Scottish agricultural implement makers

The winter can throw a number of challenges for holding ploughing matches. There can be wet weather, or prolonged wet weather as well as snow in the run up to a match. Some matches were advertised as being held on a particular date, and if the weather was unsuitable, suggested an alternative one.

Some matches had to be cancelled at short notice as the weather had made a turn for the worse in the days before it was due to take place. In 1925 there were a number of matches throughout the country – especially in the north-east – that had to be cancelled and rescheduled, sometimes at short notice.

Let’s look at a few of the cancellation notices in the local newspapers:

“The Forglen ploughing match (postponed) will take place on the farm of Waulkmill on Wednesday, the 14th January, or first suitable Wednesday. J. Webster, Secretary.” (Aberdeen press and journal, 10 January 1925)

“Postponed Chapel of Garioch match

The annual ploughing match under the auspices of the Chapel of Garioch Ploughing and Hoeing Association, which had been postponed from the 3rd inst owing to the snowstorm, was held in a field at Upper Middleton, Balquhain, granted for the purpose by Mr Mitchell. There were fifteen entries, and the ploughing all over was very creditable.” (Aberdeen press and journal, 13 January 1925)

“Heaviest snowfall of winter

Snow ploughs out in Aberfeldy District

Following 13 degrees of frost yesterday the most severe snowstorm of the winter prevails at Pitlochry and North Perthshire to-day. Overnight three to five inches of snow fell, and with heavy drifting on the uplands wreaths two to four feet deep have been formed.

Outdoor work is suspended. The Scottish championship ploughing match at Logierait on Wednesday will probably have to be postponed.” (Dundee evening telegraph, 23 February 1925)

“Western District of Atholl ploughing match postponed till Wednesday, 18th March, on account of weather conditions.-James Marshall, honorary secretary.” (Dundee courier, 13 March 1925)

“Middle Deeside Champion Ploughing Match

The Middle Deeside champion ploughing match at Pittenkerrie, Glassel, which had to be postponed on account of the flooding of the ground, is now to take place on Saturday of this week.

Entries are in excess of the rigs available, and include well-known champions from Alford, Dufftown, Keith, Leochel-Cushnie, Marycultuer, Midmar, Rhynie, Tarland, Towie, and several Deeside “cracks”. Being the final rally of the season, some excellent work is expected.” (Aberdeen press and journal, 18 March 1925)

“Atholl ploughing match

The annual ploughing match under the auspices of the Western District of Atholl Agricultural Association took place to-day, having been postponed from last Saturday on account of the storm earlier in the week.

A suitable field for the occasion was placed at the disposal of the committee by Mr Alex. Petrie, Strathgarry Farm, and there was a good entry.

The arrangements were in the hands of the secretary, Mr James Marshall, Blair Atholl, and a representative committee.” (Aberdeen press and journal, 18 March 1925)

“Durno Ploughing and Hoeing Association ploughing match to be postponed till 16th January 1926. Bridgend, Pitcaple. A. McBeath, Secy.” (Aberdeen press and journal, 18 March 1925)

“Kildrummy and Towie Ploughing Match

Owing to Snowstorm, this match has been postponed until further notice. Walter Beattie, Secretary.” (Aberdeen press and journal, 22 December 1925)

“Cairnie Ploughing Association Match is postponed till after the New Year. Date later. John Rule, Secretary, Whitehill.

Kincardine O’Neil and Torphins ploughing match advertised for 26th inst is postponed until further notice. W. Aitken, Secy.

Strathbogie Farmer Club. Champion ploughing match will be held at Corsiestane Fm 16th January, 1926, or first suitable Saturday.

Ythanside Farmers’ Club. The annual ploughing match has now been fixed for Wednesday, 6th January. If day unsuitable, first Wednesday after. Further entries welcomed. J. Walker, Secretary.” (Aberdeen press and journal, 22 December 1925)

“Ythanside Farmers’ Club

Ploughing match advertised for to-day (Saturday) postponed till further notice. J. Walker, Secretary” (Aberdeen press and journal, 19 December 1925)

“Newton St. Boswells and District Farmers’ Club

Ploughing match at Clarilaw postponed to 9th January, 1926.

Present entries stand. Further entries taken to 4th January.

A special prize of a silver cup for grooming has just been presented by Mr Peter McIntosh, Linlithgow. John MacGilvray, Secretary, Newton St Boswells.” (Aberdeen press and journal, 19 December 1925)

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 the Dundee courier 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 Bisset of Blairgowrie. 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 Albion (Harrison, McGregor & Co. Ltd., in Leigh, Lancashire) for mowers and binders and Massey Harris for corn drills and binders). At some farms there was a preference for particular makers: at Forteviot Farm 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.

Drumpark Farm, Madderty (Dundee courier, 11 November 1954)

Implements -2 Fordson tractors (1 fully power driven), R. T. box cart, box cart, 3 corn carts, tractor roller, horse roller, manure distributor, Massey-Harris corn drill, 2 hay mowers, turnip barrow, steelyard and weights, Ferguson tractor ridger, Fordson D. F. plough, potato hopper, 3 sets iron harrows, S. T. harrow for rasps, R. T. barrow, 2 Hunter hoes (new), heavy grubber, grindstone, 2 turnip slicers, ladders, horse rake, potato digger, 2 110A ploughs, 4 drill ploughs, drill grubber, double drill potato planter, berry barrels, berry wire, harness and all barn and stable utensils.

Easter Bleaton Farm, Blacklunans (Dundee courier, 11 November 1954)

Implements- 2 R. T. Ferguson tractors, 2 D. F. and 1 single furrow Ferguson ploughs, Ferguson ridger, cultivator, potato digger, mower and link box, mounted scarifier and turnip barrow, Bisset manure distributor, broadcaster, disc harrows, tractor harrows 95 leaf), chain harrows, saddle harrows, Holt bracken crusher, 3-gang roller, Massey-Harris combine drill (13 sprouts, new), Boswell rick lifter, Lister Blackstone tractor rake, horse rake (converted for tractor), hay sweep, 2 Bisset binders (one 6ft cut, tractor), 2 R.T. corn carts, 2 R. T. coup carts with frames, turnip cutting cart, R. T. tractor tipping bogie, pair of new Dunlop wheels and axle, Versco electric boiler (3kw, 242-250 volts), 2 sets fanners, turnip pulper and slicer, R. T. wheelbarrow, steelyard and weights, 300 gallon T.V.O. tank, Wolseley electric clippers, Lister horse clippers, whitewash sprayer, potato hopper and screens, portable forge, 2 dozen sheep troughs, 2 zinc feed bins, 6 wooden flakes, 3 field gates, quantity of sheep stakes, posts and boarding, 12 bosses, 12 rolls of sheep and Rylock netting, 3 iron sheep haikes, portable saw bench, 2 henhouses (sectional and one on skids), 6 hen coops, and the usual barn and stable utensils.

Clunie Farm, Blairgowrie (Dundee courier, 11 November 1954)

Tractor implements

T.V.O. Ferguson tractor (1952), fitted with cab, R. T. Fordson tractor, with pulley and iron wheels, Oliver D. F. plough, mounted for Ferguson, Sellar D. F. barpoint plough for Ferguson (new), Ransome toolbar, with ridgers, spring-loaded tines and markers; Tullos distributor (all purpose), Tullos front coverers, hay sweep (power lift), Bisset potato digger, R. T. tractor trailer, R. T. tractor cart, M. H. binder (5-ft cut), Albion hay mower, Ferguson tractor jack, Tomkin top link, set Griff tractor wheel chains (new), Fordson drawbar.

Horse implements

3 box carts (1 R. T.), corn cart, Bisset manure distributor, Balloch turnip barrow, roller, hay rake, broadcast machine, 2 sets three-leaf harrows, chain, circular ST and drill harrows, hay collector, Oliver plough, cake breaker, 3 turnip slicers, steelyard and weights, sack lifter, fanners, sack barrow, feed bins, wheelbarrow, ladders, grain lifters, divider knife, Wolseley electric fencer, sheep haik, sheep netting, posts, stack props, wire baskets, potato barrow and hopper, 1 120-gallon T.V.O. tanks, 50-gallon storage tank, fillers and oil drums, 3 henhouses, night ark, 4 Wilnots coops, D.B. gun, Qualcast lawn mower, usual barn and stable utensils.

Forteviot Farm, Forteviot (Dundee courier, 11 November 1954)

Implements-Fordson Major tractor, Ransome D. F. plough (new), tractor cultivator, tractor ridger, S. F. plough (trailer), set tractor strakes (new), Ford-Ferguson tractor (newly overhauled), Ford-Ferguson ridger, Ford Ferguson D. F. plough, Ford-Ferguson cultivator, Ford-Ferguson set tractor discs, Bamford manure distributor (new), 2 Albion corn drills (one new), 2 horse rakes, Bamford hay mower (new), Bamlett hay mower, 4 R. T. tractor bogies (3 tippers), 3 rollers, 3 Bisset binders, grass seed machine, 3 R. T. coup carts, coup cart, 2 corn carts, 2 potato diggers, Martin cultivator (new), set S. T. harrows, set tractor harrows, 2 sets iron harrows, set circle harrows, set chain harrows, scarifier, turnip barrow, horse fork, pulper, tractor hay sweep, 2 turnip slicers, 3 drill ploughs, 3 Dux ploughs, sheep haik (new), sheep haik, 3 handbarrows (R. T.), 250-gallon oil tank, steelyard and weights, fanners, feeding bins, 2 metal boilers, 2 brooders, 4 henhouses, feeding-house on wheels, incubator, 100 wire sculls (new), 24 rolls netting, props, bosses, sheep net stakes, and all barn and stable utensils, surplus dairy utensils, spare furniture, harness for 4 horses.

The above implements are all in excellent condition and worthy of buyers’ attention.

Also, Cooch potato dresser, Case power-driven mower, International manure distributor, cake breaker, riddles, horse trees &c.

Pitkindie Farm, Inchture (Dundee courier, 20 November 1954)

Implements-Ransome threshing mill, 4ft 6 in n rubbers, Ferguson tractor (T. W. O), Allis-Chalmers track tractor and pulley with ridges and fittings, Ferguson tipping trailer (3 ton, 1 year old), Ferguson single-furrow plough, Ferguson D. F. plough, Ferguson ridger, Ferguson cultivator, Ferguson hay mower, Ferguson front coverer, pulley, set circular harrows (4 sections), Massey-Harris corn drill (20 rows), Massey-Harris power binder (7 ft), Ransome cultivator, set tractor discs, set rollers (18 ft), set 4-drill turnip barrows, set harrows (5 sections), Parmiter harrows, 3 drill harrows, Bisset manure distributor, Sherriff grass seed machine (18ft), 2 hay sweeps, Bamlett hay mower, 2 drill grubbers, long marker, yoke for harrows, roller 16 ½ ft, grass seed dresser, 400 tripods with wire, tripod vents, ladders, props, bosses &c and all barn and stable utensils.

There will have been a few festive work nights out in the run up to Christmas. A number of the agricultural implement makers held dances and other events for their workers in the run up to Christmas. George Sellar & Son, Ltd, Huntly, Aberdeenshire and Alloa, held an annual event work the workers. In December 1936 one was held in the days before Christmas. It was recorded in the local newspaper, Aberdeen press and journal. The event mixed a social with some business, with Mr R. T. Sellar, noting how the business had fared in the previous twelve months. The proceedings and a commentary on the business is quoted in full:

“Huntly staff social

Mr R. T. Sellar on position of agriculture

Guests at the annual whist drive and dance of the employees of Messrs George Sellar and Son, agricultural implement makers, Huntly, which took place in Huntly Hotel Hall, were welcomed by Mr Robert T. Sellar on behalf of Mrs Sellar and himself.

He remarked that since they met a year ago industry in the country generally had been prospering, and unemployment figures were very much reduced.

Framers were finding it very different to get labour, as many men had gone into the military and air service, and consequently there had been a bigger demand for tractors.

Demand for tractors

To overcome that shortage in labour, and with the increase in the sale of tractors, the firm foresaw that there would be a bigger demand for ploughs to suit those tractors, and had introduced a plough which had come up to expectations. They had been working overtime at their Alloa factory in the last two months in order to get their sakes completed in time. He was glad to see that the Government was fully aware of the vital importance of agriculture in the country, and although it was no easy matter they were determined to see that the industry was to be safeguarded against foreign competition.

Prizewinners-

Winners at whist were_

Ladies-1. Miss Dey, 2. Mrs Cheyne; consolation, Miss Rae; sitting longest at the table, Miss McPherson, Grantown. Gentlemen-1. Mr D. J. Robertson, Carron; 2. Mr W. Barclay; consolation, Mr J. McIver; sitting longest at the table Mr I. Thomson; travelling prize, Miss White and Mr A. Smart, Ruthven.

Mrs Sellar presented the prizes, and was thanked by Mr Forbes. Provost Yule replied on behalf of the guests.

Music was supplied by Mr James Duff’s band. Miss Marjory Mearns was secretary of the committee.”

Newspapers frequently recorded the results from local ploughing matches. They provide a good deal of information about where the match was held, who organised it, the different classes, the winners (names and farms where location), who attended the match, and general comments on the day such as the weather and the ploughing conditions.

There are a relatively small number of commentaries on the start of ploughing matches and their popularity. These reflective pieces, while providing personal views from an individual, can reveal much about views on the usefulness, or otherwise, of them. One such account was published in the Buchan observer and East Aberdeenshire advertiser of 29 April 1924. It is worth quoting at length for these observations – and also a century ago.

“Plooin’ matches. Popular as ever.

Ploughing matches appear to have lost none of their old-time popularity, for contests were never more numerous throughout the country than they have been this season. It was thought that during the wartime upheaval of farming work the fine art of the plough would rapidly pass into the limbo of forgotten things. Tractors and double and multi-furrow ploughs were fast displacing the old-fashioned two-horse team and swing plough; but a reaction has set in. The double furrow horse plough now mostly fills a slap in a fence, and the old plough with its single furrow speeds over the fields.

The slump in horse-flesh was a determining factor, and will be for a generation at least. For the general work of the farm horses are practically indispensable. The tractor is at best but a useful auxiliary. Under suitable weather conditions a tractor can overtake an extraordinary amount of useful tillage, but it is practically useless for the numerous minor kind of operations that constitute the routine work on the farm.

The tractor plough has done excellent work, and in more than one contest where it has been pitted against horse-drawn ploughs, it has come out on top. Nevertheless, the plough work of the tractor in general leaves much to be desired. Apart from the novelty of the thing, the same amount of human interest can never be concentrated so keenly on an exhibition of tractor ploughing as on the work of a well-handled horse team.

Thousands of spectators have visited some of the leading ploughing matches in the north this season, thus showing that interest in one of the fine arts of the farm is very widespread, for among the coat-clad crows were many visitors from town and city-men who having left farm work for other employment, still retain a deep interest in ploughing contests. Among the competitors, too, were several ex-ploughmen, doughty champions of a former day still keen on exhibiting their prowess, and in pitting their strength and skill against those of the younger sons of the plough.

Some farmers, it is true, take exception to prize ploughing, but all are agreed as to the educative advantages of competitions in hoeing and other branches of farm work. Of course, it is entirely out of the question to look for ploughing of an exhibition class to be accomplished every day on the arable fields; but the example set before the eye of the young ploughman at a match cannot fail to leave its impression on his receptive mind. He will strive to do something like it. Emulation is a grand thing. It brings out the best that is in a man. A champion ploughman requires to be something more than a good plougher. He must be able to adjust his plough irons to balance his team, to set out the work in a field to the best effect, and to put that inimitable touch of perfection into the work which only a past master of the art can accomplish.

To the untrained eye the work of cutting and turning the green sward into a series of diamond-edged furrows may seem an easy task. Look how easily and how happily the ploughboy goes whistling at the plough. But it really is not so easy as it looks. And in a hot ploughing contest, where scores of competitors are battling for supremacy, there are no merry whistlers and no light-hearted striplings at the plough-handles.

The mathematical precision with which each furrow is cut and set out must, however, strike even the most casual of spectators as a little short of marvellous. Many a farm hand spends the greater part of a lifetime at the plough without ever being considered a ploughman in the fullest of the word.

To be recognised among his competitors as a good hand is no small achievement. Every ploughman, good, bad, and indifferent, is a bit of a critic. Comment is to be heard on every hand, and where a little group of spectators collects at the end of a ridge, you may be interested to hear one or two of the more discerning and experienced among them expatiating on pleasing points, the “readableness” of furrows etc, or warmly debating with each other as to the respective merits of this plougher’s wok or that. Often controversy waxes hot and loud, and there is frequently not a little good-humoured chaff and banter to boot.

The work of organising a ploughing match is no light undertaking. Whether the match is merely a parish or inter-parish one, or even one of national scope and character, it is got up on pretty much the same lines, only there are big and handsome prizes (in money and trophies) at the larger meetings, while at the small district contests the awards, though quite suitable for the occasion, are on a relatively small scale. Honours count for much, and a competitor who receives a linen handkerchief, or a clay pipe, for the neatest ends, for the neatest ends, for instance, is just as proud of his award as is the champion who gets a dandy brush for best done up tails, says a writer in ‘Scottish Country Life”.

A committee is formulated to carry out the arrangements, select a field for the contest, appoint judges, and so forth. The judges must be men of great experience, past masters of the art of ploughing, and they must be known as men who will given their decision without fear or favour.”

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 mid 1930s there was an increasing use made of tractors, though not all farms were using them. Some used both tractor and horse as motive power; others were still using horses. Farms were using a wide range of implements and machines. Some were made by Scottish makers, though there was increasing use made by American and Canadian makers such as Massey-Harris and Oliver. They were especially important for particular implements as machines such as ploughs and binders.

The following selection of adverts from the Dundee courier shows the implements and machines on a small number of farms in the early 1930s. They show widespread mechanisation with a large number of implements and machines being used for wide variety of tasks from ploughing, sowing, cultivation, management, harvesting and processing of crops.

Barns of Claverhouse (Dundee courier, 6 November 1934)

Implements-11 coup carts and 6 sets tops, 6 lying carts, 1 lorry, 3 rick lifters, cattle float, Fordson tractor, Oliver tractor plough, tractor cultivator, Mollison tractor digger, 4 binders (Bisset), 2 mowers (Wallace), grass seed machine, 2 horse rakes, 2 corn drills, manure sowing machine, 1 2-drill plough and manure distributor combined, turnip sowing machine, 2 hay collectors, scarifier, 3 drill grubbers, 2 land grubbers, 4 D. M. ploughs, 2 swing ploughs, 2 110A ploughs, 3 Sellar ploughs, 2 Ransome ploughs, 2 (Wallace) potato diggers, potato planter, 2 shafter rollers, double roller, Parimeter roller, 3 drill harrow, 8 brake iron harrows, drag harrow, hay fork, 2 cultivators, scrapers, 15 set swingletrees, yokes, cake breaker, 2 steelyards and weights, 2 barrows, straw barrow, draff barrow, sack barrows, 5 potato harps, 900 potato boxes, 50 sheep troughs, 25 rolls sheep netting and stakes, sheep turnip cutter (hand), 6 dry pig feeding troughs, 25 pig troughs (Wood), 20 rolls of pig netting, feed steaming plant, netting wire, iron cake house, 5 ladders, 15 hen coops, 6 brooders, hay cutter, fanners, cattle troughs, 8 iron stathels, bosses, props, rakes, clats, scythes, shovels, forks, potato graips, turnip graips, knife stand, steps, presses, bags, cattle bands, esparto rope, grindstone, bench and vice, bellows, tools, stakes, &c, 7 set cart and plough harness and 1 set van harness; mill and engine (Shank’s).

Mains of Baldovan, Dundee (Dundee courier, 6 November 1934)

Implements-6 coup carts with tops, 2 lorries, S. and D. milk van, cattle float, 2 Deering binders, 2 hay mowers, double driller, grain driller, manure machine, grass seed machine, scarifier, turnip sowing machine, potato planter, potato digger, horse rake, 1 land rollers, hay collector, cultivator, land grubber, 3 Dux ploughs, 3 drill ploughs, bantam plough, potato grubber, 2 drill butterfly harrows, 3 brake harrows, grass seed harrows, steelyard and weights, 2 meat coolers, bench and vice, turnip cutter, block and tackle, potato boxes, horse clipper, swingletrees, barn, byre and stable utensils, scrap iron, churn and dairy utensils; also 6 sets cart and plough harness, van harness, spare harness.

Spare household furniture including dining suite, mahogany sideboard, sofa etc.

Pitlethie, Leuchars (Dundee courier, 16 November 1934)

Inmplements- 2 coup carts, 4 corn carts (one on wheels), lorry, hay bogie, 1 110A ploughs, 10A plough, Ransome plough, 2 Dux ploughs, 1 drill ploughs, furring-up plough, 4 sets diamond harrows, 2 sets spring-tooth harrows, circle harrows, Parmiter harrows, 2 Norwegian harrows, 5 drill grubbers, 2 grubbers, Hunter hoe, hung-bung roller, shafted roller, grass seed sower, grain driller, turnip sower, beet sower, double driller, 3 mowers, dung spreader, tumbling rake, 2 binders, horse rake, potato planter, potato digger, potato dresser, 3 hand potato planters, 3 sets swingletrees and odd trees, cattle hamper, barn fanners, cake breaker, steel yard and weights, sack barrel, sack lifter, grain box, wheel barrow, meat cooler, 6 rolls netting, knife trestle, grindstone, potato baskets, riddles, seed bin, turnip slicer, power turnip cutter and engine, sawbench, 3 ladders, guddle and mell, stack bosses and props, four graips, 4 shovels, spades, draining spade, harp, pick, oil drum, 6 hoes, 6 forks, scythe, 2 rakes, 3 sets currycombs and brushes, fencing wire, cart and stack ropes, stack cover, 2 binder covers, sacks, horse clippers, 2 stable lamps, hay cutter, strathel standards, harness for 2 pairs horses and odd harness, “Austin” tractor &c; also bothy furniture.

Pitmenzies, Auchtermuchty (Dundee courier, 20 November 1934)

Implements – coup cart, corn cart, cart frame, cart top, binder, mower, cultivator, shafted roller, horse rake, turnip sowing machine, 110A plough Oliver plough, swing plough, drill plough, furring-up plough, drill grubber, Hunter hoe, brake harrows, circle harrows, tumbling tam, turnip slicer, steelyard and weights, grind stone, bruiser, fanners, bench and vice, wheelbarrow, snow plough, potato barrow, swingle trees, corn barrow, sculls, stack bosses, pig troughs, 2 window boxes, wire ladders, small hen house, hen coops; barn, byre, and stable utensils &c, harness for pair horses.

The move away from the use of the travelling threshing mill to mills erected at farms continued in the 1930s. Newspapers in some districts of Scotland, especially in the north-east, reported the erection of new mills on farms. These were important occasions on the farms, and were seen as ceremonies at which the farming family and neighbours were invited. While they provide accounts of these ceremonies, they sometimes also recorded information on the mills and how they were powered.

Some accounts of new threshing mills have been included below:

“Lumphanan threshing plant

The friends and neighbours of Mr J. Mutch, East Futty, Corse, Lumphanan, met at the farm on Saturday to witness the onset of a new threshing mill. The mill is built on up-to-date lines, and the work accomplished was of a high standard. After threshing operations were finished, the company were hospitably entertained by Mrs Mutch, and an enjoyable evening was spent.” from Aberdeen press and journal, 16 January 1924)

“Threshing mill demonstration at Cornhill

Mr James Wood, Drums, Cornhill, has installed a new threshing mill which is driven by a car engine. On Wednesday his neighbours were present to witness the “on-put” when the results were considered very satisfactory. The guests were hospitably entertained by Mr and Mrs Wood”. (Aberdeen press and journal, 18 February 1924)

“Kinellar threshing mill

A large company of friends and neighbours gathered at Aquhorsk, Kilnnellar, on Saturday afternoon on the invitation of Mr and Mrs Duncan Keir. The occasion was the inauguration of a new threshing mill, which Mr Keir has just installed. The mill gave general satisfaction in the demonstration. It threshed eight quarters per hour of well-dressed grain. The company were entertained by Mr and Mrs Keir, and spent an enjoyable evening.” (from Aberdeen press and journal, 11 November 1924)

“An up to date agriculturist

Mr Adam Grewar, Corsehill, Blairgowrie, who recently purchased the farm of Burnhead, has just installed a new threshing mill on the holding. The mill, which was supplied by Mr David Murray, Balgersho, Coupar-Angus, is of the most modern type, and propelled by an “Allan” 7-8 h.p. engine. To witness the starting of the machinery a large concourse of farmers and others assembled on Wednesday, and were highly satisfied with the results achieved. The cereals threshed were “White Wonder” oats-a crop which yielded Mr Grewar a return of fully ten quarters per acre. The company were handsomely entertained by the host, and expressed their warmest thanks for the hospitality through the medium of ex-Provost Spalding.” (from Perthshire advertiser, 15 November 1924)

Displenishing sales provide an insight into the implements and machines that were being used on a farm when the tenant was leaving a particular farm. They reflected the type of activities that were being undertaken, including chicken rearing, potato growing, or cheese making. They can also show whether the farm was using new and innovative ones or were relying on older ones. Some of the items that are listed were old, though others, as notices sometimes point out were new. They would also have included implements that might have been allocated to the “hedge back” that were put out for sale to realise some money.

In November 1924 a number of displenishing sales took place in eastern Scotland. It is worth looking at these to see what implements and machines were being used a century ago. There is a great emphasis on ones for ploughing, cultivation, carting, crop processing, and animal husbandry.

Westfield, Rattray (from Dundee courier, 7 November 1924)

Implements – 2 coup carts, corn cart, single and double ploughs, Sellar plough, Oliver plough, iron, chain, and circular harrows, drag harrow, drill harrow and grubber, two-horse grubber, roller, potato digger (Powell), turnip sower, turnip slicer, binder (Ideal Deering), speedwell reaper, horse rake, hay gatherer, cake crusher, steelyard and weights, vice, box and potato barrows, 2 ladders, feeding boxes, cart and plough harness, and the whole barn and stable utensils; also dogcart and harness, wooden shed, wooden milk house, and dairy utensils, rasp barrwls, wire and pails.

Rawes Farm, Longforgan (Dundee courier, 11 November 1924)

Implements – 2 Fordson tractors, in good working order, 2 tractor ploughs, 1 tractor cultivator, tractor double discer, 2 tractor swingletrees, four-horse grubber, three-horse grubber, Bamford cultivator, Cambridge roller, disc scarifier, turnip barrow, double driller, Hoosier grain drill, Massey-Harris grain drill, Richmond potato planter, Jack manure sower, binders, 2 Bamford hay mowers, Bamlett mower, 2 horse rakes, 1 16-feet horse rake, Mollison digger, 2 hay bogies and complete set of hay stacking tackle, 3 hay collectors, hay baler, 5 Yankee ploughs, 2 swing ploughs, 3 drill ploughs, 6 drill harrows, 5 set harrows, circular harrows, 2 set brake harrows, 2 9-feet rollers, 1 6-feet roller, stone roller, turnip slicer, saw bench, long ladders, 3 short ladders, 3 barrows, sculls, 2 four-horse yokes, 1 three-horse yoke, 5 sets swingletrees, set fanners, sack barrow, steelyard and weights, 400 potato bags and all barn utensils, lawn mower, 4 chicken rearers, 3 portable hen houses, 1 100-egg incubator, 7 coup carts, 6 corn carts, 30 sack bosses, 200 props, 4 sets harness.

Also household furniture.

Dirnanean, near Kirkmichael (Dundee courier, 11 November 1924)

Implements – 2 coup carts and tops, corn cart, wood cart, 2 wood and corn cart bodies, cattle float in good order, double furrow plough, 5 single and double ploughs, 2 drill harrows, scarifier, 3 sets iron harrows, chain harrows, 2-horse grubber, metal and wooden rollers, roller frame and axle, grass seed machine, manure distributor, turnip sowing machine, reaper and mower (Bisset), binder (Bisset), horse rake, tumbling rake, 3 slipes, 2 turnip slicers, turnip pulper, baker’s fanners, cake crusher, box and sack barrows, 5 ladders, barrel of tar, drag and other chains, bogey, portable boiler, 3 wooden troughs, water barrel, horse clipper (Stewart), joiner’s benches, sawmill and joiner’s tools, 2 grindstones, 3 sets cart and plough harness and 2 sets gig harness, spring van, bosses and props, hen coops, corn chests, firewood in lots, about 200 posts, cart ropes, and the whole barn, stable, and dairy utensils, including 2 churns, plates, basins, tubs, markets &c, also 4 Minimax fire extinguishers, large lawn roller, 1 horse lawn mower, lawn mower, 6 large dust bins, garden tools &c.

Stoneydale, near Laurencekirk (Dundee courier, 14 November 1924)

Implements -4 box carts with tops, 3 long carts with tops, 1 pony trap, 3 M. F. ploughs, 3 Oliver ploughs, 2 D.B. ploughs, drill scrapers, 1 four-horse grubber, 1 potato grubber, 3 spring tooth harrows, 3 brake iron grubbers, 1 set drill harrows, metal roller, three cylinder roller, 1 “Jackson” manure distributor, turnip distributor, 1 broadcast sowing machine, turnip sowing machine, “Massey-Harris” binder, Empire mower, 1 horse rake, 1 hay gatherer, potato digger (Jackson), cake crusher, barn fan, bushel measure, steelyard and weights, sack barrow, sack lifter, corn chest, meal girnel, grain and potato sacks, 2 barrows, potato riddles, large quantity potato hampers and boxes, horse clipping machine, 2 guns and game bag, set of joiner’s tools, 100 larch posts, wire and wire netting, sack props and bosses, hen coops, yokes and swingletrees, forks, graips, hen coops, yokes and swingletrees, forks, graips, hoes, shovels and a large and varied assortment of minor implements; cart and plough harness for 3 pairs horses and set pony harness.

Scotscraig, Tayport (Dundee courier, 18 November 1924)

Implements -12 coup carts, 7 corn carts, lorry, 2 water barrels, turnip cutting cart, 5 binders, 3 hay mowers, 2 horse rakes, 2 hay gathers, 9 swing ploughs, potato plough, 5 D.M. ploughs, 3 drill grubbers, 4 drill harrows, 6 brake iron harrows, chain harrows, Parmiter harrows, grass seed harrow, 2 circular harrows, three-drill harrow, drag harrows, 3 cultivators, Cambridge roller, 2 corn drillers, broadcast sowing machine, double driller, 2 manure distributors, 2 metal rollers, 3 potato diggers, turnip sowing machine, barn fanners, sack barrow, potato hoppers, harps, barrows and backets, 2 wheelbarrows, bosses, props, 10 ladders, and all small farm implements, turnip slicer, cake breaker, meat cooler, 2 sheep turnip cutters, 6 sheep hakes, 3 cake bins on wheels, 60 sheep feeding troughs, 30 wire nets, 500 stakes, 60 new flakes, 2 Minimax fire extinguishers, horse clippers; also 9 sets cart and plough harness.

Summerhill, Guthrie (Dundee courier, 18 November 1924)

Implements-coup cart and tops, lying cart, spring van, dog cart, 2 swing ploughs, D.M. plough, furring-up plough, turnip sowing machine, metal roller, potato digger, brake iron harrows, spring harrow, set circular harrows, drill harrow, drill grubber, horse rake, turnip slicer, 2 ladders, wire netting, wire and posts, sack steelyard and weights, water troughs and boilers, barrels, yokes and swingletrees, potato boxes, potato scoop, shovels, graips, forks, hoes, scythes and sneds, draining tools, turnip graips, horning shears, cattlebands, corn chests, tramp pick and mell, shoulder picks, bee boxes and bee appliances, scrap iron; also smithy tools, comprising bellows, anvil and anvil block, vice and bench, small tools and ringing bed, dairy utensils and spare furniture; also set cart and plough harness and set van harness.

Kilry, Alyth (Dundee courier, 18 November 1924)

Implements-3 coup carts, corn cart, corn cart frame, 2 binders (Massey-Harris and Woods), cultivator, land grubber, 3 brakes iron harrows, drag and circular harrows, fog harrows, potato digger, potato grubber, 2 drill grubbers, Hunter hoe, 2 110a ploughs, Dux plough, 3 D.M. ploughs, furring-up plough, turnip sowing machine (with discs), corn driller, manure distributor and double driller, disc drill parer, large metal roller, small metal roller, horse rake, hay collector, cake crusher, turnip slicer, Baker fanners, 2 sack barrows, sack lifter, steelyard and weights, wheelbarrow, corn chest, 100 grain sacks (new), ladders, 2 potato harps, hopper and riddles, stack and binder covers, yokes and swingletrees, vice, cornyard wood, and all small tools, portable boiler; also 3 sets cart and plough harness. All the above are in good order and equal to new.

Large portable house (2 compartments), 20 x 15 ft stove &c, large henhouse 15x10ft, dairy 9x7ft, and implement shed 15×17 ft. All the above houses are in sections.

The early 1930s was an important period in farm mechanisation in Scotland (and throughout Britain). One of the key developments was in the adoption of the combine harvester. In Scotland the newspapers carried a number of articles on this new machine, and views on whether it could or would be successfully adopted by farmers.

The following are some articles that report the early days of the combine harvester and other technologies at this time:

From the Midlothian advertiser, 4 March 1932

“The combine harvester

Cuts Canadian labour requirements

The introduction of the combine harvester has been an important factor in reducing demand for labour for the farms on the Canadian praries. By the earlier system of harvesting by means of the self-binder, still extensively used, the best efforts of a labourer in the harvest fields did not accomplish as much in the way of harvesting as his same efforts would accomplish in the spring in the planting of the crop. In other words, it required about two men in the autumn to harvest the crop which could be planted by one man in the spring.

Labour saving is effected due to the fact that all the harvest work is combined in one operation. By the self-binder method the grain must be cut, the sheaves must be set up in stooks to dry, the stooks must be loaded on to the waggon and hauled to the threshing mill, and there the threshing must be done. The combine harvester combines all these operations into one, cutting the wheat and threshing it as rapidly as it can be moved over the field. All the labour of stooking, for which the harvest hands were particularly required, is eliminated. The cost of binder twine, also a considerable factor in wheat farm expenses, is saved.

Notwithstanding these advantages, however, there is little reason to believe that the combine will entirely displace the self-binder. On account of their cost, combines, to be used economically, must be operated on large farms or groups of farms.”

From The Scotsman, 13 January 1933

“The combine harvester

The combine harvester cuts the heads of wheat, leaving the straw standing, it carries the heads into a threshing drum, threshes, winnows, and bags the grain; it weighs the bags, and they are them removed ready for dispatch to the railway siding. Machines are made to cut a 10 to 15 foot swathe, and with their aid two men can complete the harvesting of 50 acres of wheat per day. Grains need not be man-handles at all from the field right through to the bakehouse. For the most effective use of the combine harvester, the standing crop must be completely ripe and sufficiently dry to allow the wheat to be bagged within a minute of its being cut; moreover, the machine is only economical in use where large areas of wheat are harvested. These factors impose limitations upon the world-wide adoption of the combine harvester, but modifications in the size of the outfit, the adoption of methods of artificially drying the grain, and the breeding of wheats which can stand long enough to reach complete maturity, are extending its use to areas of moderate-sized farms and to moister climates. Combine harvesters have successfully harvested English crops under favourable weather conditions. Adaptations to local conditions will probably be made. Nevertheless, the general use of the combine harvester in its most economic form is at present limited to the West and Middle West of the United States of America, Argentina, Australia, parts of Canada, and the drier districts of Russia, such as the Northern Caucasus. Probably in Hungry climatic conditions are also favourable, and the same is true of most of Italy.”

From the Dundee evening telegraph, 27 July 1934

“Robots are coming to our farms

Mechanisation is rapidly invading every sphere of agriculture.

Indeed, just as the present era of engineer-farming supplanted that of the old-fashioned primitive hand cultivation, the former is being ousted by what has been aptly named “robot-farming”.

A striking example of this is to be seen in Norfolk. There, on one farm of many hundreds of acres, hedges have been removed and small fields thrown into large ones, and not a single animal is seen, every operation being carried out by machinery.

Evidence of the coming change can be seen at all large agricultural shows, such as the Royal Show held recently at Ipswich, where some of the most impressive displays show the latest mechanical aids of agriculture side by side with the centuries-old appliances of the village and rural craftsman.

Such, for instance, are the veritable super-ploughs now being built, which may cost as much as £6,000 each, and which are capable of turning an acre of land an hour. Some are of 150 horse-power, and weigh 15 tons.

The combine harvester

In the future there is not the slightest doubt that machinery will be indispensable during the harvest.

A few years ago the combine-harvester was unknown in this country; now it is found in all parts.

This machine cuts and threshes the corn as it works round the field, doing away with the necessity for standing up the corn in shocks, carting and stacking, and at the same time relieves the farmer of the worry of getting his corn wet through before he can get it stacked and thatched.

This season it is expected that at least 10,000 acres will be cut and threshed by combine-harvesters.

Machines of this type are used in Canada and the United States. Eight years ago the Dominion had fewer than 200 of them, but at the present time there are something like 10,000 in use, worth approximately £5,000,000.

Defeating the weather

The hay harvest , or “haysel”, is another operation which frequently gives the farmer considerable worry, especially in Britain, where climate is fickle, and where on occasion whole crops have been ruined by inopportune rain.

For this reason the agricultural engineer has turned his attention to this crop too, and striking advances have been made.

The old method of cutting hay with the horse mower was satisfactory, but tractor mowers work far quicker, and take a wider sweep, so that the hay can be cut when in the best condition, and the haysel finished when the weather is good.

The farmer is also defeating the weather in another way, for electricity has come to his aid in the drying of the crop.

Rain has now little chance of deteriorating the cut where such aids are utilised, for the hay is carted directly after being moved, and a stack is erected over ducting of simple construction. An electric fan forces air through the ducts, and the hay is cured in this manner.

This is only one of the applications of electricity on the modern farm, and it is estimated that 2,000,000 farmers throughout the world have electrified their holdings.”

The newspapers in Scotland recorded the introduction of a number of implements and machines. These accounts provide an important historical record that shows where, when and who first introduced them. They also highlight the reaction to them, including the amount of attention given to them.

There are reports of a number of trials of these implements and machines. They include the first combine harvester. The following account from The Scotsman, on 2 September 1932, records the first trials in East Lothian:

“Combined harvesting machine

On the farm of Cairndinnis, East Lothian, owned by Lord Traprain, a new combined harvester completed successful trials this week. A similar type of machine has been used extensively in Canada and America, while several have been operated successfully in England, but this is the first occasion on which this thresher has been tried in Scotland.

The machine, which is drawn by a Caterpillar tractor, has a crew of four men, and eliminates the laborious work of stooking, pitching, stacking, and threshing, and thus saves loss from rats and stacks. It can be adapted, as in other countries, to merely cut off the heads of the grain or the straw. The machine, which has a 12ft cut, does the work of four reapers. By its use the grain cut can be placed in the granary on the same day, and therefore a great deal of risk consequent upon bad weather is avoided. When the grain is cut it is taken up by conveyor belts to the threshing machines, the straw and chaff being discharged by means of a window at the rear. The grain, which is dressed, emerges at the bagging platform, and can be graded into three different grades. The machine is operated by one man who drives the tractor, one on the header watching the knife, and two on the bagging platform who fill and tie up the bags with grain and place them in a shute holding four bags, which can be immediately released by pressing a lever.”