Adverts for displenishing sales are a useful source of evidence to see what implements and machines were used on particular farms at a specific point in time. They may include implements and machines that had been used for decades as well as newer ones and the latest technologies. They can show the preference of particular farmers for certain makers and makes of machinery as well. They can also be used to show how widespread some implements and machines were, especially if they were more specialised.
By the early 1950s mechanisation was a key word on Scottish farms. The horse era was giving way to the tractor era and on some farms both kinds of power were used, sometimes for specific tasks. With labour shortages both of full-time and seasonal and casual workers, there was a push to start to find more mechanised ways to deal with the handling, harvesting and processing of crops.
The following selection of adverts from a number of newspapers across Scotland shows the implements and machines on a small number of farms in 1954. They show widespread mechanisation with up-to-date implements and machines to undertake a wide variety of tasks from ploughing, sowing, cultivation, management, harvesting and processing of crops.
Implements and machines from key makers were noted. They included names such as Sellar of Huntly and Alloa, Tullos of Aberdeen, Allan of Muthly, and Newlands of Linlithgow. English and north-American names were also represented for some of the implements and machines. They included well-known names associated with particular products such as Massey Harris for corn drills and binders, Ransomes for ploughs and cultivating implements and machines, Blackstone for hay rakes and swathers and Cooch fro potato dressers. At some farms there was a preference for particular makers: at Windyhill and Crosshill, Kincardine-on-Forth there was a preference for the Ford-Ferguson system with its implements.
The farms were using a range of motive power. Some farms had both tractor and horse implements and machines, with the former focusing largely on ploughing and cultivating implements and machines. Others appeared to be working with horses, no tractor being listed.
Windyhill and Crosshill, Kincardine-on-Forth (from Falkirk herald, 12 November 1955)
(Messrs Tulliallan Farming Co.)
“Implements
2 Fordson Major tractors (Diesel, 1953-54), Ferguson tractor (fitted with Perkins P3 1954), Ferguson T.V.O. tractor, F.R. double-furrow plough, Massey-Harris double furrow plough, Ferguson 10ins, double furrow plough, 2 Ferguson single-furrow ploughs, Ford Ransomes ridger, Ferguson ridger, Ferguson grubber, Ferguson potato planter, Massey-Ferguson combine harvester (726), McCormick pick-up baler, McCormick binder (PTO 7ft cut), Massey-Harris binder, Massey-Harris combine drills, Bamford tractor mower, 2 tractor trailers, low-loading trailer (with removeable sides for livestock, Blackstone hay rake and swathe. Turner, Newlands potato digger. Cruikshank’s reel for Newland’s digger, Thwaite dung spreader, 2 sets tractor harrows, tractor roller, Ransome tractor grubber, turnip barrow scarifier, hayrake, hay slipe, saddle harrows, Cooch potato dresser, box cart with tractor hitch, Sellar’s grass seed barrow, water cart (pneumatics), turnip cutter, cattle crush, Bamford bruiser, Massey Harris hammer mill, set fanners, 3 corn chests, galvanised tank (with 3 drinking bowls), 3 galvanised tanks, 500 gallon diesel tank, 250 and 100 gallon paraffin tanks, 40 gallon paraffin tank with pump, 5 foot coolers, number of feeding bins, several galvanised feeding troughs, fireclay troughs, 2 ladders, potato baskets, large number of hen coops and nest boxes, 3 tilly lamps and all the usual barn, byre and stable utensils.”
Skipperton Farm, Bonnybridge (Mr Watson) (From Falkirk herald, 12 November 1955)
“Implements – tractor
1952 paraffin Ferguson, Newlands double-furrow plough, Ferguson ridger, cultivator, potato planter, mower and stabiliser, mill loader, Massey-Harris dung spreader, Dickie-Campbell hay sweep, Wallace potato digger, Don manure barrow, Cruikshank’s rollers, 2 sets diamond harrows, set chain harrows, McCormick binder (6ft cut), Dickie hay lifter, Jack box cart, trailer, large trailer.
Most of these implements are less than four years old.
Horse – hay turner, hay rake, 2 Jack carts, roller, turnip barrow, Wallace no. 7 mower, ploughs, grubbers, hay collector, harness, Rutherford potato dresser (powered by 1hp Villiers engine), 2 hay barrows, 3 dung barrows, 2 sack barrows, 2 turnip cutters, chicken coops, stobs, wire, and all the usual barn, byre and stable utensils etc. 1954 Austin A40 shooting brake.”
Mulchaich, Conon Bridge (Mr H. Forbes) (From Ross-shire journal, 20 May 1955)
“Tractors and implements
1 Ford Ferguson petrol/paraffin tractor, 1 Ferguson petrol/paraffin tractor with Ferguson disc sower, 2 D.F. ploughs, 1 S.F. plough, ridgers, cultivator, roller, transport box and Jack, mower and rake, set tractor harrows, broadcast, International manure sower, turnip sower on lift, Albion binder (6ft cut, power driven), 2 tractor trailers with harvest ends and sides (1 trailer with sack sides), potato digger, Cooch potato riddle with engine, sheep turnip cutter, potato planter, scarifier, 2 coup carts on irons, 2 horse ploughs and drill plough, fanners, weighing machine and weights, Ferguson pulley, 8 sheep nets, quantity stickings, quantity harness, 250 gallon paraffin tank with tap, Wolseley electric fence, usual barn and stable implements.
Note- the Ferguson implements and binder all good and in almost new condition.”
Tulloch, Bonar bridge (Mr Mackay) (From Ross-shire journal, 20 May 1955)
“Implements-Ferguson petrol/paraffin tractor with ridgers, double furrow plough cultivator, transport box and jack, 1 set spring-tooth harrows, 2 sets x 3 harrows, 1 horse roller, 1 manure sower, 1 turnip sower, 2 horse mowers, Massey Harris binder, horse rake, horse drill plough, tractor trailer, fanners, weighing machine and weights, anvil, forge, paraffin engine, sack barrow, 2 ladders, sack cover, 2 cross-cut saws, bushman saw, quantity felt, cart and plough harness for 2 horses, punch and mell, quantity timber, stone hammer, oil drums, bushel and roller, sack barrow, rutting spades, electric drill and bits.”
Forthar Mill, Freuchie (Mrs Marshall) (From Dundee courier, 14 October 1955)
“Implements – 2 Ferguson diesel tractors (1 hooded), Ferguson tractor with hydraulic, 3 Ferguson ridgers, Ferguson cultivator, Ferguson manure distributor (as new), Jack manure distributor (as new), Jack potato planter (as new), M.H. grain drill, cultivator, 2 Ferguson D.F. ploughs, Cockshutt S.F. plough, set tractor harrows, turnip barrow, power drive Albion binder (as new), Bamford hay mower, 2 hydraulic harvest bogies, harvest bogie, R.T. tractor coup cart, Cooch potato dresser with engine, tractor ruck lifter, 2 tractor hay bogies, R.T. loading elevator with engine, Wallace elevator potato digger, Jack potato digger, tractor roller, beet topper, beet plough, 2 drill ploughs, furrowing-up plough, 2 Newlands ploughs, 110A plough, swing plough, Hunter hoe, drill harrow, circle harrows, spring tooth harrows, 2 sets diamond harrows, turnip thinner, ridge marker, hay chopper, D.F. horse plough, Wallace potato planter, shafted horse roller, Jack double driller, Dickie hay turner, Ransome horse rake, 3 drill harrow, scuffler, scarifier, 2 R.T. coup carts, Garvie grass seed barrow, wheels and axle (iron shod), feed bin, 8 calf feeding troughs, cattle catching pen, grain drill, sack lifter, steelyard and weights, 2 meat coolers, 2 sack barrows, 3 wheelbarrows, electric hand drill, cake breaker, 2 pig feeders, pig float, Fountain white washing machine, sheep turnip cutter, 2 extension ladders, saw bench, smithy fire and anvil, potato sculls and sacks, stack props and covers, hay bosses, paraffin tanks, usual barn and stable utensils, &c.
Poultry appliances comprising-10 small henhouses, 1 hut, 2 incubators, Gloucester (1950) and Glevum 100 egg size, chick rearers, hoppers, fountains &c. Also – 18 henhouses from 6ftx9ft to 10ftx7ft, 5 night arks (all in good condition), Ferguson potato digger (power drive), seeder, manure d
