Category: About this site

Henderson & Sons of Kelso had been in business in Kelso since at least 1872 when it exhibited a “general collection” at the Highland Show, which was being held in the town in that year. The Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland awarded it a medium silver medal for its collection.

In the following years, George Henderson occupied a number of premises in the town: at Bowmount Street, 44 Horse Market and 52 Square, before having the address of “Kelso Foundry” in 1914. It also opened a premises at 58 Leith Street in 1884, moving to 18 Forth Street in 1925 and to 564 Gorgie Road in 1952, where it remained for around half a century.

By 1914 the company was an agent for Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies, Ipswich, Harrison, McGregor & Co. Ltd, Leigh, and International Harvester Co. Ltd, London. It later took on a number of other agencies in later years such as those of Ferguson and Massey Ferguson.

George Henderson also made a range of its own manufactures. These included turnip and mangold sowers, galvanised field bins, cattle troughs and pig troughs. Corn bins, cattle, horse and pig troughs well as sheep and wire fencing, barbed wire were among its staple manufactures in following years, and ones for which the company was renowned for.

Turnip cutters and thistle cutters were introduced into its range of manufactures in 1924. The first turnip cutter was a “Simplex”, followed by the “New Imperial” with its rotary knives in 1926. By 1936 the design of the thistle cutter had been improved on and two models were sold: the “New Improved Thistle Cutter” and the “New Improved Thistle Cutter with Side Drive”, which became known as the “Jubilee”. Bracken cutters were introduced in 1937 (the “Caledonia bracken cutter”). These were later updated to be used on tractors (both trailer type and front-mounted) until at least 1967.

By 1938, when the company had become organised as a company limited by guarantee to become George Henderson Ltd, it had expanded its manufactures to include the “Henderland” tractor and horse ploughs. From 1951 it sold its own plough shares and other parts to suit various makers of ploughs: the name “Henderland” was stamped onto them. Water bowls for cattle were another later important manufacture, as were turnip drills. A garden machinery department was opened in 1965.

George Henderson was a regular exhibitor to the Highland Show, especially from 1914 onwards, exhibiting at all the shows in the Society’s show circuit, as well as at Ingliston. It was a well-known company in the Borders and Edinburgh.

Today, if you are on Gorgie Road, Edinburgh, you will see a new block of flats and car park where Henderson’s, as it was also known, was at 564 Gorgie Road. If you are in Kelso, you will be reminded of the company’s history by Henderson’s Court and the ornate entrance to the building. Both serve as a reminder of Scotland’s great agricultural implement and machine making industry and its heritage (as well as its vanished heritage).

What implements and machines were found in the barns of East Lothian at the start of the nineteenth century? Robert Sommerville provides a detailed account of the agricultural implements and machines in East Lothian. These include the barn machinery which was undergoing a number of changes at that time. He wrote:

“Till of late years the operation of separating the grains from the straw was performed by the flail, to the manifest injury of both the farmer and the community, for though in some cases the work was tolerably well performed, yet in a great majority of instances it was otherwise. A quantity, perhaps equal to the seed over the county, was lost in the best cases, but where the allowance to the thrasher was either a proportion of the produce, known by the name of lot, generally a 25th part, or when he was paid in money, at so much per boll, the temptation to do the work in a slovenly manner was so great, that a quantity, perhaps double what was required for seed, was lost upon many farms; an evil that did not escape the notice of intelligent men, by several of whom attempts were made to construct machines, that would do the work more perfectly. The first of these was invented by a Mr Menzies, brother to the then Sheriff depute of this county; the machinery was driven by a water-wheel, which put in motion a number of flails of the same kind with those used in thrashing by the hand. Trials made with these machines were so far satisfactory, that a great deal of work was done in a given time, but, owing to the velocity required to do the work perfectly, they soon broken and the invention fell into disgrace.
Some time in the year 1758, another attempt was made by a farmer in the parish of Dunblane, in Perthshire. His machine was constructed upon principles similar to the Flax-mill, having an upright shaft with four arms enclosed in a cylinder, 3 ½ feet in height and 8 in diameter, within which the shaft and its arms were turned with considerable velocity by a water-wheel.-The sheaves, being presented by the hand, were let out from the top of the arms, by which the grain was beat out, and together with the straw descended through an opening in the floor, where they were separated by riddles and fanners also turned by the water-wheel.

About twenty years ago, a third attempt was made by a Mr Elderton, near Alnwick, and a Mr Smart, at Wark, both nearly about the same time. Their machine was so constructed as to act, by rubbing in place of bating out the grain. The sheaves were carried between an indented drum about 6 feet in diameter, and a number of rollers of the same description ranged round the drum, towards which they are pressed by springs, in such a way as to rub out the grain, when the drum was turned round. Upon trial this machine was also found defective, as along with its doing very little work in a given time, it bruised the grain, and so materially hurt its appearance, as to lessen its value considerably in the market.

The machine, in its imperfect state, was seen by the late Sir Francis Kinloch, Bart, of Gilmerton, a gentleman well acquainted with mechanics, and who had paid much attention to country affairs; it occurred to him that the machine might be rendered more perfect, by enclosing the drum in a fluted cover, and fixing on the outside of it four fluted pieces of wood, capable of being raised a little from the circumference by springs, in such a way as to press against the fluted cover, and to rub out the grain as the sheaves passed between them; but after repeated trials, it was found to bruise the grain nearly as much as the model, from which it was copied. In that state it remained for some time, and was afterwards sent by Sir Francis to a very worthy and ingenious character, Mr Mickle of Know Mill, in his neighbourhood, (a millwright by profession), who had for a considerable time employed his thoughts upon the same subject. After much consideration and several trials, it appeared to Mr Mickle that the purpose of separating the grain from the straw might be accomplished upon a principle different from any that had hitherto been attempted, namely, by skutches acting upon the sheaves by their velocity, and beating out the grain, in place of pressing, or rubbing it out; accordingly a model was constructed at Know Mill, in which the grain was beat out of the drum, to which it was presented through two plain feeding rollers, which were afterwards altered for fluted ones. The first machine, on a large scale, executed upon this principle, was done by a son of Mr Mickle’s, for a Mr Stein of Kilbagie, in the year 1786, which, when finished, performed the work to the satisfaction of all parties. A patent was afterwards applied for, and obtained in 1788.

These machines are now used upon most of the principal farms in the county, and are wrought in different ways, by steam, by wind, by water, and by the strength of horses.
Expense- a horse machine of the first powers, with its appendages of rakes, fanners, &c a few years ago could be erected for the sum of 100l or 120l sterling; but owing to the present high price of materials, and workmanship, the expense will be considerably more. A wind machine costs about 250l independent of the buildings: thee, however, cannot, with propriety, be included in the expense, as, upon almost every farm, barns to a considerable extent are required, even when the grain is thrashed by hand. The only defect of machines worked by wind, upon their first introduction, consisted in the risk to which they were exposed, by stopping them to take in the sails, which could scarcely be done during a brisk gale: in that way it sometimes happened that when the wind freshened considerably after the machine was set agoing, either the sails were torn to pieces, or the arms broken off. That defect, however, is now remedied by a late invention of Mr Mickle, by which the whole sails can be taken in, or let out, in less than half a minute, merely by a person pulling a role within the house; by this contrivance the sails are, with ease and expedition, proportioned to any degree of wind, a uniform motion is produced, and all danger of straining or hurting the machine is avoided.

The number of hands required for working one of these machines is from five to six. The grain is commonly carried into the barn in a cart, from which it is handed up to a person who again hands it to the man who feeds the machine.
There is only one thrashing machine worked by steam, in East Lothian: it is situated in the immediate vicinity of a colliery, and, from the cheapness of fuel, is worked at a very trifling expense.
The first thrashing machine, as already stated, was erected in 1786, since which they have increased so much as to be now common upon almost every farm, of any tolerable extent, throughout the county, even upon some very small. They have been introduced upon a reduced scale, at a price so low as 40l; these small machines, having little work to do, and that little being, in general, done slowly, answer the purpose tolerably well; but, though cheaper in the first instance, they are, in the end, more expensive than larger ones, a certain degree of strength being absolutely requisite to doing the work perfectly. If the parts of the machine are below that degree of strength, the work is either ill done, or the machine is destroyed by being exerted above what it is able to bear.”

Accounts like these are important for detailing the history of innovations in particular geographical areas of Scotland. East Lothian was an important county for the development of a number of implements and machines, most notably those of the barn in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

The photos were taken at the Aberdeenshire Farming Museum, August 2018.

James Headrick wrote the General view of the agriculture of Angus in 1813. It includes a detailed account of the implements and machines in that county, including implements and machines in the barn. On threshing mills he writes:

“These are now very general in this county, on all corn farms which exceed a hundred acres in extent. When the flail is used for separating the corn from the straw, the barnman gets one boll in twenty-one without, or one boll in twenty-five with, one meal a day. But the threshing mill excels in expedition, and its superiority in point of clean threshing is such, that the barnman’s allowance is supposed to be more than saved by employing it. Many attempts were made to construct threshing mills, on various principles; but the one which has succeeded best, and which, with only one exception, is universally used here, is that which was invented by Mr Meikle, when he was employed in constructing machinery by the late Mr James Stein, distiller at Kilbagie, near Clackmannan. This machines is so very common, that all description of it seems unnecessary. In this county threshing mills are commonly moved by horses; but where the opportunity occurs, water is always preferred. A few of them are moved by wind, and there may be one or two near the cost moved by steam. The latter are used for grinding, as well as threshing corn.

Many attempts have been made to construct threshing mills with a one-horse power, so as to accommodate small farms. But these machines have not hitherto provided efficient with less than a four-horse power; and the generality of them in this county, are moved by six horses; or by a power equal to their strength. Such machines cost from about L140 to L180.
An artist at Arbroath has lately introduced into that neighbourhood, a threshing machine which is moved by two horses, and seems to do the work very well; only it does not thresh so much as a four, or six-horse, machine, in a given time. In his machine, the length of the drum, or trundle, to which the barriers are fixed, is diminished, so that they cannot take a more corn at a time, than is proportioned to the power of two horses. The wheels and moving powers are all of cast iron, and it is merely Meikle’s machine reduced in its dimensions. This machine costs from L50 to L60. It seems probable, that by a still farther contraction of the drum, or trundle, these machines may be made to do sufficient work with one horse, or even with any inferior power but it must be understood, that the quantity threshed in a given time, must always be proportioned to the original power applied. Thus Mr Meikle’s mill may be accommodated to small farms.
The ingenious Mr Stirling at Howmuir, near Forfar, has adopted a threshing mill, which bids fair to succeed on small farms. It was forst invented in the neighbourhood of Dunblane, and the mode by which it is put in motion is exactly the same with that by which small corn mills are moved in the district of Uig, Island of Lewis, and in some other Hebridean Isles. It consists of a perpendicular shaft or axle, moveable on a pivot below, and having another pivot inserted into a box in the upper part of the building. This upright shaft may be about twenty-five or thirty feet long, according to the height of the water-fall which puts the machine in motion. On the lower part of this shaft there is fastened a trundle of cast iron, about three feet, or two and a half feet diameter, which has thin and broad leaves extending from its centre to the rim which incloses their extremities. These leaves are bent, so as to make an angle of 45 degrees with the horizon, this being the angle by which the water is projected against them; and thus the water falls perpendicular to their surface. 

The water is conducted down a wooden spout, nearly perpendicular, from an elevation of eighteen or twenty feet; and by striking against the leaves of the trundle, puts it, and the upright shaft fixed in its centre, into very rapid motion. Upon the floor through which the upright shafts rises, there is placed a circular wooden trough, about three or four feet high, and from eight to ten feet in diameter. Within this, four cross bars or levers, strongly fastened to the upright shaft, at right angles to each other, are swung round by the motion of the shaft round its axis. These are every way similar to the scutchers by which lint is dressed. A square aperture through the top of this trough, lined with sheet iron, admits the sheaves to be thrust down by the hand, and the corn is quickly knocked-off by the scutchers, which are swung rapidly round. The straw drops upon a wooden block, or brander in the bottom of the trough, where it is tossed round by a wooden lever, provided with a few iron spikes, until it drops the corn; and then it is thrown out at an oblique opening in the side of the trough. What passes through the brander, descends by an inclined plane, upon a riddling machine, which throws aside chips of straw, and coarse chaff. It then passes through the fanners, which are moved by the machinery; and being riddled and passed through the fanners a second time, the grain is ready for the market.

One disadvantages of this machine is, that the sheaf is not struck with the same force at all points, as happens with Mr Meikle’s horizontal knockers. For the velocity at different points of the scutchers, being as the squares of their distances from the centre of motion, it is evident that the outside of the sheaf will be more forcibly struck, than the parts nearer the centre. Another disadvantage os, that they have not contrived to make the machine feed itself; and feeding with the hand is subject to inequalities, sometimes the machine having too much, and sometimes too little. It seems, however, to answer well for threshing oats and barley; but it is not so well adapted for wheat. Perhaps this might be remedied, were a method found of making the machine feed itself. The whole expense of the machinery in this instrument does not exceed L20; but there must be a house built for it.”

The photographs were taken at BA Stores, May 2018.

The later decades of the eighteenth century brought significant changes in ploughs and ploughing in Scotland.
The old Scots plough started to be replaced by the lighter “Small plough”. Teams of oxen started to be replaced by pairs of horses. A small number of foundries started to emerge to make these “modern” ploughs. Older ploughs, made of wood, continued to be manufactured, some wooden ploughs till being found into the twentieth century.

The late eighteenth and early nineteenth century agricultural writers sometimes commented at great length on ploughs, as one of the key implements on the farm. One of them was the great Sir John Sinclair. Writing in An account of the systems of husbandry in the more improved districts of Scotland, he provides an overview of ploughs and ploughing:

“Ploughs-Ploughs with wheels are in general too complicated, and their weight so great, as to require an additional horse, or pair of oxen, to pull them along. In Scotland, the swing plough is almost universally adopted, and rarely more than two horses are now made use of. The horses also are yoked a-breast, by which the advantage of their full strength can best be obtained, animal power being most advantageously exerted, when employed separately, and close to the work. Indeed, when horses are yoked one before the other or harnessed at length, it is hardly possible that they can pull equally. The power of the fore horses must be exerted, to reduce the traces to a straight line, which cannot be done without pressing on the back of the hindmost horse, where the angle is formed, and consequently greatly distressing him: hence the superiority of ploughs drawn by two horses a-breast, and of single-horse carts. In regard to the operation of ploughing, also, it is to be observed, that less time is lost in turning, more especially in small fields, insomuch that with equal ease, two horses a-breast will do at least one-tenth more work, that the same horses will perform when placed in a line.

The plough generally used in Scotland, is known under the name of Small’s plough. But in some of the western counties, as in Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, and Clydesdale, a plough made by Mr Wilkie of Uddingston is very common, and much approved of. The same artist has lately introduduced an iron plough. In the neighbourhood of Jedburgh, Veitch’s construction is justly celebrated, though the sources whence its merits are derived are disputed. But as James Small is the artist to whom hitherto Scotland has been most indebted, I propose, in the Appendix, to explain the origin, nature and advantages of his improvements (see https://archive.org/stream/accountofsystems00sinc…)

The ploughs in Scotland are now almost universally worked by horses; but some intelligent farmers on the borders, think it is advantage to have some ploughs worked by oxen also, as they are not so high priced, and more cheaply maintained; they are of opinion, therefore, that any extraordinary stock, not constantly required, should be of that description.
For clearing green crops, a double plough, which takes a furrow from each side of the row, is reckoned to be a great improvement, and if properly used, renders the mould as fine as that of a garden.

In general, the horses are yoked a-breast, and never in a line, excepting to take up the last furrow in a wet wheat seed-time, to prevent poaching.

In some parts of Scotland, it is necessary to have strong ploughs, calculated for breaking up marshy ground, or old ley, where furze perhaps may abound, and, in such cases, four horses are necessary; and farmers make it a rule to have a spare plough or two, so that the horses may not be kept idle, in case one of the ploughs should accidentally break.”

For late eighteenth and early nineteenth century farming books – see Scottish agricultural implement makers at: https://blog.scottishagriculturalimplementmakers.co.uk/…

The photographs of the horse ploughs were taken at the Scottish Ploughing Championships, West Fenton, October 2016.

In 1810 George Robertson wrote the General View of the Agriculture of the County of Kincardineshire. It includes a detailed account of the threshing mills used in the county. It is one of the few accounts that provides detailed technical information on mills at this time. George Robertson writes:

“The invention of the mode of threshing corn by machinery is but of recent date; at least the successful application of it to business is confined to modern times. The first threshing mill that was erected in Mid Lothian was by the late Mr Francis Trellis, an Hungarian, about the year 1785 or 1786. Before that time there were not above two or three of them in Scotland, where they were first brought into use, and where they are more generally employed still, than in South Britain. 
At what time threshing mills were introduced into Kincardineshire, I have not been able to find out precisely. But it was not long till they were erected in this county after they were invented. At farthest this took place about the year 1795, within ten years of the time that they were first used in the more southern counties. They are now however getting into very general use in all the larger farms; to which, from the great expense of erection, and the great power required to put them in motion, the application seems to be limited. 
To bring down these machines to the level of the lesser class of farms, frequent attempts have been made to adapt them to the power of one horse. But none that I have heard of have fully succeeded, nor indeed any under a four horse draught. With that number they perform to admiration. And when a greater number, as six or eight, is applied, the effect is proportionally greater. But these last would be more adapted to the purpose of a parish than a single farm. 

In this county there are a few threshing mills that are put in motion by water; and wherever this element can be applied then answer well. There are none driven by steam; though steam engines have everything to recommend them for the purpose, but the expense. Neither are there any that are driven by the wind. Mills of this description might be cheaper in point of cost; but the uncertainty of going, to which they would be liable, is a great drawback attending them. Nor have I heard of any that are wrought by one, or by two horses. The greater number are drawn by four or more horses or oxen in each; and of course are upon a scale of expense of from £140 to £180. Thus the use of threshing machines, though extending yearly, has not yet descended to the moderate means and necessities of the inferior order of farmers, the most numerous class in the shire. 
As this powerful and useful machine has certainly not yet arrived to such a point of perfection as to adapt it to general use, I shall here insert the comparative dimensions of two mills, on a four or six horse power; from which, perhaps some inventive genius may be able to strike out some improvement, so as to reduce, if possible, the expence of erecting, and the force required for impulsion. 
The powers of the threshing machine do not seem to require to be augumented. For either of the mills here to be taken notice of, thresh easily, when put to the full stretch, from eight to ten bolls of wheat or oats, in an hour; more surely is not required on any farm. 

No 1. Erected in 1799. No 2. Erected in 1807 
Outer wheel in diameter 21 feet 21 feet 
Number of teeth in so 306 360 
Pinion of do has of teeth 18 23 
First movement, of course 17 times 15.652
Inner wheel, number of teeth 60 144
Diameter of do 4 ½ feet 6 ½ feet 
Pinion of do. Has of teeth 10 16
Second movement, of course 6 9
Revolutions of the drum, or thresher, for one of the outer wheel, of horse 102 140.868
Diameter of the drum 54 inches 36 
Circumference of do 13.333 feet 9.424 
Length of do 4 ½ feet 4 ½ 
Velocity of do. During the round of the horses and outer wheel 1360 feet 1327 
Velocity of do per second, when the horses go at the rate of 2 ½ miles an hour 61 feet 55
Revolutions do per second 4.575 5.836 
Scutchers on the drum 4 4
Strokes per second 18.3 23.334
Comparative weight of the drums 19.1625 9
Horse gangway in diameter 26 feet 28
Circumferences do 81.7 88
Comparative velocity of the drum to the horse walk  
16.64 15.08

Here it may be observed, that the velocity of No. 2 is considerably less than that of No. 1-Yet in point of execution, as ascertained from experience, it is fully as effective. Hence it may be inferred, that, as velocity may be diminished to a certain extent without detriment to the efficient force, these machines may be so constructed as to have less velocity than is at present through necessity; and this be kept in due motion with a less degree of impelling power. Instead of requiring either 61 feet or 55 of velocity per second as in the preceding examples it may perhaps be fully sufficient for the purpose, to have a velocity of only 45 or 40. 
This opinion is founded on what I have observed in a threshing mill belonging to Mr Driver at Maryton, in the vicinity of Montrose. In this mill, which is put in motion by water, the following are the circumstances. 

1. The water wheel, which us overshot, is 16 feet diameter-has a cast metal wheel, with 144 teeth, affixed in segments on its inner side, and turns round 4 12 times in a minute. 
2. This cast metal wheel works upon a pinion of 32 teeth.
3. On the axle of this pinion there is a wheel of 60 teeth.
4. This wheel works upon a pinion of 22 teeth. 
5. On the axle of this pinion there is a wheel of 64 teeth. 
6. Lastly, this wheel works upon the pinion of the threshing cyliner or drum, which has 14 teeth. The cylinder itself is three feet in diameter. 
From the various combinations of these three different movements, it may be seen, that the threshing cylinder revolves 56 times for one revolution of the great wheel. And as that wheel revolves four times and a half in a minute, hence the cylinder will go round 236 ¼ times in a minute. Hence, also, as the cylinder is nine feet five inches in circumference, the superficies of it travels about 2225 feet in a minute, which is at the rate of only 39 feet 6 inches in a second. It nevertheless threshes from six to eight bolls in an hour. 

Farther, the stream of water which gives motion to this mill, when confined to the mill-led, is twenty-one inches broad and four inches deep, running on nearly a dead level. The water therefore operates on the wheel, not by its velocity, but by its weight. It may be of some importance to enquire, to what this weight may amount. 
It is already mentioned that it is an overshot wheel. The water enters upon iyt about two and a half feet from the perpendicular. But it can have little effect in imparting motion till it reaches as far as over as to take the wheel at an angle of 45 from the horizon. This is on a wheel of 16 feet diameter will be at two thirds of eight feet (the semidiameter) from the centre, or 32 inches inwards from the utmost prolongation of the arms. As the water begins only to have full effect on the wheel at the angle of 45 above the horizon, or centre of the wheel; so it will continue to operate no longer upon it with force than till it reaches to 45 degrees below the horizon or centre. Hence its whole effective range will be 90 degrees, or one quarter of the wheel; and as this will be all contained in the course of 32 inches inwards from the extremity of the wheel, hence the quantity of water altogether, will be equal to 32x21x4 inches, or equal to 2688 cubic inches. Now, as a Scotch pint contains about 103 cubic inches, hence there will be about 26 Scotch pints of water operating at once upon the wheel. And as each pint is ascertained to be 3.7lb weight avoirdupois, of course the whole weight required, will be about 96lbs or six stones weight. This, being ascertained, may lead to more important consequences than merely gratifying curiosity. For, from this it may be inferred, that when such a small original moving power is sufficient for the purpose (and it is not more than two thirds of the power of one horse) some mode may be invented in the draught of those mills put in motion by horses, to make an equally small power produce the effect, instead of employing, as at present, four, six, or eight horses, for the purpose. 
It may be remarked before quitting this subject of implements, that fanners for cleansing corn have been long used in this county. They now cost about £4, and where threshing machines are used, they are very generally attached to them.”

The photos were taken at The Deeside vintage rally, August 2018.

John Thomson in his General View of the Agriculture of the County of Fife, published in 1800, provides an interesting account of ploughs and ploughing. It shows the diversity of ploughs used in the county:

“The old Scots plough is now almost entirely gone into disuse, and its place supplied by a small light plough, usually with an iron head and a cast mettle mould-board, constructed on such principles as to require less power to draw it, and to perform the work with greater exactness and perfection. Few ploughs, constructed entirely according to the form of Mr Small’s are used in this county. They are thought not to answer well, and therefore not in general estimation. This, however, may be owing, not to any defect in the form of the plough, when properly made, but to the want of skill in our mechanics, who may not be able to execute the work with sufficient exactness.

The plough most commonly in use has no chain; the sheath is of wood, and without curvature; and the mould-board, instead of being hollow, is round. The beam, though sufficiently low behind, is formed with such a curvature as to bring the bridge down to the proper line of draught, and is frequently strengthened with a plate of iron planted on each side, and extending the whole length; or, in place of these, with a plate of iron on the lower side. The part where the coulter passes through it, is fortified with a piece of iron above and below. But a great part of this iron work is unnecessary, as the beam seldom gives way, except at the coulter or sheath; and therefore, if properly secured at these points, there will be little danger of failure.

The hollow mould-board is certainly best for opening up stiff ground, and for ploughing ley, strong clay, or such land as admits of a clean furrow. But when the mould is loose, wet, and apt to fasten to the plough, the round mould-board seems to be prefereable, as it clears itself more easily of the earth, and makes the furrow master.”

The photographs were taken at the Scottish Ploughing Championships, October 2019.

George Somerville, surgeon in Haddington, wrote the General View of the Agriculture of the County of East Lothian for the Board of Agriculture. It was published in 1805. The volume was part of a wider survey of agriculture and general economy of each of the counties in Britain. Each volume was written according to a plan so that the volumes could provide a systematic view on each topic. The plan included the topic “implements and machines”.

Somerville provides some interesting insights into the tillage implements used in East Lothian up until 1805. It is worth quoting at length:

“Till within the last 30 years, the Scotch plough, generally speaking, was the only one in use; it was of large dimensions, and required the strength of four horses to do ordinary work: in not a few instances two more were added. That implement was succeeded by one, constructed something like the Rotheram plough, which was afterward amended, by the late Mr James Small of Ford.
This plough is provided with a mould board of cast metal, constructed in such a manner as to make less resistance than any other hitherto tried, and is universally drawn by two horses. The price is from 2l 10s to 3l fully mounted.

The harrows commonly used are of two kinds, viz the large brake, worked with two horses, and the common small harrow, worked by one. The brake is so constructed with joints, as to bend, and to accommodate its shape to the curvature of the ridges: it is chiefly employed upon strong lands, especially fallows, and upon soft lands, where the furrow is much bound with couch grass, or other root weeds: the small harrows are afterwards used with advantage, and at once complete the pulverization of the soil, and separate such of the root weeds as have escaped the brake. Where the land is clean, and the soil sufficiently reduced, the brake is very seldom used for covering the seed, the common harrow being found fully adequate to that purpose. This implement appears susceptible to considerable improvement; the number of teeth may certainly be increased with advantage, and the direction of the draught so much altered as to give them greater effect, by making more ruts.

Roller-Rolling is practiced in the county to a certain extent, both in reducing the soil before sowing, and upon the young crops, both of corn and grass. When conducted with judgement, the practice is highly useful, and admits of being considerably extended, especially upon all winter crops, after severe winters, and that without any regard to soil, as both loams and clays, after much naked frost, have their cohesion so much broken, as to leave the plants quite loose and almost without any establishment. Rollers are chiefly of stone or wood, and in a few instances of iron. Where wooden rollers are used, they often have a box upon the top for holding stones, for the purpose of increasing their weight, when it is found necessary. Both wood and stone rollers have a fault, which, when they are used upon growing crops, is considerably felt; in turning short, the motion round the axis is nearly lost, and the implement, by that means, in place of rolling round in the manner it does when drawn straight forward, comes round, in the same manner as if it had no axis, and in that way both the plants and soil are drawn along with it. This defect is completely remedied, by having the roller in two pieces to move round a common axis; most of the cast iron ones are of this construction: in turning, one end of the roller is drawn forward, while the other is rolled backward, and the soil and plants left uninjured.”

The photographs were taken at the Scottish ploughing championships, East Lothian, 2016.

A familiar name in Scotland, and indeed across Scotland until 1930 was Kemp & Nicholson of Scottish Central Works, Stirling.

The company conducted business from its premises in Dumbarton Road, Stirling, as Kemp, Murray & Nicholson, in 1858. It had further business activities further east in East Lothian. The North British Agriculturist in November 1858 stated that “Kemp, Murray & Nicholson have removed from their branch establishment, Haddington, to their headquarters in Stirling where they have been in business for the last 10 years and where their business will henceforth be exclusively carried on.” By 1859 the company described itself as agricultural implement manufacturers, though by 1870 it had expanded its range of trades to be joiners, agricultural implement and reaping machine makers and engineers, activities that it became renowned for in the following decades.

In the summer of 1884 the company moved premises to Cow Park in Stirling. It announced the move in the North British Agriculturist, the Scottish national farming paper of the day.
That notice read:

“Notice that Kemp & Nicholson, agricultural engineers, beg to tender thanks for the liberal patronage which they have received during the last thirty-five years, and have pleasure in announcing that they have now removed to the new and more commodious works at Cow Park Siding (adjoining the Goods Station of the North British Railway), and with the increased facilities they now possess, parties favouring them with Orders may rely on having them executed with promptitude and dispatch.
A varied stock of farm implements and machines always on hand and in course of manufacture, including reapers, and mowers, horse rakes, grubbers, harrows, land rollers, turnip sowers, cart wheels and axles, corn dressing machines, oil cake mills, sheep fodder racks. Food cooling barrows, lever turnip slicers, &c. inspection of which is respectfully invited.
Priced catalogues post free on application. Address, Kemp & Nicholson, Implement Works, Stirling, 10 June 1884.”

That newspaper sent one of its journalists to visit the new premises. It published a substantial account:

“Prominence is this week given in our advertising columns to an intimation of the removal of this well-known Stirling firm of implement makes from Dumbarton Road to a spacious new building in what is know known as Cow Park Siding. The plan of their new buildings-covering about an acre-notwithstanding the great magnitude of the business, already gives room for all that can be required for its expansion for many years, while within the area now occupied it gives space for the different branches of trade which the firm takes up. The main building, situated on the north side of the new roadway leading from Shore Road to the north-west, consists of a large oblong building divided by six rows of pillars, but the different sections of which are occupied by various classes of workmen. The building measures 103 by 78 feet within walls, and the “shops” into which it is divided by the pillars have a floorage of 75 by 25 feet each. Ample accommodation is available in the building for allowing all the different classes of work in connection with the manufacture of implements to be carried on simultaneously. On the opposite side of the roadway are situated the engine-tore, and coal-house, in a two-storey block 40 feet by 30 feet. The 14-horse power engine drives all the machinery of the workshops and the fans for the smith’s fires, and the other apartments are furnished with finished work and with the raw material for further work. The works of Messrs Kemp & Nicholson are most conveniently situated for the transit of goods, and when the projected siding to the adjoining railway is completed, their position will be second to none in this respect. At present all the departments of their works are fully occupied, and their trade, which is not one liable to fluctuations, seems to be a happy exception to the slackness generally prevailing.”

That account is one of the very few ones that describe an implement works. The company remained in these premises until it ceased business shortly after the death of Major Kemp Smith in March 1930.

Many readers will be aware of the eminent firm of Scottish agricultural implement makers of John Wallace & Son, of Glasgow. By 1904 the company had a premises at Ayr, at the Agricultural Implement Works, Railway Works, at Townhead. This Ayrshire branch was later to become a company in its own right under the name of John Wallace & Sons (Ayr) Ltd which continued in business until at least 1967; it was not dissolved until 30 August 1985. Its company limited by guarantee status came in 1949.

By 1934 the company had a number of premises in Ayr, and not only at Townhead Works. There were further ones at Smith Street and Station Bridge. In 1928 it had opened premises at Kilmarnock, at West Langlands Street. In 1944 it also had a premises at Stranraer.

In 1938 the company was known for its reapers, mowers and double drillers and manure sowers. It held a number of agencies. In 1942 they included John Deere and Caterpillar. Three years later they included Massey-Harris, Bamfords, Wallace, Oliver, David Brown, Ransomes and R. A. Lister. 1966 these included Ford and Ransomes.