Scottish agricultural implement makers

If we were to think about North American influences on the use of Scottish agricultural implements and machines we would probably think about some of the Americn companies such as John Deere and International. Canadian companies also had their role and we need look no further than the harvest field.

Probably the best known Canadian name in the harvest field is Massey Harris. Massey Harris – as Massey Harris Co., Massey Harris & Co. Ltd, Massey Harvester Co. Ltd, and Massey Manufacturing Co. – has been present in the Scottish fields since at least 1887. The first Massey Harvester reaping machines were exhibited at the Highland Show in 1887 by William Ford, Fenton Barns, Drem, East Lothian. William continued to exhibit at the Show until 1893, by which time other agents were coming on the scene. The Massey Manufacturing Company, 171 Queen Victoria Street, London, did not attend its first Highland Show until 1888, held at Glasgow. It remained an annual exhibitor from 1893.

Visitors to the Deeside Steam & Vintage Club rally at Milton of Crathes at the weekend got the chance to witness a local thrashing team, working with a Garvie threshing mill built in 1950, and which spent many years in that district.

The mill was bought new by Ed Abernathy, Nethermill, Crathes. It was sold on to Clark, Knockhill, Strachan, and on to Alexander, Western, Crathes. It was bought by Jim Donald, Durris, in 1986.

It isn’t often that we feature articles of mills makers from Fife. But there were a number of mill makers in Fife. In the early 1920s one of them was the Balmoral Engineering Works Co., Nelson Street, Tayport. The business exhibited at the Highland Show at Perth in 1924, where it had 4 exhibits.

The firm had a short but colourful existence through one of its engineers, R. G. Begg. For a time he carried on business in Dundee. This was followed by a move to Tayport (as Balmoral Engineering Works Co.), and then to Blairgowrie, where he was working in 1929, under the name of R. G. Begg & Sons, at Mill Street, Blairgowrie. Beg’s business activities were not successful with his business being carried on by his wife for a number of years.

14 August 2017 marks 50 years to the day that Jimmy McGhee of Pollock Farm Equipment started his apprenticeship agreement with A. & W. Pollock, Mauchline. Its quite an achievement to be in a trade for half a century! Jimmy writes of his experiences and the company’s history in his book Pollock: Agricultural Implement Makers 1867-2017 (which can be obtained through Pollock Farm Equipment Ltd or Carn Publishing). (see http://www.pollockfarmequip.co.uk or http://www.carnpublishing.com)

Jimmy is one of a small number of agricultural implement makers who have worked in the Scottish implement and machine industry in the twentieth century. Another was Wm Poole JP, who reached that celebration in October 1922. Poole was of the firm of Armstrong & Main, Edinburgh, later A. & J. Main & Co Ltd, whose name is usually associated with farm buildings, especially hay sheds.

The implement trade had a dinner and celebration to commemorate William’s achievement. The North British Agriculturist carried an extensive piece on that dinner and celebration. It highlights the relationships between the members of the trade and aspects of their businesses. It is worth quoting t length in providing a window on the Scottish agricultural implement and machinery trade in 1922:

“A particularly pleasing and happy function took place in Messrs Ferguson & Forresters’ Restaurant, Princes Street, Edinburgh, on Tuesday night, when his many friends in the implement trade and others entertained Councillor William Poole, JP, of the well-known and old-established firm of Messrs Armstrong & Main, agricultural implement makers, Edinburgh, at dinner, and presented him with an illuminated address and other handsome gifts, in honour of his jubilee in the agricultural implement trade. A company of about 70 sat down at dinner, presided over by Mr James H. Steele, Edinburgh, who was supported at the chairman’s table by Councillor Poole, Sir Isaac Connell, Secretary of the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture; Bailie A. Thornton Hunter (Messrs A. Jack & Sons Ltd, Maybole); Mr W. B. Wallace (Messrs Wallace (Glasgow) Ltd, Glasgow): Major J. kemp Smith (Messrs Kemp & Nicholson, Stirling); and Mr J. K. McAuslin, CA, Glasgow. The arrangements of the committee, with Mr James H. Steele as convener, and Mr J. K. McAuslin as secretary, were admirable, and the proceedings were of the most successful and gratifying character.
After dinner the Chairman gave the toast of “The King”.
Councillor Watt, Edinburgh, gace “The Imperial Forces”, coupled with the name of Major J, Kemp Smith, who replied.
Mr W. B. Wallace, Glasgow, proposed the toast of “Scottish Agriculture”. He referred to the wide variety of sciences embraced in the practice of agriculture, and remarked that from earliest times right down through the ages it could lay claim to a record of progress. It was quite true that agriculture was at present in a sort of backwash, and it was so more than it should be simply because of the renunciation of solemn pledges by the Government of the day. (hear, hear). All industries, however, had been suffering, but he was confident that there were better days in store for agriculture, because just as it was the earliest of their industries, so they were assured in the Old Book that it would be the last, for they were told that there would come a time when they would beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. (Applause). He coupled the toast with the name of Sir Isaac Connell.
Sir Isaac Connell in reply said they were still aware that agriculture to-day was not so prosperous as it had been during the war, but they must not allow themselves to be carried away with the great drop that had occurred between prosperity of war times and the mediocre conditions of to-day. The comparison should really be between pre-war and to-day. (Hear, hear). If they looked at it in that way, they would realise that they were not quite so bad after all. It w2as quite true that in England there had been a very large number of bankruptcies amongst farmers, and an insurance official told him that in Scotland more farmers were asking for advances on their insurance policies just now than he could ever remember; but things would brighten up if they looked their difficulties in the face, and they were going to do it. (Applause) They would find that there would be a lot of people spouting about panaceas for agricultural depression, but many of them were visionaries devoid of practical experience, and did to speak with the practical sense which the mover of that motion had done. (Hear, hear). they ere up against a stiff proposition, but they were not going to die down to it. (Applause) It was right that the Government should help, and that they should get assistance, and they ere getting assistance, in various ways. …
The Secretary then submitted letters of apology for absence from a large number of well-wishers of the guest of the evening, including Sir Hugh Shaw Stewart, Sir David Wilson of Carbeth, Sir Robert Greig, Chairman of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland, Sir Harry Hope, Dr C M Douglas CB, of Auchlochan, and others. Amongst a number of letters read, expressing the kindliest good wishes regarding Mr Poole, was one from Mr James Deering, of Chicago, who offered his heartiest congratulations, and wished the guest of the evening “the greatest possible happiness.”
Bailie Thornton Hunter, Maybole, then proceeded to make the presentation to Mr Poole, and to submit the toast of his health. He saw that the North British Agriculturist described Mr Poole as the “Father of the Scottish agricultural implement trade”. That title was quite correct, but it did seem to him a rather patriarchal cognomen for such a comparatively young-looking man as Mr Poole-(applause)-and judging from Mr Poole’s physical appearance, it looked as if he would remain in undisputed possession of the title for many a day to come, as he was sure it was the wish of his many friends in the trade that it might be. (Applause). Fifty years was a large slice of a man’s life, and he was sure Mr Poole could entertain his friends if he were to review in retrospect some of the many figures he had seen strutting on the agricultural implement trade stage in his time. he doubted, however, if Mr Poole, with his long experience, could point to any agricultural implement maker-in Scotland, at any rate-who made a fortune out of the trade. (Hear, hear). They would agree with him that while they had made some grand implements-none better were produced anywhere than in Scotland-(hear, hear)-they hadna made buckle silver. (Laughter). he often wondered whether the agricultural engineer got the credit he was entitled to for inventing and improving machinery to assist the farmer in his endeavour to make the proverbial two blades of grass grow where only one grew before, but they would agree with him when he said that one of the men in the trade who deserved a share in that credit was their guest, particularly in connection with the development and improvement of the self-binder. (Applause) Bailie Hunter concisely reviewed Mr Poole’s association with the introduction and improvement of the Ransomes’ double-furrow plough, the single-furrow chilled plough and dragging ploughs, the various types of mowers and reapers, and said that Me Poole’s connection with the introduction into this country of the self-binder was a unique and interesting one. He recalled that in August 1878, at a field trial of the Walter A. Wood, and the McCormick wire binders, he superintended and secured for his firm a gold medal for the McCormick machine-(applause)-and in the early ‘eighties he had the honour of starting the first twine binder ever put to work in Scotland. (Applause) It would be conceded that Mr Poole had contributed in no small measure to the art of agricultural implement making-particularly to the self-binder branch of the art-and that a debt of gratitude was due to him by the whole agricultural community for his energy, ability, and enterprise. (Applause) He was a advocate, as they knew, of co-operation in the interests of the implement trade. On numerous occasions he had represented with effect the Scottish implement trade at the meetings of the English Trade Association. (Applause) One of the things he might mention in passing was the continued high charges for space at the shows. He just wondered whether if Mr poole, who was a director of the Highland Society, could induce his fellow-directors to give some relief to the trade in this direction. He had helped them before, and he must help again. It was quite true that a concession as given for the Dumfries Show, after pressure by the Implement Dealers’ Association, but it was time they were getting back to something like the pre-war rates. (Applause) The Chairman made complimentary reference to their guest’s useful work on the Edinburgh Town Council, and remarked that Mr Poole’s imagination and capacity for getting things done had stood him in good stead. (Applause) He had also genius for making friends, which was also a most valuable asset. (Applause) the Chairman concluded by presenting Mr Poole on behalf of the subscribers to that testimonial-with an illuminated address,a nd expressed the hope that it might long adorn the wall of the best room in his house. (Applause)
The address, which was an artistic example of the engraver’s art, set in a handsome frame, gave expression to the subscribers’ appreciation of Mr Poole’s long and successful career in the implement trade, his useful work as a Town Councillor of the City of Edinburgh, and their heartiest good wishes for his continued health and happiness.
Continuing, the Chairman said he had also the pleasure of handing over to Mr Poole that gold watch. Inscribed on an old sundial were the words “I mark only shining hours”. (Applause) If was his wish, and the wish of them all present, that all the hours recorded by that watch should be bright and shining hours for him and his, and as often as he looked at its beautiful face they hoped there would be reflected back to him the esteem, regard, and affection of their many friends in the implement trade in Scotland and furth of it. (Applause) He was glad to know that the Committee had not forgotten Mr Poole’s daughter,a nd it was his further pleasing duty to ask Mr Poole to accpt on her behalf that piece of jewellery as a memento to mark that auspicious occasion in her father’s life, and they hoped that they might both be long spared to each other.
Mr Poole’s health was honoured with much enthusiasm and the singing of “He’s a jolly good fellow.”
Councillor Poole, who on rising to reply was received with hearty applause, said it was difficult for him to speak that night for emotions that were stirring within him through the many kind thoughts that had been expressed about him by absent friends overseas and in distant parts of the country, and by those present who were honouring him with their presence there. They would therefore pardon him of his words were halting. It was his good fortune in 1872, through the instrumentality of the late Mr James A. R. Main, the founder of the firm of A. & J. Main & Co., to become acquainted with the agricultural machinery business. From that time to the present, the just and kindly treatment he had received from his successors, namely his son, Mr J. A. Main; his nephew, Mr Robert Ramsay Main, who was now in retirement at Crieff; and from Mr George R. Main, who had had very considerable business experience both in India and at home, accounted for his still being connected with the firm. (Applause) had time permitted, he would have described the personality and the important work of several of his contemporaries-very dear friends who had passed over to the majority, and through whose inventions the agriculturists have been able to build up their important industry to the high level it now occupies. (Applause) The manufacture of agricultural machinery in this country had been looked upon by many as the condoler of the engineering profession, but in his opinion this was a mis-conception. In the great countries of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Argentine, and South Africa, the agricultural engineer occupied a position of pre-eminence, and in co-operation with the farmer had helped forward the development of these new countries with a rapidity that otherwise would have been impossible. He made bold to say, so far as his knowledge was concerned, that no description of heavy engineering work had ever been so profitable to the manufacturer as the manufacture of agricultural machinery throughout the United States, and in this connection he would cite the name of William peering, of harvesting machine fame, who started business with a moderate amount of capital, and who, according to report, left a fortune of twenty million sterling; also James Oliver, a Scotsman, of chill plough fame, who was stated to have left a fortune of ten million sterling. (Applause)
During the late war the British Government discovered the importance of the agricultural engineer, and the amount of work entrusted to him through the manufacture of munitions of war and specialities connected with the same was simply stupendous. And it must not eb forgotten that it was in an agricultural engineerings hop at Lincoln that the first War Tank was designed and built. (Applause) As a lad he (Mr Poole) was brought into contact with the late Mr George Greig, a Scotsman, of the firm of J. Fowler & Sons, Leeds. the agricultural engineer, through the enterprise and expenditure of vast sums of money by the then Duke of Sutherland, a truly noble Scottish patriot who had the welfare of our country and the interests of the farmer at heart-(applause)-carried through successfully the greatest and most important scheme of land reclamation and development in Great Britain that had ever taken place in our time; but, alas! through the lack of sunshine, this great effort did not meet with the success which it deserved. For this County of Sutherland scheme, Mr Greig and his firm designed special steam ploughs, cultivators, &c which were necessary for that important work. (Applause) Following up the patriotic and valued services of the Duke of Sutherland, he would call to their recollection the valuable assistance which the Scottish agricultural engineer had always received from the Scottish landed proprietor, his factors, and his agents, and he would say with emphasis that their passing at the present time was nothing short of a national calamity. (Hear, hear)
He had been connected with their important national institution, the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, since the year 1873. With few exceptions he had been present at the many trials and competitions that have been held under the auspices of the Society, and he had no hesitation in saying that the trials of tractors and tractor implements recently held at Dalkeith were, in his opinion, the most valuable and successful, so far as good and satisfactory work was concerned that the Society had ever held. (Applause) He recalled with pleasure the kindly personality of former secretaries-the late F. N. Menzies, who during the Show week used to ride about the show ground on his pony, with an imposing and majestic appearance; also Mr James MacDonald, one of the ablest and best informed men regarding the progress and development of every feature of Scottish agriculture, and in connection with the establishemnt of small holdings, and the prosperity of our Scottish crofters, he, in his (the speaker’s) opinion, was the most accurate judge of the whole situation when he told him that if the agriculturists of Scotland, small and great, were to be placed into a position that would enable them to obtain a just return for their expenditure and labours, the only course to follow out to attain this would be that our Government should impose a tariff on agricultural products, the same as that which the French Government had imposed, and which had brought prosperity to the farmers of their country. …
Mr Robert K. Anderson, proprietor of the North British Agriculturist, submitted the toast of “Our Scottish Capital and its Civic Rulers”. He said that it was only proper, in a gathering like that, when the gentleman they were met to honour was himself a Town Councillor, that they cshould remember his co-workers in the municipal affairs of Edinburgh. (Applause) Looking back over thirty or forty years, as their guest did that night, it was a matter of satisfaction to know that many members of the engineering trade were not so entirely engrossed in their own business as not to be able to devote some measure of their time to the important work of municipal affairs. (Applause) He might remark that they had a good example of this in their friend Bailie Hunter, who made the presentation. (Applause) Although their friend, Mr Poole, had entered the Town Council somewhat late in life, he had, notwithstanding, proved himself a most useful member, owing, no doubt, to the fact that he was a practical man, and endowed with a liberal measure of that quality known as common sense. (Applause) …

The proceedings were pleasantly varied by songs and stories, contributed by various members of the company.

The photographs were taken at Pollock Farm Equipment 150th anniversary celebrations at the company’s works, 12 August 2017.

Grain harvesting technologies have changed considerably in the last 150 years – from the cycle, scythe to the reaping machine and the combine. Back in August 1922 the North British Agriculturist commented on the progress in tractor harvesting.

Back then tractor harvesting was still in its infancy in Britain: tractors were still oly used on a relatively small number of farms and the horse still remained king. But there was some progress:

“There is not the least doubt that the use of the tractor in harvesting is being put to a severe test this season, and if it emerges satisfactorily it will be a triumph for mechanical farming. On the
other hand there is equally no doubt that many farmers are metaphorically tearing their hair – when they have any left – over the shortcomings of their motive power. Many a man is calling himself a particular kind of fool for ever sinking so many hundreds of pounds in an engine. Now, it is unfortunately a very bad season for tractor work of this kind, while no one has as yet had experience enough in the new methods of working the tractor with the binder to get the best results; anyway, there is still much against a successful outcome. Take, for instance, a case known to us. When engine and binder are running all right then the work goes on right merrily. When turning at the corners the man on the binder
steps off, whips one sheaf only out of the way of the tractor in turning, and lithely regains his seat before the binder enters the corn again. Unfortunately, there is a lot of “wire-seed”-a variety of knot-grass-among the corn which frequently chokes the binder, necessitating a stoppage; next, the tractor will not start, from the sparking-plug being choked up or from such other such trouble, and so one worry follows another, and time is wasted; and our particular farmer friend wishes he had never bought a tractor at all! Then, the speed at which a tractor runs shakes a binder all to pieces, and the gear has often to be set on the second speed, which again means less work being done. Many who have been cutting at high tractor speed with the horse binder and finding to their cost how quickly the life of their machine is being reduced. It is possible, of course, to get large, powerful binders specially built for tractor work, but this means a lot more outlay of capital; and, while an 8-ft sitting bar is all right for a light standing crop, it is apt to be muddled up in heavy tangled stuff-especially in a year like this when so many fields have been “laid” by wind and rain, and grass seed has been sown along with corn.
Many farmers, on account of these troubles, who own tractors and believe in their use, have come to the conclusion that they are better served by horses in harvest time, and that the proper function of the tractor engine is rather to do and to make up against time the heavy work of ploughing, sub-soiling, cultivating, &c. Sub-soiling, particularly, is coming to the front in these days, and, as we lately pointed out, it will now be possible to sub-soil in a way which is beyond the power of horses. In the case of the binder, however, three horses-or even two-can go steadily on for a good long day, while, if one horse in a team gets played out, another can be substituted-a point in favour of horse labour. Further, in harvest time, as a rule, the horses might just as well be working as running loose when the tractor is taking their place. Nevertheless, the tractor has come to stay in harvesting as in other kinds of farm work. Every farmer past middle age can remember the introduction of the binder, but some of the old brigade can recall the advent of the original reaping machine itself, and can also remember what a terrible “hash” it made of the job in its early stages. It took a long time to train men and horses to be able to handle one of these machines satisfactorily, and it took a long time to develop and improve them. The same applies to the string binder, and it is only a short time since they were brought to their present state of efficiency. Why! it was only this week that a well-known Lothian farmer remarked to us that he had never experienced a season when the binder had tackled so efficiently laid crops in many difficult positions, and he was quite surprised at the small amount of stuff which had to be dealt with by the scythe. Tis all goes to show that the binder, in its present state of efficiency, is being better understood by those who have to handle it. We are in a state of transition, and as the time goes on we shall get tractors and other machines more and more improved, an -what is of equal importance- we shall learn better how to use them.
A notable English authority believes in, and advocates the harvesting of grain on the Californian method, i.e. the corn thrashed out as it is being cut, so that only the straw has to be stacked for use; but on this system the grain must be kiln-dried to store up. The tractor, of course, would give power such as could never be obtained from horses for this method of working. Such a modus operandi could only be adopted in the South of England, of course, but it would not be safe to condemn it off-hand, for one never knows the inventive age what developments the near future may see! Our grandfathers harvested their corn with the reaping-hook, and never dreamed of even a string-binder; now we have the tractor going with the binder, and time will improve the combination. There are other developments in connection with tractor work in harvesting, however, to which some attention right be given. The stocking machine, though at present unsuited to the wet we have to reckon with in Scotland, is a practical success, and can now be hitched on to the binder, and the tractor will work both. The immediate future will likely see developments in this direction. Again, a common custom in the USA is to hang on a disc cultivator behind the binder and thus scarify the soil as the work of cutting proceeds, thus at one operation helping to get rid of weeds and making good preparation for the next crop. These are two or three subsidiary developments which, as time goes on, will become more and more common as part of tractor work in the harvest field.

It is interesting to note the predictions back in 1922 – and our views of looking back to what they thought in 1922.

The photographs were taken at Scotland’s Farming Yesteryear, September 2014.

The early tractor makers were not usually specialists in making agricultural implements or machines. Conversely, the Scottish agricultural and implement makers were not tractor makers (though Wallace (Implements) Ltd was the exception).

The recognition of the need to bring together the making of tractors and implements suited to them was an important step forward in agricultural engineering. By the 1950s we see trade directories which record ploughs suited for particular makes of tractors. For example ploughs of William Begg & Sons, Tarbolton, Ayrshire, were suitable for Ferguson tractors, Ploughs made by Cruikshank & Co., Denny, were suited for Ferguson and David Brown tractors while other models suited Fordson Major and Nuffield tractors.

If you were an agriculturist in the Lothians from the end of the First World War onwards you would have been ware of the name of Henry Alexander & Co., Nottingham Place, Edinburgh. By 1940 it had become incorporated as Alexanders of Edinburgh Ltd. In 1949 its agricultural department was located at 64 Fountainbridge; by 1954 its Rosemount Works were at Gardners Crescent. In 1962 its agricultural department had moved to the Hayfield Tractor Works, 536 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh. Gorgie Road was close to the Gorgie Markets and to other agricultural businesses including Ballachs, and George Henderson.

While farmers and agriculturists had significant difficulties farming by the end of the First World War, with increased acreages, dwindling supplies of male labour, a reduced number of horses, and a lack of progress in agricultural engineering, with implement and machine makers undertaking work for the government, there was an important revolution going on the farm. The move from horse and steam power to tractor power (whether paraffin or other fuels), brought an interesting interface in old and new technologies.

The national agricultural societies held their trials of tractors and implements over a number of years to assess their working capabilities and progress that was being made. They sometimes compared and contrasted the capabilities of the tractors along side the older steam power, which by that time was used to only a small extent to cultivate the land. But at the same time the steam ploughing and cultivating makers were also having a renaissance, and the second golden age of steam, through the award of the government contract to build a large number of ploughing engines (the exact number varies from source to source). The year 1918 was the “everest of the steam plough era”, in the words of Harold Bonnet.

But the steam ploughing engine makers had their own challenges. The modern tractors were a challenge to this older technology. In 1917 J. & H. McLaren, Midland Engine Works, Leeds (John McLaren was from Perthshire, before moving south), started to vigorously advertise their steam ploughing tackle. Its adverts were sometimes placed alongside those for tractors such as the Mogul, providing a stark contrast in cultivation systems. Like the tractor makers, Mclaren also advertised their steam ploughing tackle in terms of practicability. It was “suitable for all kinds of crops” and “efficient simple durable”.

But as steam cultivation was an ageing technology, the makers looked towards the modern world of engines. McLaren developed a motor windlass cable ploughing tackle. It made its way into Scotland, both through the North British Agriculture, and its use in East Lothian.

The North British Agriculturist carried news of a demonstration at Longniddry, East Lothian, where steam ploughing had been carried on for a number of decades. It stated: “More than ordinary interest is being aroused in the Longniddry district, Haddington, by ploughing on the cable system, which has been in operation for the past ten days at the Coates farm. This new departure in agricultural machinery is the invention of the well-known firm of agricultural engineers, Messrs J. & H. McLaren, Leeds, the object in view being to cultivate the land economically without injuring the soil by passing heavy bodies over it. The system is precisely the same as in the well-known “Double Engine System”, in which one engine is placed on each headland and the implement hauled backward and forward between them by means of steel ropes. In place of the heavy steam engine, however, on each headland, a light motor windlass is employed, worked by a petroleum or paraffin engine for hauling the cultivating implement-a system whereby the waste of fuel is obviated, as the one engine is stopped entirely while the other is pulling. The windlass is fitted with a four-cylinder internal combustion motor, of simple, strong, and efficient design, capable of rendering 32 horse-power when using paraffin as fuel, and 40 horse-power when running on petrol. It starts up at first on petrol, is then switched over to paraffin, on which it runs the whole time when at work. each windlass after pulling the plough across the field is stopped after taking up its new headland position, and when the plough or implement is nearly across the field to the other side it is started by a patent re-starter actuated by the tail-rope. Each windlass is furnished with 450 yards of hard steel wire rope, and the design, by placing the motor near the front axle, and the windlass over the rear axle, combined with the rope pull from the centre, prevents any pulling sideways. The plough used is an improved four-furrow anti-balance plough fitted up with digger breasts, which breaks up the furrow making it like spade-work. The depth is regulated by means of a screw in the centre and a wheel attached to the top of the plough. The manufacturers claim that it is a much more suitable proposition than the tractor, which actually presses the land by its weight; also that its consumption of fuel is lighter. The quantity of fuel they estimate at three gallons per acre on heavy land, and two gallons per acre on lighter soils.
Three men are employed, one on each windlass and one on the implement. A field of 30 acres of stubble land has been completed-one of the strongest soils in the neighbourhood. It was ploughed 8 inches deep and completed in 5 1/2 short working days. The manner in which the head rigs have been ploughed is highly satisfactory, and Mr Black, farmer at Coates, and all who have witnessed the trial have been favourably impressed with the work accomplished.
At the trial demonstration on Thursday conditions were adversely affected by the intense frost, but the working of the windlass tackle was seen to be very simple. There was no difficulty in ploughing the hard, frosty land to a depth of eight inches, the digger breast breaking up the land and spreading it out well, though not so neatly as on the previous days when the keen frost was absent.
The motor windlasses are easily and quickly moved from field to field. They can also be used for transport purposes, either in the field or on the road, for hauling reapers and binders, and driving threshing mill or any other description of machinery by belt.”

An interesting period of using different means of power to enter a modern age in post First World Scotland.

The photpgraphs show the two concreting sides of agricultural motive power around the end of the First World War: a Fordson F from 1919 and a steam ploughing engine (“Master” from the pair “Master” and “Mistress”.

The photographs were taken at the Fife Vintage Agricultural Machinery rally, June 2017.

In 1916 the death of John Marshall of Alexander Jack & Sons, Ltd, Maybole, marked the end of an era in the Scottish agricultural implement trade. As we saw in an earlier post, John Marshall, or Provost Marshall, was one of the “giants” in the trade (https://www.facebook.com/scottishagriculturalimplementmakers/posts/629635720563065).

The Scottish Farmer set out his importance and his eminent life in his obituary on 18 March:

“The Provost” is dead! In the agricultural implement trade there was only one “Provost”, and when the word was uttered nothing further was required to identify the person.
Few men in the West of Scotland lived a more strenuous and honourable life than John Marshall, managing director of the well-known firm of Messrs Alexander Jack & Sons (Ltd), Maybole. Although so long identified with the west county, Mr Marshall was nota native. His home was Auchtermuchty, in Fife. There he was born on 15th October, 1839. He came to Maybole on 12th March, 1870, to enter the service of the firm of which he eventually became the head. He died there at Laurel Bank on Sabbath, 12th inst. Mr Marshall was assumed as a partner of the firm of Alexander Jack & Sons, in February, 1876, and on the death of his father-in-law, in the following year, he became sole partner.
The business of the firm expanded in leaps and bounds during the intervening years, until it is now one of the most extensive businesses of its kind. The firm specialised in farm carts, ploughs, potato diggers, and manure distributors, but indeed there was no department of agricultural engineering and implement-making which did not engage their attention. Mr Marshall was a consummate business man. He had the commercial instinct thoroughly well developed. He was an expert salesman, and in making contracts for the raw material of his expanding business he exhibited great foresight and keen business acumen. He was an admirable judge of men, and in large measure the secret of his success as a business man lay in his choice of those whom he gathered around him as heads of departments. He had a fine gift for assimilating ideas, and could take in the points of new designs and inventions as few were able to do. But his forte undoubtedly was the commercial side; there he was supreme, and the remarkable growth of the business of the firm was largely due to this feature of Mr Marshall’s character. In view of advancing years, and to ensure the perpetuity of the firm, and its widespread business, the firm some years ago was floated as a limited liability company (private), but to the very last Mr John Marshall was its mainspring and head.
In spite of his keen interest in the business of his firm, Mr Marshall contrived to devote a large proportion of his time to public duty. He was one of the most public-spirited men, not only in the town of Maybole, but throughout Ayrshire. He was a Burgh Commissioner for eighteen years, and filled the Provost’s chair for three full terms-nine years in all. He represented maypole in the County Council of Ayr for many years, with two breaks; was a Parish Councillor, and for five years chairman of the Parish Council filling the position of a member for 25 years; and for 22 years he was a member of the School Board. At the close of his third period of service as Provost of Maybole, in December, 1894, Mr Marshall was entertained to a public dinner, and was made the recipient of a handsome testimonial rom his fellow-townsmen. This function took place in the Town Hall, which had been built and opened free of debt during his terms of office, and he was the leading spirit in securing the gift of a public park for Maybole from the late Mr James Baird of Cambusdoon. He also successfully carried through other schemes of public improvement. In spite of all these local activities, the Provost found time to devote to the affairs of the Ayrshire Agricultural Association, in which he was keenly interested, and he also acted for more than one term as a director of the Glasgow Agricultural Society. His last public appearance in the city was on the recent occasion of the district meeting of members of the Highland and Agricultural Society, when he moved what proved to be the unanimous nomination of Mr Duncan Wallace, of Messrs John Wallace & Sons (Ltd), as a director of that body. His last public duty was sitting for two consecutive days asa a member of the Advisory Committee under the Military Service Act in Ayr. Withal “the Provost” was a keen sportsman. For thirty years he followed the Eglinton Hounds, and was a generous giver to all worthy objects. He was an elder in the Parish Church. He travelled extensively, making frequent trips to the United States and Canada, in which businesses and pleasure were combined; and in 1908, accompanied his only daughter, who survives him, he made a trip round the world. Those who knew Provost Marshall can readily believe that he was one of the first to join the volunteer movement, when it was revived in October, 1859. He then joined the Glasgow Warehousemen’s Company. He retired in 1864, but was thereafter present, first, at the memorable review before Queen Victoria in the Meadows, Edinburgh, in August, 1881, and again, among the veterans, before King Edward VII, in September, 1905.
The funeral of this public-spirited citizen, who so worthily played his part, took place on Wednesday. It was the largest funeral seen in Maybole within living memory.
Mrs Marshall predeceased her husband by a good many years. We tender our respectful sympathy to Miss Marshall in her bereavement.”

What a “giant” in the Scottish agricultural implement and machine trade!

The photographs were taken at the Ayrshire vintage rally, July 2016.

The year 2017 marks 100 years of Ford tractors in Britain. At that time Ford was not the only tractor makers selling tractors in Britain. The trials of tractors by the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland and the Royal Agricultural Society of England from 1917 until the early 1920s attracted a good number of makers, many of which soon disappeared. But not all of these advertised their manufactures to the Scottish farmer, or indeed could be easily purchased.

The North British Agriculturist and the Scottish farmer carried a number of adverts for the early tractors, providing evidence of what was available to the Scottish farmer to purchase. These were placed either directly by the makers themselves or a small number of agents, some in Scotland, though more often in England. There, were, however, few outlets from which to purchase one.

Perhaps the most widely advertised tractor was the “Avery” paraffin tractor, usually used alongside Cockshut ploughs. The agent was a well-known English agricultural and implement maker, R. A. Lister & Co. Ltd, Dursley, known for its engines (you will see many of them along the stationary engines in the rallies).

The “Avery” competed with the Whiting Bull paraffin tractor, sold by Whiting 1915 Ltd, in London; its agents for the south of Scotland were John Croall & Sons Ltd, Castle Terrace, Edinburgh. Its tractors were specially designed to be used by women, having a view to the acute shortage of male workers on the land. It advertised its tractors through the ease of their use and as “the acme in tractor construction”: it combined efficiency, economy and utility. It was a 24 hp engine with 4 cylinders. It was an already established tractor, with the company noting that “the Whiting-Bulll paraffin tractor has been working in many parts of England for two years past. It is one of the most popular machines in the United States, where over 25,000 are in use at the present time.” It was demonstrated at a number of farms throughout the country, including public one on James W. Scarlett’s farm at Inveresk, in July.

The “Moline” was sold by one of the largest implement and machine makers in Scotland: John Wallace & Sons Ltd, Implement Works, Dennistoun, Glasgow. It was sold alongside its tractor plow (as well as Oliver plows for which Wallace had a reputation. It emphasised how easy it was to work: “Easter handled than team”, with a turn of 16 feet and a weight of 26 cwt with all weight on the drive wheels. It was adaptable to all farm implements, could work close to hedged and could be used on small or large fields.

By late 1917 the Mogul, was being sold by one of the largest Edinburgh implement and machine makers: A. & J. Main & Co. Ltd, Edinburgh. It also sold the Martin Motor plough with caterpillar traction. Another tractor to be advertised late in the year was the Wallis Cub Junior was also being sold by Rossleigh Ltd, Shandwick Place, and the Overtime from tractor, whose agent was Mr H. Storer, Blythswood Hotel, Glasgow: it was described as “an all year round tractor for the average farm, and can be used for all work on the farm previously done by horses, including ploughing, cultivating, harvesting, mowing, threshing, chaff cutting, &c”. The company reported that there were over 3,000 “Overtimes” in the British Isles.

Farmers looking fora smaller tractor could purchase the Bates’ steel mule – approved by purchase by the Board of Agriculture. It was supplied by the Power-Farm Supply Co., Coventry. It reminder readers “with a Bates steel mule you can not only do the work of ten horses in ploughing with one only, but, as with no other tractor, you can do it regardless of the ground condition, and the Mule will do your cultivating, seeding, rolling, and all other work on already broken up land, as well as help you in your hay and harvest work, and drive your fixed machinery, from a 54in threshing machine downwards.” Quite a list of uses!

However, the new Ford tractor, demonstrated at the trials of the Royal Agricultural Society of England was not advertised in the North British Agriculturist of 1917. That was not to take place until the following year.

If you were a farmer in 1917 you could not help but notice the winds of change blowing through the world of agriculture with the large and striking adverts placed by tractor makers and agents. The adverts emphasised the simplicity, efficiency and ease of working of the tractors. They were modern and attractiv, just like the manufactures they were advertising.

The photograph of the 1919 Fordson F was taken at the Fife Vintage Agricultural Machinery rally, June 1917.