Displenishing sales provide an insight into the implements and machines that were used on a farm when the tenant was leaving it. While they reflected the type of activities that were being undertaken, they also show whether the farm was using new and innovative technologies or were relying on older ones.
A look through displenishing sales notice can reveal a lot about early users of particular technologies. These include the “Glasgow Tractor”, manufactured at first by Wallace (Glasgow) Ltd at Cardonald in the early 1920s.
In August 1921 one was advertised for sale at the “extensive displenishing sale” at Mains of Dun, Angus. It had “only been in use one season”. It was described to be “in very good order”. (it fetched £210).
In May 1922, one was advertised for sale at Whitehouse, St Boswells. It was “in good working order”.
In October 1922 one belonging to Mr G. S. Smith, Whitehouse, was offered for sale at Kelso Auction Mart.
In October 1925 one was advertised for sale at West Lochlane, Crieff., Perthshire
In October 1926 one was advertised for sale at the “highly important displenishing sale” on the farms of Whitehills and Pitkindie, Inchture.
In November 1927 two were advertised aat Dolphingstone, Tranent, East Lothian (fetching £50 and £15 respectively). This had been one of the farms which had held an early demonstration of the tractor at work.
In May 1928 one was advertised for private sale by A, Simpson & Son, Forfar. It was described as “in thorough working order”. Another was sold at a displenishing sale in November that year at a sale at Dalachy and Balram near Aberdour. Its engine had been reconditioned in the same year.
In 1929 one was sold at the November term at the sale at Greenhead, Pencaitland. It was advertised as an “important displenishing sale”.
These were all farms that were using modern machinery and also an extensive range of it. For example, at Whitehills and Pitkindie, Inchture, the implements for sale included the following:
Cattle float, 4 coup carts, 2 corn carts, turnip cutting cart, wood cart body, rally car and harness, Glasgow tractor, tractor plough, Bisset binder, Massey-Harris binder, reaper and mower, Bamlet mower, 3 Sellar ploughs, 3 S. M. ploughs, 2 D. M. ploughs, 3 American ploughs, 3 Oliver ploughs, 2 drill grubbers, 3 horse grubber, cultivator, 4 sets iron harrows, set circular harrows, set chain harrows, set spring-tooth harrows, 2 horse rakes, hay collector, metal roller with pole, grass seed sowing machine, turnip sowing machine, manure distributor, double driller and manure distributor, grain drilling machine, potato digger, potato riddles, barrow and baskets, weighing machine, sack barrow, set fanners, bushel and roller, barn pans and shovels, cake breaker, 2 wheelbarrows, 3 ladders, 2 sheep turnip cutters, 50 sheep troughs, iron bin, 4 sets cart and plough harness, set van harness, 9 stall collars, and the whole byre, barn, stable and dairy utensils, including forks, graips, spades, shovels, hoes, picks, mattocks, harles, brooms, rakes, hawks, butter worker, pails, sieves &c.
