well as agricultural engineers.
The following is the list of agricultural implement and machine makers. It is one of the most comprehensive lists I have seen. I quote it at length to give a good idea of who was in business and the wide range of businesses and locations throughout Scotland. There are a good number that started in business in the mid to late nineteenth century. Another group started in the early 1920s with the increasing use of tractors and cars – some car garages also started to sell and service tractors.
How many names do you recollect?
J R Adamson, 34 High Street, Blairgowrie Agricultural Industry Development Co. (Inverness) Ltd, 16 Telford Street, Inverness Aird Engineering Co. Ltd, Beauly William Alexander (agent for all leading makers of agricultural machinery), Ruther, Watten, Caithness Alexanders of Edinburgh Ltd, Semple Street, Edinburgh Allan Bros. (Aberdeen) Ltd, thrashing machines, Back Hilton Road, Aberdeen Ayling McLean & Co. Ltd, Rochsolloch Road, Airdrie A Baird & Sons Ltd, Pleasance Implement Works, Dumfries George Baird, Avon Place, Linlithgow J. L. & J. Ballach, Gorgie Implement Works, Edinburgh Banff Foundry & Engineering Co. Ltd, agricultural implements and machinery makers and exporters, Banff Foundry, Banff Barclay, Ross & Hutchison, 67-71 The Green, Aberdeen; 56 Castle Street, Forfar; 39 High Street, Montrose, Glasgow Road, Perth Barford (Agricultural) Ltd, Mount Harriet Stepps, near Glasgow R. Begg & Sons, Implement Works, Dalry James Borland & Sons Ltd, 9 St Marnock Street, Kilmarnock Harry K. Brown (Motors) Ltd, Raith Motor Works,Nicol Street, Kirkcaldy George Bruce & Co., 14 Regent Quay, Aberdeen Cairns & Souter, Strathearn Engineering Works, Crieff John Cameron Ltd, 84 High Street, Maybole Central Motors (St Andrews) Ltd, 106-108 South Street, St Andrews Chapman of Inverness Ltd, 49 Eastgate, Inverness Clockmill Engineering Co., Cammon Foundry, Duns James W. Cobban, specialist in haymaking machinery, carts and bodies, Union Works, Inverurie James Cowie & Co., 4 Dunlop Street, Strathaven James Crichton, Chapel Street, Turriff Cumming & Dempster, Dee Street, Banchory James Cuthbert & Co., 8-12 Commerce Street, Arbroath
Dairy Equipment and Supplies, 22 Baker Street, Stirling Dalblair Motors Ltd, 44 Dalblair Road, Ayr Wm Dickie & Sons Ltd, Victoria Works, East Kilbride John Doe Ltd, Errol, Perthshire Wm Donaldson (Engineers) Ltd, Bridge Street, Linwood, Paisley G. B. Drape, St John’s, Whithorn Thomas Duff & Son (Annan) Ltd, High Street, Annan A Duff & Sons, Forth Street, Stirling The Dunlop Motor Co. Ltd, 30 Grange Street, Kilmarnock Adam Duthie & Co. Ltd, Tarves, Aberdeenshire Ednie & Kininmonth, 14 Castle Street, Forfar William Elder & Sons Ltd, Tweedside Works, Betwick on Tweed Elgin Central Garahe Ltd, Fordson Main dealers for NW Banff, Moray and Nairn, High Street, and Hill Street, Elgin Errington Ross & Co., Castle Heather Works, Inverness J. D. Falla & Son, Bonchester Bridge, Hawick Ferguson & Hood, 28 Swan Street, Brechin James Ferries & Co. Ltd, 86 Eastgate, Inverness P. & R. Fleming & Co., 367 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow and 32 and 52 Keith Street, Partick, Glasgow George Fowler & Sons, East End Garage, North Berwick Fraser & McColl, Eastgate, Inverness Frew & Co. Ltd, 14 Princes Street, Perth C. S. Fillerton, Ferndene, Carmyllie, by Arbroath R. G. Garvie & Sons, 2 Canal Road, Aberdeen W. & A. Geddes Ltd, High Street, Wick W. Gibson & Co., 62 George Street, Whithorn Gillies & Henderson, 59 Bread Street, Edinburgh D. R. Gordon Ltd, 30-40 Hopetoun Street, Bathgate Gordon & Innes, 69-71 Bogin Street, Huntly James Gordon & Co., Newmarket Street, Castle Douglas J. Graham & Sons, Millhousebridge, Lockerbie E. A. Grant, Standfast Works, Craigellachie, Banffshire William F. Grant & Son, Ashgrove, Elgin Grassick’s garage Ltd, Commercial Street, Blairgowrie Eddie T. Y. Gray, Fairbank Works, Fetterangus, Mintlaw Station, Aberdeenshire James Gray, 138-140 High Street, Laurencekirk James Gray & Co., 7 Upper Craigs, Stirling
Hamilton, Anderson & Co., Goatfield Haddington D. Hamilton & Sons, Townfield, Haddington John Harkness & Son, Newfield Burn Works, Ruthwell, by Dumfries John Harper & Sons, Perth Street, Blairgowrie Harper Motor Co. Ltd, Holburn Junction, Aberdeen Henry Harrower, Luggateburn, Haddington George Henderson Ltd, East Bowmount Street, Kelso, 18 Forth Street, Edinburgh Hillside Foundry & Engineering Co. (Cupar) Ltd, Hillside Foundry, Cupar, Fife Howe Agricultural & Engineering Co., Mundamallo, Newtyle Inverness Motor Co. Ltd, Strothers Lane, Inverness David Irons & Sons, 22 Castle Street, Forfar G. C. Irving, Main Street, Dalry, Kirkcudbright Alex Jack & Sons Lt, Maybole, Ayrshire James Jack, Hyndford Place, Lanark Jack & Renwick Ltd, West Silvermills Lane, Edinburgh Jeffrey Bros, Townfoot, Langholm
Geo. W. King, Ltd, specialists in chaff cutters, binder canvasses, grain and pea lifters, bush pullers, wire strainers, sack lifters, pneumatic grain storage and conveying plamt, ropelock pulley blocks, byre fittings, 153 Oxford Street, Glasgow Ladyacre Engineering Co. Ltd, Ladyacre Road, Lanark L. O. Tractors Ltd, Coronation Works, Coupar Angus, Perthshire Leslie McRobert Ltd, makers of threshers and potato sorters, Schoolhill Works, Turriff John Limond, Viewfield Road, Ayr Lindsay & Co., 14-18 Rotterdam Street, Thurso Lyon Brothers, 22 Oldmeldrum Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen John McBain & Son Ltd, Churnside, Duns Alex McCutchion, Auction Mart, Falkirk James Macdonald, 105 West Port, Edinburgh McDougall Duncan Ltd, Royal Hotel Buildings, Oban James McHarrie (Stranraer) Ltd, 8 Strand Street, Stranraer Alexander S. McIntosh, The Garage, kennethmount, by Huntly, Mackay & Jardine Ltd, West Cross, Wishaw Alex Mckenzie & Son, Achnagarron, by Invergordon Kenneth McKenzie & Sons, Evanton, Ross-shire Pat McKenzie, 131 High Street, Forres James Mackintosh, Angus Engineering Works, Don Street, Forfar Macknight (Motors) Ltd, York House, Dumfries George McLean Ltd, 30 Ward Road, Dundee George MacLeod, specialists in horticultural tractors and cultivators, 110 Candleriggs, Glasgow James McLeod & Son, Clyde Garage, Glasgow Road, Uddingston John Macleod & Son, Evelix, Dornoch MacNeill Tractors Ltd, 20 Graham Square, Glasgow
Benjamin Main & Son, 4 Stormont Street, Perth Hugh Martin & Co. Ltd, 55-63 Washington Street, Glasgow James Martin (kirkintilloch) Ltd, Kelvin Valley Works, Kirkintilloch A. C. Mathers, 97 Muirton Place, Perth Massey-Harris Limited, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire; head office, Barton Road, Manchester J. M. Millar Ltd, Callendar Road Garage, Falkirk A. T. Mungall Ltd, Castle Street, Forfar William Munro, Royal Hotel Garage, Invergordon Alex Newlands & Sons, Linlithgow, West Lothian James F. Ogg, Bridge of Muchalls, Stonehaven Olympia Garage, Kittybrewster, Aberdeen John Oswald & Son, Damacre Road, Brechin Paisley Motor Co. Ltd, 85 Causeyside Street, Paisley A & W. Pollock, Station Road, Mauchline, Ayrshire Ramsay & Wyllie, Townfoot, Elsrickle, Biggar Reekie Engineering Co. Ltd, Lochlands Works, Arbroath; and at Redmyre Farm Depot, Fordoun Allan W. Reid (Ayr) Ltd, Main Roads, Whitletts Road, Ayr William Reid (Forres) Ltd, St Catherine’s Road, Forres Wm. Reid & Leys, 8 Hadden Street, Aberdeen Rogerson & Jamieson, 23-25 High Street, Lockerbie G. A. Ross & Co., Friockheim, Forfarshire Neil Ross, Bridge Street, Ellon, Aberdeenshire and at Greyfriars Street, Elgin A. M. Russell Ltd, agricultural implements, Sinton Works, Gorgie Road, Edinburgh John Rutherford & Sons Ltd, Coldstream, Earlston, St Boswells, and Kelso
John Scarth, Ayre Road, Kirkwall Alexander Scott, Caledonian Implement Works, St Ninian’s, Stirling Alexander Scott, Crossgatehall, Dalkeith Henry Scott & Son, 24 Chapel Street, Airdrie Scottish Farm Implements Ltd, Crosshouse, Kilmarnock A & J. Scoular, Main Street, Thornhill, by Stirling Geo. Sellar & Son Ltd, head office, 30 Great Northern Road, Aberdeen, works – Kelliebank, Alloa; branches, Granary Street, Huntly and Victoria Street, Perth Shepherd’s Engineering & Blacksmith Work, Harbour Place, Wick Thos. Sherriff & Co., West Barns, Dunbar A. Simpson & Son, Clerk Street, Brechin Thomas Sinclair, Reston, Berwickshire A. Simpson & Son, Clerk Street, Brechin Thomas Sinclair, Reston, Berwickshire Peter Small, 15 Queen Street, Forfar J. B. W. Smith Ltd, Cupar, Fife W. Smith & Son Ltd, Market Street, Aberdeen James H. Steele Ltd, “Everything for the Farm”, agricultural engineers and millwrights, 61 Harrison Road, Edinburgh; Assembly and service depot: Gray’s Mill Engineering Works, Longstone Road, Edinburgh Stirling Implements Ltd (agents for James H. Steele Ltd), Field Marshall, Fowler and M. M. Tractors, Land Rollers, Combines &c, 28 Orchard Place, Stirling Alex Strang (Tractors) Ltd, Pipe Street, Portobello W. D. Syme, Ferguson & Hood 21-23 Hugh Street, Brechin
J. & W. Tait, Broad Street, Kirkwall Thomson Bros (Kirkcaldy) Ltd, 238 High Street, Kirkcaldy Thurso Engineering & Foundry Co. Ltd, Millbank Works, Thurso Tullos Ltd, manufacturers of agricultural implements and machinery, including threshers, sheaf loaders, manure distributors, car trailers, power mowers. Potato front coverers, potato sorters, hay sweeps, Aberdeen Alexander Waddell, 47 and 49 Wesleyan Street, Glasgow Fred Walker, The Garage, Fettercairn, Laurencekirk J. Wallace & Sons (Ayr) Ltd, Smith Street, Ayr John Wallace & Sons Ltd, 34 Paton Street, Glashow Wm Wallace & Son, 36 Kyle Street, Ayr J. S. Webb & Son, Edina Cottage, Dechmont, Broxburn James M. Wells, 14-16 English Street, Annan E. Whitelaw & Son, Gladsmuir, Tranent, Longniddry James Wilson, 77 Hammerfield Avenue, Avenue
A decade later this list was to change significantly.
This year all the rallies have been cancelled and if we want to go abroad for our holidays we face restrictions in where we can go (though there is nothing like staying in Scotland). These changes don’t mean that we will have a dull summer.
We have been thinking about what we are writing for our Scottish agricultural implement maker posts over the summer and early autumn.
At the weekends we will recollect some great rallies and rally displays from the past. We might even post on both a Saturday and a Sunday instead of our usual Sunday. On a Tuesday we will follow our usual practice of posting random posts on the Scottish agricultural implement makers.
On a Thursday we will post a new series of articles: the A to Z of Scottish agricultural implement makers. Each week we will work our way through the alphabet to look at who were the Scottish agricultural implement makers in the late nineteenth century and the twentieth century until 1970. This will provide a selection of makers rather than being a comprehensive list.
This A to Z will also help us anticipate our Directory of Scottish agricultural implement makers, 1843-1914 which we hope will be published soon. More details will follow.
According to Henry Stephens in The Book of the Farm (1908), writing of summer pasture, “thistles and docks are the most troublesome of the larger weeds. These should be cut or hoed out twice in each season. When the soil is fairly moist docks should be pulled out by the roots. The best time to cut thistles is when the flower is beginning to form, as the roots are now weaker than when the plants are only a few inches above the ground, and they are not yet mature enough to produce seed. The common thistle spreads principally by underground stems, which make this plant much more difficult to eradicate, while the Scotch thistle is produced from seed only, and is therefore more easily dealt with. The smaller weeds, such as daisies, buttercups, sorrel, and plantains, can be effectively checked by judicious manurial treatment and the proper grazing of pastures.”
The cutting of thistles could be a tiresome job especially where there were a lot of them. There were a number of mechanical thistle cutters developed. In 1898 at the Highland Show John Ritchie, Kelso, exhibited “an ingenious thistle cutter”. Others followed in later years. In 1901 one was made by A. & J. Main & Co., Glasgow. It was described as a “new patent bracken and thistle cutter”. A further one was made in 1904 by J. D. Allan & Sons, Murthly. In 1909 P. & R. Fleming & Co., Glasgow, had a new patent thistle cutter which it exhibited at the Highland Show.
At the start of the Second World War interest in bracken eradication stimulated the development of machines that could cut bracken as well as other weeds. In 1939, two well-known cutters were the Henderson thistle cutter, a horse drawn Irvings bracken and thistle cutter and a Triangle thistle cutter. The Henderson thistle cutter became well-known. One or two of them can still be seen around the rally field.
Thistle cutters were a frequently noted machine at farm displenishing sales. One was noted at Sundhope, Yarrow, in 1910. Another at Faldonside, near Melrose in 1908.
The photographs of the Henderson thistle cutter were taken at the Strathnairn rally, 2019.
Traction engine fans may very well question the title of this post. John Fowler & Co, and later John Fowler & Co. (Leeds) Ltd, have always been associated with Leeds, and in particular the Steam Plough Works. However, for a short period of time the company had business premises in Edinburgh to deal with its Scottish customers. It was the first of the traction engine makers to have a presence in Scotland, with Robey & Co., of Lincoln, having premises in Edinburgh in 1880, and then a post office box in Glasgow some years later. True, these companies had Scottish agents such as Alexander Jack & Sons, Maybole, James B. A, McKinnel, Dumfries, William Mears, Edinburgh and G. W. Murray & Co., Banff, either for short or much longer periods of time.
A dedicated presence meant that the company had a direct relationship with its customers. The company had its own representatives in Scotland from the second half of the 1850s. The name Mr Greig was well known to framers and agriculturists. He was George Greig, farmer, Harvieston, Kincardineshire, also brother of David Greig employed by Fowler’s in Leeds. By 1869 Fowler’s was involved in the patent of Pirie’s double furrow plough (made by Thoomas Pirie of Kinmundy, Aberdeenshire) and in making and selling it. Mr Greig had started to advertise its for sale from his farm at Harvieston, but because of the great interest in it and Fowler’s traction and ploughing traction engines, more extensive interests needed to be put in place.
In 1869 Fowler’s acquired the tenancy of an office in India Buildings, near to the Grassmarket and the agricultural district of Edinburgh. By the following year George Greig was named as the formal agents for Fowlers in Edinburgh. The company described itself in local trade directories as J. Fowler & Co., engineers, Leeds, George Greig, 1 India Buildings, Edinburgh, agent. The company advertised each week in the Scottish agricultural press, and the names Greig, Fowler and India Buildings were closely associated in the minds of the Scottish farmers and other agriculturists.
The tenancy appears to have been on a short-term basis. In 1874 the company had moved to 4 India Buildings. In 1878 the company was not able to get a room in India Buildings and had to move to nearby Giles Street for a number of months until it could get a further room back in 1879. The company remained at India Buildings until 1884.
During the years it spent at India Buildings, the company undertook extensive work in Scotland to promote and support the promotion, sale and use of double furrow ploughs, traction engines and steam ploughing engines and tackle. For example, it arranged trials of steam ploughing and cultivating tackle, provided advice for Scottish conditions, support to farmers and other agriculturists. It exhibited at the Highland Show as well as other agricultural shows, such as those in Ayrshire and East Lothian.
Its activities took place at a time when the use of steam on farms was well-established, steam ploughing had been tried and tested and was being used in increasing numbers in some districts of the country, especially East Lothian, Fife, Kincardineshire and parts of Aberdeenshire.
The company moved out of India Buildings when the market for steam ploughing and traction engines became difficult. After 1879 there started a period of agricultural depression which was to continue into the first decade of the twentieth century. With no strong demand for its products the company focused its sales from its Leeds headquarters.
A few years ago India Buildings was open to the public at the time of the Edinburgh Festival. The photographs are of the premises at no 1. India Buildings.
By 1897 Scottish agriculture had been going through a prolonged recession for almost two decades. It had a profound impact on Scottish agriculture and on the making of implements and machines. In turn, that had an impact on what was being exhibited at the Highland Show and who was exhibiting. The Glasgow Show of 1897 was one of the largest that had been seen in Scotland for a number of years. It was also an important years for the dairy sector, with the development of the Murchland milking machine – and the mechanisation of milking.
An account of the implement department of the show in The Scotsman described what was at the Show. It is quoted at length for its relevance to the Scottish agricultural implement makers:
“The space set apart for the implement yard exceeds 5000 feet, and there are 2227 implements shown on 183 stands. Although not the largest show of implements that has been seen at Glasgow, it is all over a good exhibition, and embraces everything that embraces everything that enters into farm husbandry. At Perth last year the number of implements shown was 1945, and at Dumfries in 1895 they reached the large number of 2265. This year’s entry has been exceeded at only seven of the seventy shows held by the Society; and it is larger by 600 than that at last Glasgow show in 1888, but is 400 less than at the show of 1882. Although there are no absolute novelties in the implement section, there is no end of variety, and all the productions of the agricultural engineer are shown with their most recent improvements. The Society do not this year offer prizes for implements, but in connection with the show a competitive test of milking machines took place a month or two ago, when the prize of £50 was awarded to Mr William Murchland, Kilmarnock. His machine will be shown in working operation daily, and will be one of the chief attractions of the show. It was seen by the judges at work on three farms, and on each occasion samples of the milk drawn from the cows by the machine, and from the same cows by hand, were taken and set, in order to test the keeping qualities of the milk. On two of the farms the machine had been at work since 1891, and on the third for two months, and the judges stated that in each case it was found to perform the operation of milking efficiently and speedily. The time occupied for each cow was generally from four to six minutes, sometimes rather less. It seemed to cause no discomfort to the cows, and no injury to the teats or udder. It drew the milk by continuous suction, without any apparent pulsating movement. The apparatus was simple in its construction, equally simple in its working, and not difficult to clean or keep clean. The power required to work the machine was not great, At the first farm a half-horsepower oil engine milked ten cows at a time quite easily. Until this engine was put in recently, the machine was worked by one man, with an ordinary force pump. In every instance, the samples of milk drawn by the machine were found to keep satisfactorily. After a lapse of forty-eight hours they were perfectly sweet and in no respect inferior to the milk drawn by hand. The judges state that they regard this machine as a practical success, and are of opinion that in large dairies, where milkers are scarce, it may be introduced with advantage.
The exhibition of implements is the largest that has been seen at the Highland Show for the last twelve years, and in every respect the department is most complete. Every class of machine used in husbandry is on exhibition, and no more striking example of the great progress that has taken place in the economy of the farm could be afforded than the present display of machinery for facilitating the farm work of today. One of the first stands to command attention is that of Messrs George Gray & Co., Uddingston Plough Works, where a very fine assortment of ploughs of all kinds is on view. Next to this stand is that of Messrs John Drummond & Son, engineers, Cumnock, who exhibit two kinds of superior thrashing machines. A large and complete stand is that of Messrs A. Newlands & Sons, Linlithgow, where all kinds of farm machinery are on view. One of the features of this stand is the display of drill ploughs, which baulk up the drills in such a fashion as to leave no green potatoes. A particularly good implement is the potato-lifter, which so works as to lift up the tubers without injuring them. The action of the machine is the same as that of a man lifting potatoes. Its action is very natural. In most machines of this kind the action is rotary, but here the machine only describes a half-circle, with the result that the potatoes are delved out as if by manual labour. The invention, which is patented by Mr Newlands and Mr Burns, a potato merchant, has been in use this year digging out the green potatoes at Girvan. Another exhibit at this stand worthy of mention is a self-acting horse-rake of very simple mechanism.
Passing on, the next stand to call for notice is that of Mr William Elder, Berwick upon Tweed, who shows a varied and interesting group of machines. A feature is the improved mower and reaper, worked from the hinge bar instead of from the pole, thus dispensing entirely with side draught. The broadcast sowers of this firm are known all over the country, and are great favourites on many leading farms. Some improvements have been introduced into them this year, and seed box having been made larger, to mention only one improvement. The steel-board ridging ploughs are so constructed that the draught weight is reduced to a minimum. Great labour-saving implements are the drill rollers and grubbers, which are so notched as to break the clods, and can be adjusted to any size or width of the drill.
Mr A. Pollock, Mauchline, shows a very good collection of labour-saving appliances, and it may be mentioned that many of the products of this firm have already been booked, so great is the demand for the machines of this prominent Ayrshire maker. A very good substantial combined reaper and mower of a new style, with a tilting board for hay and corn, is one of the features of this stand; while a hay and straw press, which is on show, is so arranged that one person can lift it by its own lever on to its wheels in one minute after the men stop baling, making it easy for transport. Practical agriculturists should make a pause at this exhibit. The distinction of having won the gold medal at Haddington belongs to this press. A very handy rick lifter is case-hardened in the centre of the wheel as well as in the axle, thus adding to its durability. This machine only weighs 6cwt gross. A patent hay collector is also on view, as well as an improved potato digger; while there is an example of Nicholson’s patent switchback hay turner, which Mr Pollock was the first to introduce into Ayrshire. There are also shown a double cheese press and a patent curd mill, similar to those used in the Dairy School at Kilmarnock. The features of the curd mill are the round teeth and the open grating in the centre, enabling it to break up more effectively, and without getting twisted round the breaker.
Messrs George Sellar & Son, Huntly, have a goodly show of ploughs, harrows, grubbers, and binders. Messrs P. & R. Fleming & Co., Glasgow, have one of the largest stands in the implement yard. A prominent feature is the corrugated steel shed fitted with the horse fork. Beneath the shed is a large assortment of dairy and laundry utensils, while a large Bradford windmill is one of the features of the landscape. It is claimed for this windmill that the highest wind will not overcome it, and certainly it has plenty of opportunity of distinguishing its capabilities yesterday. The firm also show many of the machines for which they are the agents. Messrs John Gray & Co., Uddingtson, have on show a large display of ploughs and other agricultural implements; while Mr Charles Weir, Strathaven, exhibits rick lifters and churns.
Mr Thomas Turnbull, Castle Bank, Dumfries, has a stand on which he shows an improved Dumfries broadcast sower for grain and grass seeds, along with chaff cutters and grinding and churning mills. Weighing machines have of late been coming to the front in farm work, and the stand of Messrs Ward & Avery, Glasgow, devoted to these exhibits, is therefore all the more interesting. Messrs Henry Pooley & Son, Glasgow, also show in this department a number of weighbridges of various capacities. Mr John Scoular, Stirling, makes a large display of agricultural appliances; and the stand of Mr J. P. Cathcart, Glasgow, is also a most complete one.
The machines of Walter A. Wood are exhibited at the stands of Messrs P. & R. Fleming, Glasgow, and George Sellar & Sons, Huntly. Messrs Kemp & Nicholson, Stirling, have a large stand on which they show horse rakes, reapers, mowers, hay collectors, spring carts, farm carts, vans and lorries. The Morgan hay baler at this stand is a machine which can load 50cwt of hay on an ordinary railway wagon, pressing hay to double the density of the old-fashioned press. An improved cart turnip cutting machine is worthy of notice here. Messrs James Grey & Co, Stirling, have also a goodly collection of implements. One of the largest stands in the show is that of Messrs A. & J. Main & Co., Edinburgh and Glasgow. The chief exhibits at this stand are the Deering binders, an American make of machine which has been pushing its way to the front in Scotland. The Deering pony binder is fitted with roller and ball bearings while the Deering ideal mowers and combined mowers and reapers are also fitted in a similar fashion. The Deering Harvester Company introduced ball bearings into their machines five years ago, and since that time many other firms have adopted this contrivance. One of their pony binders is fitted with slot conveyors instead of canvasses. Their McDonald turnip topping and tailing machine won a silver medal at the Dumfries Highland Show. Shown for the first time was the one horse back-delivery reaper and mower, which is specially adapted for small farms and crofts, and which is used as a supplementary machine to the binder for opening up fields. With Brown’s Cammo cart turnip cutting machine, also exhibited at this stand, a cartful of turnips can be cut in seven minutes.
Messrs Thomas Hunter & Sons, Maybole, show a very nice collection of implements of general utility in the cultivation of the soil, chiefly applicable to the root crops. Mr Wm McNaughton, Stirling, shows hand presses. Messrs J. D. Allan & Sons, Dunkeld; Mr William Dickie, East Kilbride; Mr Matthew Dunlop, Glasgow, and Messrs John Turnbull & Sons, Dunmore, Larbert, have all good collections of various kinds of agricultural implements. Messrs G. McCartney & Co., Old Cumnock, exhibit a couple of thrashing mills- one of them a high speed machine fitted with riddle and fanners. An attractive display is made by Messrs Thomas Sherriff & Co., Westbarns, Dunbar. A feature of their exhibition is an improved broadcast sowing machine for grain and grass seeds, which at Haddington Show on Saturday was awarded a silver medal. This comprehensive stand also includes a collapsible sheep fodder rack of novel design.
Messrs John Wallace & Sons, Glasgow, like many other local firms, have a large display, comprising the City of Glasgow and the Thistle binders, the popular Massey-Harris cultivators, and the Champion potato-digger, with two and three horse trees. The hay “tedders’ exhibited by the firm are worth the attention of visitors. Driven by one horse, they are every day coming into greater demand. Naturally a prominent machine on the stand of Messrs J. Bisset & Sons, Blairgowrie, is the firm’s open back binder, which was shown at the trials in connection with the show at Edinburgh in 893, and obtained a favourable notice from the judges then. Among the firm’s other exhibits is the safety potato digger.
Messrs Alexander Jack & Sons, Maybole, have a large stand, on which are specimens of the strong and compact Empire binder and the well-known Caledonia potato digger, which, being fitted with enclosed gearing, is capable of standing a great deal of wear and tear. The digger, which was first at the trials of the Leicester Royal Show a year ago, holds a prominent position in the market as a perfectly arranged machine. A moderately priced horse hoe and specimens of the Dux Canadian ploughs are among the other exhibits by which the firm is represented.
The motion yard is not very extensive, but it is extremely interesting, and embraces an excellent collection of machinery of the farm. Mr H. B. Fleming, Kirkliston, shows the “Bisset” reaper and binder. Messrs Carrick & Ritchie, Edinburgh, show a large collection of their improved turbines, pelton wheels, jet water motors, and other appliances for the utilisation of water for power for mills, farm machinery &c. the application of water power to country house lighting by electricity is illustrated by a combined turbine and dynamo. Another novelty is a combined jet water motor and dynamo suitable for lighting a small house containing thirty lamps. Another application of water power for the ventilation of buildings is shown. This is a very compact combination of a jet motor and ventilating fan, by which the town water supply entering a cistern may be made to yield up its power in driving the ventilating fan, and then pass into the cistern for domestic use.
Messrs Ben Reid & Co., Aberdeen, have an attractive stand, at which the show in notion five thrashing machines of the newest and most improved type, fitted with double blast and barley awner. They have also at work one of the Massey Harris Brantford binders, fitted with the original patent slat conveyer. They likewise show their well-known broadcast sowing machines and manure distributers, together with a varied assortment of useful articles for farm work. Thrashing machines and engines are the leading features of the stand occupied by Mr R. G. Morton, Errol, and these are of an excellent description, neatly designed, and well finished. Windmills are conspicuous objects on the stands of Messrs P. & W. Maclellan, Glasgow, and Messrs John S. Millar & Son, Annan. As in former years, Messrs Thos Gibson & Son, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, have one of the largest individual spaces in the yard allotted to their exhibits. Their name is so well known for ornamental iron work that little need be said on their behalf.
Mr William Sinton, Jedburgh, shows an interesting assortment of churns; and Mr John Gray, Stranraer, has on view cheese vats, presses, refrigerators, and other dairy utensils. The Dairy Supply Company, Edinburgh, exhibit a large collection of separators and other appliances of a useful character. The Sorn Dairy Supply, Glasgow, have a working dairy, which should prove a source of much attraction, the process of buttermaking being carried on daily. Messrs Watson, Laidlaw, & Co., Glasgow, show a number of cream separators in this section of the implement yard.”
Quite a show by all accounts!
The photographs were taken at the Highland Show, 2019.
