By 1952 tractors were becoming a more commonplace element of the farming technology on farms. There were also a number of dealer networks to supply the various makes such as those of Fordson and Ferguson.
We have pulled together a list of the main dealers and agents of tractors in 1952. Who was your local dealer? Did they have an impact on the tractors and agricultural implements and machines that were used in an area? How many of the names do you recognise?
Tractor dealers:
Agra Motor & Agricultural Engineers, Quayside, Banff
Alexanders of Edinburgh Ltd, 64 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh
Caledonian Tractor & Equipment Company Limited, office and works, 1 Rigby Street, Glasgow
Cumming & Dempster, Dee Street, Banchory
John Davidson & Sons (Engineers) Ltd, 23 Main Street, Turriff, Aberdeenshire
James Duncan, Victoria Garage, Maud, Aberdeenshire
Elgin Central Engineers Ltd, Fordson Main Dealers, High Street and Hill Street, Elgin
William Elrick (Aberdeen) Ltd, Fordson agents, 2 Great Northern Road, Aberdeen
Fish Rodger (Tractors) Ltd, 34-36 High Street, Jedburgh
John Fowler & Co. (Leeds), Leeds, diesel crawler tractors, Scottish representative George E. McCaw, 112 Bath Street, Glasgow
James Gordon & Co. (International and David Brown main dealers), New Market Street, Castle Douglas
Lutkins Ltd, 160 Bath Street, Glasgow
Mackay’s Garage & Agricultural Co. Ltd, (Ferguson distributors), Central Garage, Dingwall. Branches: County Garage, Thurso; County Garage, Dornoch
Kenneth McKenzie & Sons (sole David Brown distributors for the North), Evanton, Ross-shire Branches: Conon Bridge; Inverness: 30 King Street
MacNeill Tractors Ltd, 20 Graham Square, Glasgow
Mannofield Motors Ltd, (distributors for counties of Aberdeen, Banff and Kincardine for Turner “Yeoman of England” diesel tractors, 571 Great Western Road, Aberdeen
Marshall, Sons & Co. Ltd, Gainsborough, Scottish representative: George E. McCaw, 112 Bath Street, Glasgow
Massey-Harris Limited, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Head office: Barton Dock Road, Manchester
W. & R. Murray (all leading makes), Main Street, Alford, Aberdeenshire
P. S. Nicholson, Elgin
Scottish Tractors (Aberdeen) Ltd, Ellon
Scottish Tractors (Aberdeen) Ltd, Fraserburgh
Scottish Tractors (Huntly) Ltd, Huntly
P. S. Nicholson (Forres) Ltd, Forres
Jack Olding and Co. (Scotland) Ltd, Coronation Works, Coupar Angus, Perthshire
Even though the combine harvester was making inroads into the harvesting of the grain crop, and revolutionising the handling of the crop, there continued to be a number of agricultural millwrights in Scotland. By this time they were generally well-established companies that had been making mills for a number of decades. They included:
Allan Brothers (Aberdeen) Ltd, Back Hilton Road, Aberdeen
Bertrams Ltd, Sciennes, Edinburgh
Clark & Sutherland, Millbrae (and general agricultural engineers), Smiddybrae Works, Kingswells, Aberdeenshire
J. Crichton, Turriff
Alexander Dey, 35 Church Street, Huntly, Aberdeenshire
Garvie & Scott, 41 Willowdale Place, Aberdeen
Alexander Dey, 35 Church Street, Huntly, Aberdeenshire
Andrew Young & Son, 51 High Craighall Road, Glasgow
The following are some snapshots of the histories of a small number of the millwright businesses:
By 1905 Wright Brothers of the Boyne Mills, Portsoy, made reapers, drillers and threshing mills. It was their threshing mills, and as a millwright that the company was especially renowned. By the late 1940s the business was undergoing significant changes. In early 1948 steps were being taken to incorporate it to become a company limited by guarantee; the company received its certificate of incorporation to become Wright Brothers (Boyne Mills) Ltd. The company continued in business until 1955. On 7 February the company passed an extraordinary resolution to voluntarily wind up the company. Its final winding up meeting was held on 17 October 1956.
In the mid nineteenth century the name of Crichton was associated with Lonmay, Aberdeenshire. The millwright business of James Crichton grew into a thriving and very successful business. By 1919 James Crichton took the step to re-locate his business to Strichen.
By 1919 his business was a well-known one. For the 1921 Highland Show, James advertised his business as a “well-known-maker”, also with “a large selection of the latest and most up-to-date threshers all in motion”. He had agents throughout Scotland, all of whom were well known implement and machine makers or machinery agents: Inverness (James Ferries & Co.), Perthshire and Forfarshire (Ford & Paterson, Broughty Ferry), Glasgow (P. & R. Fleming, 16 Graham Square), Linlithgow and surrounding district (A. Newlands & Sons Ltd), and the Lothians (W. R. Storie, Kelso). By 1922, the business had a depot at 60 Princes Street, Perth; by 1924, it was located at Horse Cross, Perth.
The business incorporated in 1925 to become Crichton’s (Strichen) Ltd, Strichen, and Perth. However, this change was short-lived, as it was voluntarily wound up from 1927. However, by April 1928 James Crichton had established himself as “James Crichton, engineer, Glasgow Road, Perth”, a name and address that continued to be known until at least 1931.
There were further changes. From 1934 James Crichton appears at as a millwright and engineer in Turriff. In the following year he advertised himself as “James Crichton Turriff … threshing machinery the outcome of 70 years’ experience”. By 1948 the business was referred to as “James Crichton, millwright and engineer, Chapel Street Works, Turriff, Aberdeenshire”. It was to move premises, and by 1953 the works were known as “Station Street Works”. That connection with Perth was not, however, lost. In 1949 the business was looking for business premises in Perth. By that time it had a number of long-service employees, such as William Finnie.
James Crichton died in September 1952. The displenishing sale of the stock and plant at the Station Street Works was held on 17 and 18 March 1953, also marking the closing down of the business. But that was not the end of the business or its name.
William Finnie, who had been the works manager for the last ten years acquired the Station Works and permission to carry on business from these premises as a millwright and engineer under the firm name of “James Crichton”, as well as the right to manufacture and supply spares to “Crichton” threshers. By 1969 the company was advertising as “James Crichton, millwrights, bodybuilders and engineers, Turriff”.
Shearer Brothers, Maybank Works, Railway Station, Turriff, later of Balmellie Street, Turriff, was a well-known thrashing mill maker in north-east Scotland. It undertook business from at least 1876 until 1972; on 18 July 1972 the company passed a special resolution to voluntarily wind up the company. The final winding up meeting was held on 29 August 1972.
The company undertook a number of trades and was an agricultural engineer, an agricultural implement maker, a machinery maker, a mechanical engineer, millwright and later a motor engineer. It was active in promoting its manufactures: exhibiting at the Highland Show from 1876 until 1939.
Robert G. Garvie set up his own business in Bon Accord Lane, Aberdeen, in 1895 to make and sell a range of agricultural implements and machines, including threshing mills. Before that time he was a highly esteemed implement maker.
When Robert G Garvie died in January 1921, the North British Agriculturist printed an obituary. It sets out his role in the Scottish agricultural implement making industry, as well as his own development within it:
“With much regret, we record the death on the 7th instant of Mr Robert G. Garvie, head of the firm of R. Garvie & Sons, agricultural engineers and millwrights, Aberdeen. Mr Garvie, who was in his 79th year, was the oldest member of the Scottishagricultural implement trade, and has worked hard right up to the end. He contracted a chill while on a journey to the north, and pneumonia cut him off after a few days’ illness. Apprenticed in his youth to joinery, he became a partner with his father in James Garvie & Sons, one of the best businesses of its kind in the north, and took a leading part in the introduction of wood-working machinery. In 1875 he became manager of the Northern Agricultural Implement Co., Inverness, and a year later joined the late William Anderson in the firm of Ben Reid & Co., Bon Accord Works. As the practical engineer of that establishment, he designed many labour-saving appliances and it was due to his personal supervision that the products of Ben Reid & Co. gained such a high reputation. On leaving that firm, Mr Garvie was engaged for some time by the late Provost Marshall, whom he assisted in the manufacture and improvement of the many machines turned out from Messrs Jack & Sons’ Maybole works. About twenty-five years ago he returned to Aberdeen and founded the present firm of R. Garvie & Sons, specialising in broad-cast sowing machines and threshing machines. From his extensive knowledge of iron and wood working, he was possibly most successful in the making of threshing mills, so much so, that of late years no firm supplied more threshers of the medium and small type required in the outlying districts of Scotland and Ireland. His business so developed that over a year ago he removed his workshops to the fiinely-equipped premises in Canal Road, Aberdeen, where he devoted much attention to the making of artificial manure distributors, chaff cutters, and hay cleaning appliances. Mr Garvie was a typical, hard-headed, hard-working Aberdonian, and everything which left his premises bore the stamp of efficiency, substantiality, and good finish. He will be missed by many from the national showcards as well as from the Ayr and Dublin gatherings, where he was a constant attender. Though of retiring disposition, this who came in contact with him found Mr Garvie to be a man of many parts. Well read, he took an interest in many things outside his business, and socially was a gentlemen whom to meet was to learn from and to know was to esteem and admire. He leaves two sons, Mr R. G. Garvie, junior, and Mr J. T. Garvie, who have both long been associated with him as partners in business.”
Important innovations in machinery to mechanise the hay harvest took place in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. One of the makers who contributed to these important innovations was Mr Pollock of Mauchline.
This is what the North British Agriculturist wrote about Mr Pollock’s work in helping to mechanise the hay harvest, in an article published on 13 August 1914:
“Mr John Pollock and his rick lifter
During the last thirty or forty years, however, a great change has been effected in haymaking implements. With the application of the mower, horse-rake, swathe turner, tedder and hay collector, farmers have been able to cope with the much extended area of the hay crop both quicker and at a very much reduced cost for labour. The heaviest part of the work, however, is when large quantities of hay in cocks in the field has to be carted and stacked in the ordinary way, and labour has been greatly saved on this score by the combination of the horse hay fork with the rick-lifter, a system which was advocated in our columns as far back as 1887 by the late Mr John Speir of Newton and which has now become pretty general all over the country. It is perhaps not generally known that the rick-lifter or hay bogie had its origin in the Kilmarnock district of Ayrshire. The inventor was John Pollock, Park farm, Finchingfield, Essex, formerly of Middlefield, Galston, and Lathallan in Fifeshire. Although now well up in years, Mr Pollock at eighty is hale and hearty and can entertain his visitors with many experiences of his farming experiences in Ayrshire, Fife, and at Finchingfield, where he now resides on the fine arable and stock-rearing Essex farm purchased by his son last October. Mr Pollock was recently interviewed in his home by a representative of our esteemed contemporary The Kilmarnock Standard, who gives a graphic account of his visit, and thus described the origin of Mr Pollock’s great labour-saving invention.
The initial stages of invention
On such high-lying farms as Muirhead and Middlefield, the “calf-round” of the Pollocks, it can be easily understood that it did not pay to plough a large break. In consequence, more loose hay was grown than on the average farm, and the brothers, Robert and John Pollock, were fertile in plans for handling it expeditiously. They early had a mowing machine, and were among the first to erect hay sheds. To save the labour and waste attendant on forking the field ricks on to a cart they put a rope around them and drew them into the shed or hay stack with horses. By this plan stones and dirt were apt to get into the hay, with disastrous results to the chaff-cutter, and many a discussion took place between the brothers as to a plan to obviate this. Ultimately they made a sledge with trams, on to which they drew the rick with horses. This was a great step in advance, but for easiness of draught it was apparent that wheels were necessary. They added low wheels cut out of a round tree to the sledge and attached a windlass in front for pulling on the ricks, but it was not until they adopted the tipping arrangement for the platform similar to a coup-cart (which was John Pollock’s idea) that their invention was a complete success. The next year, 1879, they made a complete new rick-lifter, and it is worthy of note as showing the completeness of their invention and the thoroughness of the workmanship and materials used that this rick-lifter is still used by Mr William Pollock (son of the late Robert Pollock) at cairn, Fifeshire, and performing its work as efficiently as the newest hand-power rick-lifter made at the present day. The following year they made another, and Mr Robert Wallace of Whitletts, the noted implement maker and himself a genius, induced them to exhibit it for the public benefit on his stand at Ayr show, where it was an object of great interest. Mr John Pollock has used this one ever since.
Combination with horse-fork
To secure full advantage of the rick-lifter Mr Pollock recognised that a horse-fork was a necessity. An American horse-fork about that time was introduced into this country, but the principle on which it was made rendered it useless for anything as sold as a field rick, and it could only be worked (and even then not very satisfactorily) in loose hay. Mr Pollock saw that a fork to be of use under our conditions must be constructed on a different principle, and after several trials he devised the hay fork on the shear principle, which is invariably used in hay sheds still. About a dozen years ago he brought out another fork on the graip principle, specially suitable for hay-stacks and much speedier than the other. The builder of the stack does not require to withdraw this fork from the hay, as the attendant on the ground by simply pulling a light rope can deliver the forkful wherever the builder wants it and then pull it down for refilling. Mr Pollock with becoming modesty gives his brother Robert joint credit for the invention of the rick-lifter, and also credits his brother-in-law, the late Mr James Allan, Byres, Darvel, with giving him suggestions; but the horse-forks mentioned above, and which are the most efficient and cheapest in the market, and so simple that any blacksmith can make them, are entirely the product of his own brain. It is all to Mr Pollock’s credit that in neither the rick-lifter nor the forks did he ever seek after a patent, but allowed the public to get full benefit of his inventions.
The spread of the rick-lifter
Although the rick-lifter was recognised as a great boon it was some years before it spread rapidly. This was due to the lack of enterprise on the part of implement makers in not taking it up and pushing its sale. About 1882 a number were made at Waterside, Fenwick, by the joiner there, Mr Robert Wyllie, now in Blackbyre, and a few were also used in Avondale and elsewhere. But in 1887 both the rick-lifter and horse-fork were brought into prominence by the late Mr John Speir, Newton, who contributed a series of valuable articles on haymaking machinery to the North British Agriculturist in the summer of that year. He has used both the rick-lifter and horse-fork on his own farm the year before, and his clear and lucidly written articles, in which he described them, giving all the measurements, &c, in such a way that any intelligent tradesman could make them from it, were eagerly ready by enterprising minds all over the country. Mr Speir did not refer to the inventor of the rick-lifter, but said:-“my attention has also been taken up with a species of sledge called a rick-lifter, in very limited use in the strictly rural and in many places moorland districts lying in the counties of Lanark and Ayr between the towns of Hamilton and Kilmarnock. This hay sledge on low wheels had been in use for a year or two for conveying field ricks from the field to the stackyard. … The time required to load in the field by a man and girl is much about the same as two men require to tie the ropes and dress the side of an ordinary cart of hay, while the unloading is about the same as is required for delivering a cart of turnips from an ordinary tip or coup-cart”.
After that time nearly every country joiner commenced to make them, the farmer generally providing an old cart axle for the wheels. Large makers also began to specialise in them for both hand and horse power for drawing on the rick. Their value is now recognised, and to-day a rick-lifter is an almost indispensible part of the equipment of a hay-growing fram as is also the horse-fork.”
The photographs are of implements and machines made by Pollock of Mauchline and displayed at Pollock Farm Equipment.
The Royal Northern was one of the key agricultural shows in Scotland. It provided an important showcase for agricultural implement and machine makers in the north east and further afield to exhibit their manufactures and those for which they held agencies. The Aberdeen press and journal provided an account of the implement department in its issue of 16 July 1903. It described what was new, innovative and worth a look at the key stands of makers. It is well worth a read for seeing what was on display at that time and to consider how much implements and machines have changed since that date:
“The summer show
At central park at Kittybrewster
The implement department will also possess much interest, and on the various admirably laid out stands one will be able to inspect the implements in their most advanced state of perfection. The plan of the showyard is very much on the same lines as former years, and which experience has proved be the most satisfactory both for exhibitors and visitors.
The implement section
As is invariably the case, the shower of implements comprises a large amount of space of the showyard, and this year there is a great variety of implements and machines on exhibition, showing almost everything that is now and interesting for facilitating and perfecting the work of the farm. We give descriptions of several of the stands, as well as articles of outstanding interest to be found on them.
Ben Reid and Co. Ltd
At stand no. 1, Ben Reid and Co Ltd, of the Bon Accord Works, show a large and varied collection of implements, well finished and tastefully laid out, and well worth inspecting. Occupying a prominent position, on the stand are a number of the Massey Harris binders, well and favourably known all over the United Kingdom. Last year when the crops were extremely difficult to handle the machine did work which enhanced its already brilliant reputation. It is fitted with ball and roller bearings, which make it one of the lightest draught binders in the market. Being most substantially built there is little or no trouble with breakages during harvest, and its durability is shown by the fact that numbers of machines sent out 14 or 15 years ago are still doing as good work as ever. The Bon Accord no. 2 back delivery reaper is also shown on this stand. This reaper is strong and light in draught, and it can, when fitted with mowing show, be used as a mower. The speed of the knife being very high, it makes capital work among hay. Conspicuously displayed are a number of “Diamond” mowers, a mower which was brought out two or three years ago, and in which are embodied several new points. This machine is chain driven, and noiseless when work; it can be fitted with reaping parts and used as a manual reaper if desired. Threshing machines in several sizes form a notable feature. As usual they are well finished. The reputation of the firm for this class of machine is being more than maintained, as we are informed that, although the season has hardly begun, they have already booked a large number of orders. For the hay season are exhibited a collection of horse rakes and hay gatherers which are certainly worth looking at. Other implements on view are a number of “Bon Accord” spring tine cultivators, introduced by this firm about three years ago, and which have been sold in thousands all over the north, drill and broadcast sowers, artificial manure distributors, bruisers, chaff cutters, weighting machines, garden seats, and dairy utensils, etc- all substantial, well-finished goods. This collection is in many respects unique and should not be missed.
Messrs George Bruce and Co
Stand no. 27-George Bruce and Co., seed and implement merchants, 35 Market Street, Aberdeen, occupy one of the largest stands in the showyard. It is situated to the left of the main entrance, and is 200 feet long. Their stand affords one of the fullest displays of agricultural implements in the yard, the exhibit not being confined to any one kind of implement, but being extensive in its character. The attention of the visitor will be first attracted by the firm’s show of the new Albion steel binders, of which there are six forward. They are of the latest type, and embrace the best and up-to-date improvements. The Albion new patent, low down, steel binder, no. 2 is one of the lightest and most compact in the yard, and has given the utmost satisfaction to patrons during the last two years. The driver’s seat being placed low down at the back of the machine he has full command of his horses, and can see at a glance both the cutting and binding gear, and, in case of anything going wrong with the machine, he can pull up his horses at once. Alongside the Albion binders, Messrs Bruce have a capital display of the Albion back-delivery reapers, which are so well known in the north of Scotland that they need no special mention. Messrs Bruce are the sole agents for the Albion binders and reapers. The firm also shows one of H.L. 2 Albion mowers. These machines are fitted with two speeds-one for reaping and the other for mowing. The firm also exhibits one of the Albion H.L. single-speed mowers, two of the Milwaukee mowers, and one Ideal mower. These are very light and well finished mowers, and well worthy of notice. There are also on the stand two Ransome’s horse rakes, two Nicholson’s horse rakes, and three of Ransome’s well-known Scotch ploughs. They also exhibit two baker’s prize vans, also one of Duncan’s and one of Stubbs’ combined barn fans, with elevator and automatic weighing machine. This machine will dress the grain, elevate it into sacks, and weigh it at one operation. There is also a fine collection of dairy utensils, such as Hathaway’s prize churns, the Favourite churns, and Bradford’s butter-workers, in various sizes. There is also a varied collection of general agricultural implements, including weighing machines, hay collectors, portable boilers, drag rakes, reaper rakes, turnip cutters, chaff cutters, cake breakers, corn bruisers, simplex pumps etc. The firm also exhibit a very large display of rustic garden seats, and folding garden seats and chairs in great variety.
The ”Allan” oil engine
On stand no. 8 our local makers, Messrs Allan Brothers, Ashgrove, exhibit a magnificent collection of their well-known “Allan” oil engines, in sizes varying from 5 ½ to 18 brake horse power. The engines are of a new type, combining several very important features not hitherto embodied in any oil engine. A special feature-and one that has proved itself of real undeniable merit-is the safety oil feed, which makes it impossible for a careless or inexperienced attendant to flood the vapouriser and so prevent the engine from starting. Another very fine improvement is the introduction of a new combination self-starter, which is shown at work on the larger engines. This starter can be worked automatically either by the engine itself or by the attendant, and it makes the engine as easily started and managed as a steam engine, and will completely remove the only prejudice which many users of power have to an oil engine of large size. The design, workmanship, and finish of this engine are of a very high standard, and are invariably favourably commented on by all who have a knowledge of machinery, and when the selection of an engine is put into the hands of an expert the choice very often falls upon the “Allan”. The Ashgrove Engineering Works adjoin the showyard, but all the same the Messrs Allan deserve the highest credit for making what is undoubtedly by far the finest exhibition of oil engine seen in Aberdeen, and we have no doubt but that their stand will be of special interest to all who contemplate purchasing an oil engine. We may add that the Messrs Allan have given up the manufacture of gas engines, and are now devoting themselves exclusively to the engine, and are, we believe, the only firm in this country to make a sole speciality of this class of machine.
George Sellar and Son, Huntly
At stand no. 4, George Sellar and Son, Huntly, have a very large exhibition of their own implements, as also of those of Messrs W. A. Wood, London, for whom they have acted as sole agents for many years. The most prominent feature of this exhibit is the display of New Century Binders. The firm had a very large sale for these last year, and, notwithstanding the very stiff ordeal they had to pass through, they turned out well-as is testified ny the lathe book of testimonials which they have received. The binder is strongly built, has roller bearings throughout and has a very large capacity for heavy and tangled crops. There are several new features about the machine; one of them a very simple expedient for slackening the canvasses instantaneously. This enables a farmer, when through working for the night, to relieve the tension on the canvasses. There is again this year a large demand for this binder. There are also shown improved horse rakes and Wood’s celebrated mowers. The outstanding feature of George Sellar and Son’s own manufacture is their own M.P. plough. This is a plough which is fast becoming a universal favourite. Hundreds of them are now in use, and they are being bought by our oldest and most experienced agriculturists. The plough is light, it turns the furrow well, and packs it. It can be used for all kinds of work that any ordinary plough can accomplish about the farm. The device for attaching the moveable point is simple, and not liable to get out of order. They also show samples of their famous no. 27 and 29 ploughs, known all over the north of Scotland. Steel harrows, broadcast turnip sowers, and steel grubbers are also very strongly in evidence. There are also a few oil engines exhibited. Undoubtedly the leading attraction of stand no. 4, as it is sure to be of the showyard, is the Motor Binder, an adaptation of the oil motor to Walter A. Wood’s binder, in two sizes, six and ten feet cut. Not only does this motor binder dispense with the use of horses, but the amount it cuts is about double that cut by a horse-drawn binder; and another great advantage is, that it can be used upon land, not being dependent upon the ground wheel for motive power. The binder can be travelled along without working the knives and claws, and the knives and claws, on the other hand, can be worked when the machine is stationary.
Barclay, Ross and Tough
This well-known firm of implement and seed merchants, and waterproof cover manufacture, occupy the lathe stand at no. 16, situated a little to the left of the main entrance. The feature of the stand is the extensive display of the new light-draught Hornsby binders, fourteen of which have been sold to farmers in the district, and will be drawn by horses from the showyard to-morrow morning, and taken to the farms for which they have been purchased. The binder has been improved upon so as to suit it to northern localities. It has, for instance, been provided with brass and steel bushes in order to prevent it from clogging, and thereby reducing the draught. It has also been suited to deal with light or heavy crops. The object of the firm has been to adapt the binder to suit the vagaries of the weather and the differences of soil to be encountered. This desire, carried into effect, has met with the appreciation of patrons, and a large scale of the binder has been experienced, a great many of then having been sent out last year. The Balmoral plough, which finds a place on the stand, has been proved to be exceedingly useful for the ordinary work of the farm, if not for match purchases. It is a saver of time, and this fact, combined with the circumstance that the plough is light to work, has commenced it to many farmers throughout the north. Among the other implements on the stand are the Albion corn bruisers, with latest improvements, chaff cutters, the Albion new combined bruiser and dibbler, the new patent Albion mowers, with roller bearings and with manual attachments, mowers and reapers combined, horse rakes, and a specimen of the Akroyd engine, which, after a severe succession of trials at the Royal English Show, distinguished itself in the work for which it is adapted. It is used for driving threshing machines, and other implements used on the farm. It is also utilised for the purposes of electric lighting. Indeed, the stand is replete with the newest and most useful implements and machines required for the farm and the forest, and a visit to it should prove interesting, whether the caller happened to be a purchaser or not.
C. F. Wilson and Co
At stand no. 11 C. F. Wilson and Co. show a couple of their well-known oil engines at work, one being of eight and the other of five horse power. During the past year, there has been a great demand for the engines built by this firm, so great that in consequence of foreign and repeat orders, they have not been in a position to supply retail orders. Having lately added to their plant several new labour-saving machines, they are confident of being able to compete with all demands. C. F. Wilson and Co. are at present sending their engines to England, South American, France (mostly to Paris), Capr Town, West Indies, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, and Portugal. These engines are so very simple that any unskilled labourer can work them. The two engines on exhibition are shown driving two threshing machines.
Robert G. Garvie
Stand no. 11 (Mr Robert G. Garvie’s) will repay a visit. Machines for doing two of the most important farm operations-harvesting and threshing-are on exhibition. The binders and mowers made by the Deering Company are unsurpassed for strength on construction and lightness of draught, and in such grain-growing districts as East Lothian they are supplanting every other binder. Machines of each type are shown, also a new self-acting horse rake, and a new sickle grinder, which is run in ball bearings. Two sizes of threshing machines are shown-one 36 inches wide, driven by an 8bhp oil engine, and one 33 inches wide, driven by a 5 ½ bhp oil engine. The capacity of the former is eight quarters, and of the latter six quarters of finished grain per hour. A glance at these machines will at once show their high finish and substantial workmanship, their lightness and smoothness in running being due to their long bearings and accurate fitting. These threshing machines are made by Mr Garvie in his own works, and such is the demand that he is kept fully employed at them the whole year, and to enable them to cope with the increased orders he has recently put down additional plant of a special-type for this class of work.
Watson Brothers, Banff Foundry
The firm exhibit at stand 17 the “Victory” reaper, which has been considerably improved for season 1903. In addition to brass bearings being substituted in the main bracket for white metal formerly used, the firm have fitted the machines with 21 fingers instead of 19, which will be a decided improvement in the cutting apparatus. The makers claim for the “Victory” that it is the best-balanced back-delivery reaper of its kind in the market. They also exhibit the “Albion” binder and a specially finished threshing machine. A threshing machine built by Marshall, the well-known agricultural engineer, has been sold to Mr John Shirran, Templant Cottage, Auchterless.”
While the first combine harvester in Scotland were being tried by Lord Traprain on the farm of Cairndinnis, East Lothian, in 1932, their introduction and widespread use was not a rapid one. In 1939 there were only 150 used in Britain. Production became more rapid in the second half of the 1940s. One article in the Broughty Ferry Guide and Advertiser from 1 October 1949 noted that: “It is estimated that this year 3,500 new combine-harvesters were in action, bringing the total number in use in the United Kingdom to 9,000.” It added, “Until 1945, when home production of these machines started in earnest, farmers had been dependent on machines imported from America. In the first six months of this year, home produced machines and machines imported were responsible for roughly equal contributions to the total supply; next year production of combines made in this country will show a big increase.”
During the early years of the adoption of the combine harvester there were divided views about whether the new way of harvesting the grain crop was effective and efficient and whether it harmed the grain. The following are two comments from 1944 on how the adoption of the combine harvester was being seen:
“Harvesting locally is going ahead as fast as may be. We are informed that results and performance of the new Combine Harvester are well up to expectations and that the innovation has come to stay. Some of the older farming folks are prejudiced in favour of the old methods, holding that the naturally dried grain is best. An advocate of the new method says that this is just “baloney”. I am not well enough versed in the matter to take sides.”
(From Winchburgh jottings in the West Lothian Courier (1 September 1944)
Wilkieston harvest
Harvest- there are few sights more heartening than the view from our hill these days, with so many fields rejoicing in their rows of stooks. And all the crops are of the best quality. The wheat especially was as fine as we have ever seen; its four-foot straw has stood up well to all the vagaries of our climate.
Labour-Even more than recent years, our district has seen an influx of young men and women to help in harvest work. They come from all parts, as far as Dundee and Glasgow. Maybe the Ministry of Labour acts on the old principle and send them to a place where there is “nae temptation to walk home!”. The workers seem to be quite happy in it here.
Mechanised-We have seen the new Combine Harvester at work; and a compact piece of ingenuity it is. The knives are pushed in front and they cut a 12-feet swath. To obviate too much spread, the thrasher is in the top-hamper. Yet when among the grain, the machine gives no impression of clumsiness. It is on the road that it reminds us of a swan out for a waddle!
(From Midlothian advertiser, 15 September 1944)
Do you recollect the debate around the introduction of combine harvesters or for harvesters for other crops such as potatoes?
The photographs were taken at the Strathnairn Vintage Rally, Daviot, September 2014.
Adverts for displenishing sales in newspapers are valuable for identifying the use of some types of implements and machines, especially innovative ones. In the 1940s a number of these adverts document some of the earliest farms in Scotland to use – and sell – combine harvesters. These include Westbarns, Dunbar, East Lothian, Coltcrooks, Gordon, Berwickshire, Stravithie Mains, St Andrews, Fife, and West Binny, Uphall, West Lothian. Their combines included International and Massey-Harris.
These farms were using some very up to date implements and machines, with the names of leading makers being recorded alongside them. However, they were also selling some of the older technologies, including harvesting ones. At Westbarns both horse and motive power implements and machines were being used, as was evidenced by the cart and plough harness, horse implements, tractors and tractor implements, as well as the binder and combine harvester. Binders were also for sale at Stravithie Mains. So too were threshing mills alongside a combine harvester at West Binny.
The following adverts show the combine harvesters that were being used on some farms that were early users of combines as well as the range of implements and machines being used.
Westbarns, Dunbar (recorded in The Scotsman, 25 November 1942)
2 short carts on wheels, short cart body, 2 long carts on wheels, “Ransome” plough, 2 drill ploughs, beet plough, “Ransome” potato plough, rig marker, set Scotch harrows, set chain harrows, 4 drill grubbers, barley brake cultivator, 2 plain rollers, drill roller. Double driller and manure sower, “Massey-Harris” binder, “Massey-Harris” reaper, hay collector, sheep turnip cutter with 1 ½ hp “Fowler” petrol engine, cattle turnip slicer, sheep turnip and cake boxes, sheep wire and spring nets, sheep net stakes, set barn fanners, barn weights, ladders, graips, forks, spades, shovels, hoes, and other small barn and stable utensils.
Tractor and tractor implements – “International F12” tractor with 6ft power “International” reaper; “Ransome” 3 furrow mid trac plough, “Ransome” 2 furrow Juno mid-trac plough, 2 sets heavy English harrows with tractor hitch on wheels. And International no. 8 combine harvester. Also, 3 sets cart and plough harness.
Coltcrooks, Gordon (recorded in The Scotsman, 17 May 1947)
Massey-Harris no. 15 combine harvester, 6 ft cut (1944); Fordson tractor, Ransome Dauntless cultivator, Cockshott no. 6 D.F. plough, Blackstone potato digger, N.H. binder, 6 ft cut; tractor bogie, and all the usual farm implements, of a good class; saw bench, 7 hen houses, also household furniture, including diningroom suite, tables, chairs, chests of drawers, sideboard, linoleum, beds, rugs, carpets, 2 churns, milk dishes, &c.
Stravithie Mains, St Andrews (recorded in The Scotsman, 6 November 1948)
Tractor and tractor implemets-D2 Caterpillar tractor (in first-class order), “Fordson Major” tractor on rubbers with high top gear, “Standard Ferguson” tractor on rubbers (new), “Ferguson” ridger, “Ferguson” cultivator, “Ferguson” 10 inch D.F. plough, 2 “Ransomes” D.F. ploughs, “Ransomes Dauntless” cultivator, “Bentall” disc harrows, diamond harrows, brake harrows, trailer, “Bamford” hay mower (5ft cut), hay sweep, “Albion” P.D. binder, “Bisset” trailer binder (6 ft cut), “Bamford” potato digger, 3-gang roller (21 ft), M.H. combine harvester (8ft cut) new this year.
Implements-6 coup carts (3 on rubbers), 4 corn carts (1 on rubbers), hay bogey (on rubbers), water cart, “Ransomes”, 2 wheeled plough, 3 drill ploughs, “Ransomes” beet plough, 3 sets diamond harrows, set gras seed harrows, spring tooth harrows, Parmiter harrows, saddle harrows, 3-drill harrows, drill grubber, “Jack” double driller, “International Manure” distributor, “Massey Harris” grain driller (16 row), grass seed sowing machine, turnip barrow, scarifier, “Bisset” binder, “Wallace” hay mower, “Bamford” expanding horse rake, “Dickie: swath turner, triangle rick lifter, “Salopian” hay elevator, “Bisset” potato digger, “Petter” 1 ½ engine {new), barn fanners, steelyard and weights, sack lifter, R.T. sack barrow, 2 R. T. wheel barrows, handbarrows, 2 sets iron swingletrees, drill trees, sheep tackle including turnip cutter, nets, stakes, feeding troughs, turnip troughs, hay haik, and feeding bin, portable pig-house with run, pig feeding troughs., potato baskets, stack bosses and props, ladders, fencing stobs, fencing wire, electric fencer, 2 paraffin tanks (250 gallons and 50 gallons), large water tank, 3 hen houses (2 portable), battery laying cages for 48 hens, incubator (150 egg size), chicken coops and other poultry appliances, harness for 2 pairs of horses (mostly new and in good order) and the usual barn and stable utensils.
Also “Ann Arbour” pick-up baler (practically new) from Messrs A. & J. Wilson, Carvenom. And 6hp tractor (complete with tools), 1 semi-digger plough (new, October 1947), set disc harrows, set cultivator tines, set hoeing plates, belt pulley, and tool carriage, and set “Ransomes” tandem discs, from Mr E. Cowe, Beley Poultry Farm.
West Binny, Uphall (recorded in The Scotsman, 28 October 1950)
2 threshing mills on wheels; combined harvester (International 62), Howard baler, Morris motor van (1946), Ogle elevator 30ft; crawler tractor (Fowler & Marshall, new 1949), Fordson Major (land utility), Fordson agricultural tractor (1947), conversion set; Ransome four furrow plough, three furrow plough, two furrow plough, two tractor binders, 2 tractor mowers, tractor cultivator, tandem roller, International combine drill, 2 manure distributors, tractor hay rake, disc harrows, Ajax lime sower, lime spreader, dung spreader, F. Major strakes, tractor harrows with wheeled draw bar, tool bar, 2 swaith turners, 3 tractor trailers, tractor sweep, 2 potato diggers, potato dresser, reaper, horse fork, horse rakes, 2 hay slipes, 2 close carts, 2 hay carts, 2 land rollers, DD manure barrow, Cambridge drill roller, 2 turnip seed barrows, grass seed barrow, cultivators, harrows, ploughs, iron saw bench, wood saw bench, chaff cutter and engine, power turnip cutter, sack lifter, weighing machine, Ceresan mixer, wheel barrows, potato baskets. Smith’s fire and anvil, sectional henhouse; fishing boat, large quantity small implements and tools, quantity of household furniture.
Note-many of the implements have recently been purchased new.
The photos were taken at the Fife Vintage Rally, June 2022.
In the 1880s and 1890s there were a number of new developments in hay making machinery that were to have a profound impact on the hayfield for many decades to come. One of these was the horse fork for the hay shed, an implement that came from America and was widely adopted in Scotland in a very short time. It was to be used in Scotland for many decades.
The North British Agriculturist described its introduction and use in an article published on 26 May 1877. It is worth quoting it at length:
“The hay shed horse fork
In America, the home of the horse fork, it is used to a much greater extent for storing hay inside hay-sheds or barns than what it is for outside ricks or stacks. Hay is a food in daily use throughout the whole winter, and must be so stored as to be easy of removal. Where the winters are severe, the ground covered with snow several feet deep for many months of the year, and snowstorms of frequent occurrence, outside stacking of hay is not in much repute, barns being much handier in severe weather. During recent years sheds for the storage of hay have been largely adopted on dairy and other farms here, their advantage being that the crop is always protected against rain, and is at any time ready for removal to the cattle; whereas with ricks the hay must be covered with a tarpaulin or straw every time a portion is removed-both methods entailed a good deal of expense in labour and material, as in a storm the tarpaulin cannot be kept on, and very soon goes done, while the straw, the quantity required to make it water-tight is very tight, and the waste of both labour, hay, and straw something excessive.
During the past season I had on trial an American grapple and spear-fork from a friend who had them direct from Canada some years ago, and must say I was particularly well pleased with both of them. The American double spear-fork is only about 2 ½ feet high and 1 ½ feet wide, either full or empty; and the grapple, although taking up more room than the spear-fork, does not take much more than can often be spared inside a shed. The American forks have been specially designed to take up little room, and for that reason are eminently suited for working inside sheds or barns. Seeing that hay sheds of Dutch barns, are now so common in. many districts, I think the American hay-shed horse-fork only requires to be known to be appreciated, and that it only requires time to be adopted in most of them. Where a shed has been built in a style suitable for the working of the horse-fork, one can be bought and erected at one-quarter of the cost it takes to purchase a pole and gear for outside use. Unless an iron rod, running from one end of the shed to the other, all the parts can be taken from one shed and erected in another on a few minutes. Sheds in which it is intended to work the horse-fork should have the space under the roof, from the ridge to at least the level of the wall plates, free of all obstructions in the shape of cross-beams. At either end of the shed short joists or balks are bolted on to the second outside pair of couples, at from 6 to 7 inches below the ridge, and between the pieces thus erected an iron rod, half inch in diameter, is stretched, by passing it through a hole in each cross piece, and tightening it up by a nut and screws at both ends. The rod generally passes through other cross pieces, placed at every second, third, or fourth division of the shed, according to its length. These inside pieces are not only useful as supports for the rod, but are absolutely necessary for the economical working of the fork, as will immediately be shown. On this rod runs a small carriage, about a foot in length, and having two grooved wheels, the wheels being above and the weight below, like an ordinary sliding door, only the two wheels are almost close together. At the one end of the carriage there is a spring latch or sneck, which catches a projecting piece of iron on one of the cross bars supporting the iron rod. These cross pieces are fixed immediately above where the cart is expected to be unloaded, and are for the purpose of holding the carriage in one position while the fork is ascending and descending. The latch acts very much like an ordinary door latch, only it is held firmly in its place by a spring, whether or not to has a held of the stop.
On the underside of the carriage there is also another, working in connection with the first, but so arranged that when the one is closed the other is opened. From this latch, on the under side of the carriage, hangs a block or pulley, after the style of an ordinary ship single block, but made of iron, and of a very near and light pattern. On the upper side of this block is an eye, thorough which, when locked, passes the bolt of the latch on the under side of the carriage; while on its under side is a hook on which to hang the fork. The hoisting rope is attached to one end of the carriage, from which it passes through the block under the carriage, and then over another pulley on the carriage, immediately below the iron travelling rod, thence it is led in any direction to which the power is easily applied. In working, the carriage is brought forward to the stop, which the latch at the end immediately takes hold of, while at the same instant the latch on the under side relieves the block hanging to it, when the weight of the fork pulls it and the rope out till it reaches the load or the ground. The block always hangs in a perpendicular position, owing to the weight of the fork and load being on the under side. When the horse moves forward after the fork is loaded, it rises in a perpendicular line until the eye on the block strikes the latch on the under side of the carriage. This latch, on bring struck by the eye of the block, immediately opens and takes hold of it, while at the same instant the latch at the end lets go its hold of the stopping iron, when the carriage with its load, hanging close under, at once is pulled by the onward movement of the horse to the first, second or any division of the shed in which it is desired to deposit the load. On reaching the proper position the attendant pulls the cord, when the load drops. The carriage is then pulled back to the stopping iron by the same cord which relieved the load, when the fork again drops and is ready to be reloaded. The latches are so arranged that the one at the end never fails to catch the stop, nor the one in the middle to catch the block, neither does the one let go its hold before the other has got a hold of the load; the whole being the most beautiful piece of automatic catching and letting go, done with simplicity and certainty, which it is possible to behold. The carriage being immediately under the ridge of the roof, and the load close up to it, the smallest possible space is taken up by both. A fork capable of giving satisfaction inside a shed must not only be able to take a full load, but at the same time must be of such a size as to be capable of working in a small space, not only in regard to height, but also width. Scarcely any fork could perform these duties to greater advantage than does the double spear, which has the extra superiority of being light, strong, and cheap. Forks for working inside sheds only require to be seen to be appreciated; and although the height to which hay is built in a shed is generally less than what is done in a rick or stack, still the work is as heavy, and it can be both lightened and cheapened by the adoption of the horse-fork. For filling silos, where they are high above the ground, these forks may also be used with advantage, one rod along the ridge giving sufficient facilities for filling any number of silos under the same roof and in a line with the ridges.
Since adopting the horse-fork I have heard it urged that, although it was no doubt of great advantage on a large farm, it was of no use for a small one. Such, however, is not the case, as, although by its use many persons may be kept employed, it can still be worked by very few when such is necessary. For instance, in a small way, where the hay is on the ground (not in a cart), there is no difficulty in the same person both leading the horse, if a quiet one, and attending to the fork; and as it is utterly impossible to build a rick without at least one man being employed forking, no more are used if this plan be adopted, while double or treble the quantity may be put up. In a small way, this is not all, for a smart boy, with the horse-fork, may elevate as much hay to a height of 20 feet or so as three or four men could do by hand-forks. Then, again, by the use of the rick-lifter, any boy or woman accustomed to lead a horse may bring in as much hay to the yard as at least three men could do by hand-forks and hay waggons. The dry climate and light crops of the American Continent make, no doubt, the working of the binder a matter of much less difficulty with them than with us; but neither their climate, crops, nor people give them any advantage over us in the use of the horse-fork, and we will certainly be standing in our own light if we do not take advantage of these inventions after they have perfected them, and perfected they certainly are, for everything in connection with the horse-fork is turned out by them in the lightest, neatest, and cheapest form possible.”
There were a number of key makers of the hay shed horse fork in Scotland. One of the most important was P. & R. Fleming, Glasgow, a major implement and machine maker with key agencies.
The photos were taken at the Fife Vintage Rally, June 2014
The 1880s and 1890s witnessed the introduction of a number of new implements and machines for the hay field. These helped revolutionise haymaking, including the amount of effort and time taken to cart the crop to the farm.
One such innovation was the triangular rick lifter. This was developed by a firm of joiners at Campbeltown, Argyll. It was described at length in the North British Agriculturist of 19 June 1889:
“The introducer, or as I might almost say, the inventor of this apparatus is Mr P. Mackay, of Messrs P. Mackay & Co., joiners and blacksmiths, Campbeltown. The idea was first given to Mr Mackay by a Mr Alexander, an Irish gentleman, who has a shooting in Campbeltown, and who had seen it adopted in a rougher style om Ireland, but in which district I have not learned.
The apparatus consists of a large triangle, the legs of which are poles from 22 feet to 25 feet long; 6 to 7 inches in diameter are considered quite strong enough at the bottom, and tapering to about 4 inches at the top. The three poles are held together at the top by a ¾ inch bolt running through each, from which hangs a mussel or hook. In the bottom of each pole is fixed a wheel from 10 to 12 inches in diameter, and about three inches or less in the face, all wheels being set to run in one direction, while one of them, called for convenience’ sake the front wheel, is fixed on a swivel, like the front wheel of a drill grubber, whereby the apparatus, when being moved from rick to rick, is more easily turned. For ease in description, I will suppose that the apparatus has been drawn into a field, and placed in position over the top of a rick, that is, with the legs straddling it. A pair of ship pulley blocks, with three sheaves, are now procured and connected with a. Manilla rope, 7/8ths or 1 inch in diameter. The one block is now hung on to the mussel or hook hanging from the bolt connecting the three poles at the apex of the triangle, while to the other, or under block, are hung three chains equal in length to the height of the rick it is proposed to lift. The lower end of each chain should terminate in a hook, the chains themselves being fully as strong as an ordinary heavy plough chain. These chains hook into the forks, of which there are three, and which are made of round bars of 1 inch steel. Each form has only one prong, being simply a rod of steel sharpened at one end, and having a hole for the hook of the chain at the other, and then bent to an angle, a little less than a right angle, a little piece further from the point than the middle. The chains having been connected to the under block, the prong of each fork is thrust under the bottom of the rick, at equal distance around; the hooks of the chains are then put into the eye of the fork. The prong of each fork is about 4 feet long, and handle or part in which the eye is about 3 feet long. A small winch, having a barrel 6 or 8 inches in diameter, with a ratchet and pawl, is fixed on the inside of the front leg, handles for two men being fixed at each end. The barrel of the winch should be from 12 to 14 inches long, as, owing to the use of the three sheaf blocks, a considerable length of rope has to be wound round it. The rope from the blocks being now connected to the winch, everything is now ready for the hoisting of the rick, which, with the power stated, two men can do in a few seconds. Hay ricks in Argyllshire are generally made to weigh from 6 to 10 cwt, and two men can lift these high enough to let an ordinary cart go under them, in from two and a half to three minutes, including shifting and fixing of forks &c. The rick generally lifts clean off the ground, and is only raised high enough to allow a cart or hay waggon to go on under, after which it is dropped on to the bottom of the cart or waggon, and carted off to the stackyard in its original position without being much disturbed, and tying being rarely necessary if the road is anything like smooth.
If the ricks are any way close together the triangle may be pushed by hand from the one to the other, but if far separate an odd horse is better to be used for that purpose. The making of this apparatus is neither intricate, costly, nor expensive to keep up, and by its use ordinary carts or waggons can be turned to full account, without the necessity of purchasing special trollies for lifting the ricks. One condition necessary to its use in its present state is, however, the size of the ricks, which may be said to be limited to 10 cwt, or a very little over that. Unless in the vicinity of large towns or collieries, this is the size of rick in most common use throughout a large part of the country, and I am sometimes inclined to think the days of making ricks on ton and over are almost gone. Up until a few years ago, colliery proprietors and the horse owners generally were often in the habit of purchasing their year’s supply of hay direct from the field and stacking it besides themselves, but of late this custom has gone very much out of use. While hay could be sold in this way, ricks of about a ton and over were very handy where long cartages had often to be made; but if hay is to be stacked at home, I think ricks of from 8 cwt to 12 cwt are to be preferred. If this size of rick is allowed to stand in the field any longer than is necessary to dry the hay, as a consequence there is more outside waste than with a larger rick; but against that the advantages are that the hay can much sooner be secured in half ton rick than in one double the size, and when in it, it dries much quicker, and of course is in condition to be removed to the stackyard in half the number of days after being made than the larger one is. The work of haymaking is thus expedited, and of course liability to loss by exposure to the weather lessened. By the use of this apparatus, or the trolley rick-lifter in conjunction with the ordinary haymaking machines, a very few persons on an upland farm, or, for that part of it, on any farm, may secure a quantity of hay out of all proportions to what could be done a few years ago.”
Did you see the triangle rick lifter in use? Were there local variations of the triangular rick lifter in other parts of Scotland?
The photos are of hay bogies from the Fife Vintage Rally, June 2014. These would have been used in conjunction with the “triangles” as the rick lifters were sometimes called.
The Royal Northern Show was an important one for implements and machines for farmers and agriculturists in north east Scotland and beyond. In 1927 there was a good display from makers and agents in the north-east. On 21 July 1927 the Aberdeen Press and Journal carried a detailed description of what was on show from them. It is worth quoting that account at length to show what was new and important and what was reported about it:
“Round the stands
Fine display of farming implements
Visitors from the country and town alike will find much to interest them in the display of implements etc, at the show of the Royal Northern Agricultural Society at St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, to-day. Every kind of implement, machine, and utensil necessary for the successful working of a modern farm are on view. All enterprising firms are showing their most up-to-date appliances, and additional interest is lent to the fine display by the fact that many of them are seen in actual operation.
Messrs Barclay, Ross, and Hutchison
Messrs Barclay, Ross, and Hutchison Ltd, are showing a large selection of implements and machinery, which includes a 3ft 6 ins portable thresher driven by an Austin tractor. Ruston-Hornsby oil engines and Lister petrol-paraffin supply the power for several smaller portable threshers. This firm also exhibits its own make of wave disc manure distributor with an improved type of shutting bar and a new Standard binder manufactured by Messrs Ruston Hornsby. This is an all-steel machine, and is claimed to be the lightest on the market.
Messrs W. Smith and Son Ltd
On Stand no. 17, Messrs W. Smith and Son Ltd, seedsman and implement agents, Aberdeen, show a large and comprehensive collection of farming implements etc, manufactured by some of the best British and American agricultural engineers. They show the popular McCormick binder, which can be supplied to cut 5, 6, 7 and 8 feet, for use with horses or tractor, and may be had with sheaf carriers to deal with from one to six sheaves.
Prominent on the stand is Bamford’s famous Royal mower and reaper with their new patent curved spiral bevel gearing for which the makers were awarded seven medals last year at the principal English and Irish shows. This gear ensures noiseless and even running, imparts to the cutting bar a very smooth motion, while the draught is considerably reduced.
For the benefit of the farmer’s wife there is a large and varied collection of dairy appliances-churns, butter workers, the well-known “Diabolo” and “Alfa Laval” separators, and the popular, “Framer’s Friend” combined cheese chessel and press. Bar frame hives and appliances, fountain lime-washing and spraying machines, are among the other agricultural appliances that find a place in Messrs Smith’s display.
Messrs Wm Reid and Leys
A fine display of agricultural implements is that of Messrs W. Reid and Leys on stand 18. The Son patent pole grubber, Aberdeen ploughs, Osborne binders and hay mowers, both Vickings and Jacks, are among the exhibits. In addition there is a good display of Alpha Laval cream separators, the Don cant turnip cutter and the firm’s own turnip sower. The turnip sower is an entirely new machine and is bound to attract considerable attention.
Harper Motor Co Ltd
As authorised Ford dealers for this territory, the Harper Motor Co Ltd, have a very interesting display. The famous Fordson tractor is prominent, and while little change may be apparent to the untrained eye, there are several noted improvements. One tractor is fitted with a Junior mower which should be of great interest at this time of the year. Another Fordson is equipped with rubber tyred wheels and is capable of pulling up to 10 tons.
The Ford Young car is exhibited and a noted feature is its exceedingly smart appearance. It is prices at £125.
The familiar Ford ton-truck complete the vehicles, but there is also shown an Oliver 2-furrow plough, specially built for the Fordson Tractor, as well as an interesting display of spare parts.
James Robertson, Aberdeen
Almost every requirement of the farmer is to be found at the stand occupied by Mr James Robertson, 14 Hadden Street, Aberdeen. The universally famed Lister engines for various farm uses provide a notable feature of his exhibits. There are also Deering binders, mowers, and horse-rakes, which have the admirable qualities of lightness and durability to commend them. Dairymen will find their interest captured by a special display of diabolo cream separators. They have a 10 years’ guarantee and have the merit of being easily run and easily cleaned. A display of bee hives and appliances will be given throughout the day. Other important parts of farm equipment that are being exhibited at this stand are the Albion mower, the Jack potato-digger, barn fanners, 50 gallon oil tanks, manure pumps and boilers, and hay collectors.
Messrs C. F. Wilson and Co Ltd
Economically-driven engines for threshing mills are exhibited by Messrs C. F. Wilson and Co. Ltd, at stand 29. “Wilson” oil engines, which have for so many years faithfully aided the farmer in completing his harvest, are here exhibited in their latest models. A crude oil engine of 15 brake horsepower is also seen running. The simplicity of the working parts and the smooth running of this engine are at once noticeable. A particular feature of this crude oil engine is its fuel oil pump and fuel spraying device, the simple design of which, in combination with the governor, does away with all irritating adjustments.
There are also exhibited the “Wilson” 15 and 8bhp paraffin oil engines. These are so well known to farmers for their reliability and success in driving threshing mills that we merely mention them here.
Messrs C. F. Wilson and Co. Ltd, are also makers of cold starting crude oil engines, which can be inspected at their works at Constitution Street.
Messrs George Bruce and Co.
Messrs Bruce and Co. are showing on stand 16 a number of the new Massey Harris no. 6 binders, mowers, and rakes from the same factory and a large assortment of potato sorters and potato cutters. An extremely useful hay loader with an attachment for levering the hay on to the flat lorry is also shown. Cake mills, weighing machines, and various sizes of milk churns of the most up-to-date types are also shown on this stand.”
Did you buy any of these implements and machines from these makers and dealers?
In the 1880s and 1890s there were a number of new developments in hay making machinery that were to have a profound impact on the hayfield for many decades to come. One of these was the horse fork, an implement that came from America and was widely adopted in Scotland in a very short time.
The introduction and early use of the hay fork were described at length in the North British Agriculturist, the national agricultural newspaper, in its issue of 4 May 1887 and again in an issue of 3 July 1889. The articles have been quoted at length:
“New machinery in hay making
The horse fork
In America, the horse-fork is an implement in general use on every farm be it large or small, while in Britain, or on the Continen, it is only in very isolated cases that its use has been resorted to. The apathy of European farmers regarding the use of this invention I can only account for by their want of knowledge regarding it, as our farmers, I would fancy, have a larger proportion of hay to stack in either ricks or sheds than what they have, and a more fickle climate to do it is. Hay from the same class of plants will be much the same in both countries, the principal difference of the two countries being the greater scarcity of labour in America than here, which accounts for their having adopted machinery in agricultural operations to a much greater extent than has been done here. Their lighter crops and drier climate make this easier for them than for us, and in nothing is it more clearly shown than in the use of the harvester and binder, as machines which work well with them are unable to deal with the heavy, tangled, and damper crops of the British Isles. With made hay there is, however, no such difference, in fact, its use is more called for, and it will first be introduced where heavy crops have to be dealt with. From what I had learned of horse-forks generally, I felt fairly certain they might with advantage be introduced here also; and with that end in view I year ago instituted inquiries regarding the different persons who had attempted their sale or msnufacture in this country. These I found were few, and all used very much the same class of hoisting gear, viz a pole and gib, or gall, with a rope passing from the fork over the gaff and down the pole. All up to this year used the old pattern of fork, which is very much like a large dung grape of the old malleable iron pattern common about twenty or twenty-five years ago. My idea was that by combining the use of the rick-lifter with the horse-fork. I should effect a greater saving than by the use of either separately; and to put this to the test, I bought two rick-lifters and a set of hoisting gear and grapple fork. For building hay in open ricks or stacks, the methods of raising the hay by a rope on a pole and gib I consider superior to any other yet introduced. The pole may be any length up to 36 feet long, and in two halves, joined together by a short tube of ¼ inch iron, after the style of joining the different parts of a fishing-rod. The gib or gaff is 9 feet long, thereby permitting the hay to be raised to the height of the pole and to be dropped from 7 to 8 feet from the side of the rick. Arrangements are made for lowering the gaff or raising it as is required, while the rick is being built, thereby making it handier to work, and causing less strain on the pole. The pole need not necessarily be in two pieces, but by making it so, a longer, straighter, sounder, and stronger pole can be had than if one tree only is used; while by being in two, it is easier stowed away in some suitable place when not in use. Previous to erection, a hole is dug one spit deep, and from 1 ½ feet to 2 feet from the side of the rick to be built. Into this hole the butt-end of the pole is put, the hole being intended to hold the pole against the pull of the horse when raising the load of hay. To a ring encircling the top of the pole four galvanised strang wires are fixed, which act as guy ropes in keeping it upright. These are tied to large pins driven into the ground at a considerable distance off, thoroughly steadying the pole in any desired position without putting any very great strain on them. The pole is a little difficult to raise on end at first, but when once up it need not be taken down again until the season’s work is past, unless to build some other ricks at some other place on the farm. By thrusting an iron rod, 1 ½ inch or so in diameter, through the pole above the pulley on a level with the horse, two men may easily lift it in their hands or on their shoulders, and by slackening one guy rope and tightening up the one opposite, the two men can freely carry it in a line with these two ropes. A few minutes thus suffice to carry it from one rick which has been finished to another one newly begun. The rope from the fork passes over a pulley on the point of the gib or gaff, down the upper side of it to another pulley, where the gaff joins the pole, then down one side of the pole and under another pulley placed in the centre of the pole about 3 feet above the ground, where the horse is yoked to it. All the patterns of grapple forks work on much the same principle, viz that of a pair of mason’s or quarry shears, only instead of having but one prong or tine in each side as quarry shears have, the hay fork has two or three like the American patterns. Loaded or unloaded, all are opened by pulling a cord which hangs from it for that purpose. The fork when descending is pulled on to the loaded cart or hay rick (field rick) by this cord, and at the same time is kept open by it, so that when allowed to drop on the hay the prongs take more or less of a catch, according to the force with which it is allowed to drop, so that as soon as the horse commences to again raise it the prongs feed themselves, and lift a greater or less quantity according to the grip they had at first, and the looseness or solidity of the hay. The most regular-sized loads are sent up by dropping the fork gently, and pressing in the prongs more or less with the hand, without doing which the one fork load is by far too large, while the next may be only half full. The pole is always erected with a slight lean to the rick, so that when the load is raised above its level, the gib or gaff of its own accord immediately swings round above the rick, when the attendant discharges the load by pulling the cord. The load is thus dropped in the centre of the rick or at either side as is required, so that the rick is regularly consolidated all round, and not unduly pressed down on one side as invariably happens where the forking is done by hand. A horse can easily raise from 2 cwt to 2 ½ cwt, the time occupied being of course regulated by the height to which it is raised. Unknown to the man working the fork I have repeatedly counted the number of times he required to load his fork to raise a rick which had been previously weighed, and in ordinary working I generally found these to average about 1 ¾ cwt. When forking a rick deposited by the rick-lifter as much as 3 cwt I would think would sometimes be raised, that I considered, however, too heavy, and a strain not only on the horse, but on the whole tackle. The horse was all along led by a girl, it moving straight out in any direction which at the time was free of obstruction. In lowering, the horse was always backed not turned, as being the speedier of the two methods. Most grapple forks relieve themselves when drawn up against the point of the gaff, if the attendant has not previously done so, which is occasionally an advantage, although at other times a disadvantage. One American grapple fork does not relieve itself in this manner, although one pattern of spear fork can be made to do do. The grapple forks are the most suitable for loose or short hay, while the spear patterns are to be recommended for long tough stuff like Italian or timothy, although they, like the others, are suitable enough for any kind. A great recommendation of them is their simplicity and cheapness. Where hay is brought to the stack-yard or other place of storing by carts or waggons they may be emptied by the fork while standing alongside the rick, or in the case of carts, where horse power is short, they may be emptied and the hay forked off the ground, as a few feet in height is a matter of little consequence where the horse-fork is in use. The greatest advantage, however, accrues where the hay is brought in by the rick-lifter, as here it is not only carted in at very little trouble, but is also forked to any height with very little expenditure og power. When forking on to a rick, the amount of work capable of being done by the horse-fork is limited more by the number of builders than anything else, as where even three or four persons are on the rick they can be covered up in a very short time, if sufficient hay is at hand to go on full speed. With rick-lifters and the horse-fork I found in last year’s working that one-half the people could take in more hay in a day than double their number could by the old method of carts and hand-forking, and that without ever having a heavy lift, much less a lengthened period of continuous heavy work, of which every one was often sick-tired, and which was always a hurry to get through before harvest. Before trial my servants looked on both rick-lifter and horse-fork, with great disfavour, and called them both maggots, now I believe both would be the last machines they would wish turned off the farm.”
“North British Agriculturist, 3 July 1889
Recent improvements in hay-making machinery
By John Speir, Newton Farm, Cambuslang
Horse forks
Since I wrote you in the autumn of 1886 on this matter, very few improvements have been made on these machines, although they have become much more common than they were then. My opinion of them is that they should be on every farm, be it large or small, as with the horse-fork and rick-lifters one man is certainly able to secure as much hay as three or four men could do before. Not only is this the case, but a great part of the work can now be done, by the use of these machines, by boys or indifferent men, whereas formerly the very strongest were required.
As the fork and rick-lifter do best to use together, experience has taught us that the prongs of both the English and American fork were too slender for lifting hay by horse-power out of a solid rick. These forks were designed to lift loose dry hay from the waggon, and required much longer and slenderer prongs than where the hay was solid, as it is in a rick which has stood from two to four weeks. If the prongs of either class of fork were inadvertently put in too deep, they were sure to be bent, or so much hay caught that the horse could not move it. To remedy these defects new forks have been designed, with shorter and stouter prongs, and although stronger, yet lighter, and not near so large, thus making them more useful for working inside a hay shed, so that the same fork may now be used for both shed and stack building.
In connection with this matter a new class of fork, which is in constant use in America, has recently been brought under my notice. It acts in the same way as if you were to lay a grip on the ground on its back, then put a load on the grip; and after putting your foot on the hilt and holding it on the ground, you were to lift the load with your hand by catching it where the prongs meet the handle, raising it on end, and throwing the load over to the other side. In this case the load is raised the height of the handle, but in the machines in use the hay is raised 25 feet with a much shorter handle than 25 feet. By the use of a peculiar horse-rake, gathering from 4 to 6 cwt of hay, which is dropped on the fork, the Americans can thus stack their crop by lifting it off the ground, and yet never touch it by hand or hand-fork until it is on the stack. This same apparatus can also be sued for loading waggons where the hay is not stacked in the field, but drawn to the farm, to be there hoisted by the ordinary horse-fork. It has struck me that this same apparatus would be very useful for gathering and building ensilage stacks in the field where cut, or where the hay was made on the English system, by bringing it direct from the swathe or windrow to the stack, as in such a case it could easily be put on the stack without ever touching it by hand at all.
This brings me to a part of my subject which I should like to see definitely settled within a year or two-viz whether or not hay can be made in Scotland by carting direct from the field, and applying as much pressure to it in the stack as will prevent fermentation to such an extent that the hay will not become brown or even lose its colour. The horse fork and gatherer which I have described here might be of considerable use to us. I hope, therefore, to hear of the system getting a fair trial during the coming years.”
The horse forks were quickly adopted. On 27 December 1897 the Glasgow Herald could write that “the demand for mowers, horse rakes, hay makers’ rick lifters, and horse forks, was quite exceptional, several beating the record on sales made, and many thousands of these machines were made and sold in Great Britain and Ireland.” Makers of them included John Wallace of Glasgow, P. & R. Fleming & Co., Glasgow, and Jack of Maybole, among others.
The photos were taken at the Fife Vintage Rally, June 2014.
