Local and county agricultural shows used to – and some still do – play an important role for the exhibition of agricultural implements and machines. These include the shows at Ayr, Glasgow and Perth. They were forums for the exhibition of what was new and desirable for the farm that could be purchased locally.
Some newspapers provided lengthy and detailed accounts of the implements and machines exhibited at these shows. They include the Dundee Courier. It provided such an account of the Perth Show in 1925. It provides an account of what framers in the county (and surrounding areas) were purchasing or looking to have as new implements and machines. It also shows what was new (and could be desirable) as well as who was exhibiting and what they were exhibiting.
The following article appeared in the pages of the Dundee Courier on 1 August 1925:
“The implement Yard at Perth Show
Excellent displays by well-known firms
The implement yard at the Perth County Show on the South Inch to-day will provide an interesting feature of the great exhibition.
Messrs H. W. Mathers & Son, Perth, are showing a collection of up-to-date agricultural implements and machinery, including their well-known self-propelled turnip-cutter. Bentall’s food preparing machinery, Fordson tractor, Masset Harris binder, Amanco pumping set and portable truck, and a mower lifted with roller bearings throughout recently introduced. The last-mentioned has been adapted specially for flax cutting as well as for harvesting work. The flax-cutting machine is fitted with a special cross-cutting-knife bar and self-delivery gear. The mower is eminently suited for ensilage crops. Messrs Mathers have been favoured with an order from Messrs A. Proctor & Co. Blairgowrie, for twelve of these mowers.
Messrs Ferguson & Walker, saddlers and harness makers, 19 Princes Street, Perth, have an attractive stand on which there is a large and varied collection of harness, leather goods, motor rugs &c. The quality of the exhibits us very high-class. The firm has a very large clientele among agriculturists, and extend a cordial invitation to visitors to call and inspect their exhibits.
John Doe, Limited, Errol, have a grand display of seasonable implements of leading makers. The exhibits include Albion and Massey Harris binders and mowers; Ransomes horse rake, cultivator for drills, and potato digger; Listers cream separator, churn, and butter worker; Ballach’s patent scarifier and horse hoes; Ogle hay forks; Dickies hay bogey; pig troughs, cake bins, stack covers &c.
At this stand will also be seen the 12.20 Case tractor.
Sectional huts
Mr Charles Brand, building contractor and wood, iron, machinery, and meal merchant, Dundee and Lochee, is exhibiting sectional huts as garages, bothies, houses &c. Any sizes can be made to order. In addition there are at this stand new and second-hand timber for building purposes, wash-hand basins, fireclay troughs; all classes of stoves, portable boilers, ranges, navvy and garden barrows, ladders, rooflights, felts, and general requisites for farm and estate use.
Messrs Lindsay & Fenwick, Perth, are showing the “New Lister” cream separator, the price of which with table base is from £7. There are also Primus stoves and Hestia ovens, petrol lamps, stoves andirons, unbreakable “Thermos” flasks, binder twine, stack rope, stack covers, potato sculls, &c. the numerous articles on exhibition are very well arranged in a most attractive stand.
The old established firm of Messrs A. Johnston & Sons, St Catherine’s Road, Perth, are represented in the implement yard, where they have a display of carts, extra wheels and axles &c.
The firm are well-known cartwrights, motor body builders, and general blacksmiths, and do an extensive business in repair work in the city.”
