Scottish agricultural implement makers

Drill ploughs played an important role in the cultivation of a range of green crops including potatoes and turnips. By the early twentieth century most farmers used drill ploughs for growing potatoes. Where they did not, they used a single plough instead.

In 1910 you could purchase a drill and ridging plough from a number of makers in Scotland. Gavin Callander made a one horse drill plough which sold for £2 10s. Thomas Hunter & Sons, Maybole, had an improved mould or drill plough with curved steel moulds and marker for £5 10s. A. Newlands & Son, Linlithgow, had a section including a one horse drill plough with steel moulds and expanding screw (£4 10s), a combined drill and potato plough with marker and steel moulds and expanding screw (£6 18s 6d), and a combined drill and potato plough with marker sn steel moulds and expanding screw (£6 18s 6d). Kemp & Nicholson, Stirling, and George Sellar & Son also made these ploughs.

If you were a farmer wanting to buy a set of Scottish-made harrows in 1952 you could have bought a set from a number of makers.

Disc harrows were largely made by English makers such as E. H. Bental & Co. Ltd, Heybridge, Maldon, Harry Ferguson Ltd, International Harvester Company of Great Britain Ltd, and Martin’s Cultivator Co Ltd, but there were also Scottish makers. A. Newlands & Sons Ltd, Linlithgow, manufactured a set of tractor-drawn tandem harrows which had a working width of 7 feet 6 inch and either 20 or 24 inch diameter discs. A. & W. Pollock, Machine, had two sets of tandem harrows for the tractor: 24 inch x18 inch diameter discs and the larger 28 in x 18 inch diameter discs.

More commonly, Scottish makers manufactured a range of harrows. Some of them had been making implements for decades and were well-renowned makers. In the east, Lennox M. Blyth, Chirnside, Berwickshire, manufactured zigzag harrows for the tractor. They had independently held tines, pointed at both ends, and were reversible. They could be fitted to a transport tree to fit Nuffield, Ferguson, Fordson, and David down tractors. In the south-west, John Wallace & Sons (Ayr) Ltd, Ayr, had chain and zigzag harrows, while Charles Weir Ltd, Striven, was also a maker of harrows.

In Edinburgh there were two makers: J. L. & J. Ballach, Gorgie Implement Works, who made tractor drawn diamond harrows (the company was also a noted maker of harrow teeth) and James H. Steele, Harrison Road, who made tractor drawn zig zag harrows with combined whippletree and transporter.

In central and eastern Scotland, there was Alexander Thomas, Guildton, Perthshire, and McCartney & Miller, Bridgend, Ceres, Fife, the latter of which made horse drawn harrows to take 26, 27 or 28 inch drills. A. Newlands & Sons Ltd, Linlithgow, had tractor or horse drawn spring tooth harrows. Perhaps the most extensive maker of all was Cruikshank & Co., Denny, Stirlingshire, with its “Denny” range. They included the spring tine for horse draught; zigzag harrows for either horse or tractor draught, zigzag harrows for tractor draught (with a working width of from 12 feet 6 ins to 19 feet), grass seed and wheat (working width 8ft-16ft), saddleback (with two or three rows), or “Staryator”, a star wheel harrow attached to a plough.

From the north-east, George R. Brown, Pluscardin, Elgin, manufactured all types as well as drill harrows for the Ferguson lift. George Forsyth, Tocherford Smithy, Wartle, Aberdeenshire, made harrows for tractor draught. MacDonald Bros, Portsoy, made spring tooth harrows for the tractor which could also be used as a cultivator. William Nicol, Tillyfourie, Aberdeen, made a range of tractor drawn harrows, including spring tine ones (13 or 15 tines in 2 rows, or 13, 16, 19 tines in 3 rows), seed harrows, potato harrows, and chain harrows.

So, if you wanted to buy a set of Scottish-made harrows in 1952 you could choose one from a number of makers, making either horse of tractor harrows of a range of types including diamond, zig-zag, spring tooth, spring tine, seed, potato, chain, and drill. Some were long-established and well-known makers, dating back to the second half of the nineteenth century when Scottish agricultural implement making became a well-established industry.

The photographs of the harrows were taken at the Fife Vintage Agricultural Machinery Rally, June 2015.

If you were a farmer or agriculturist in the Stirling area before the early 1930s you would have been familiar with the eminent name of Kemp & Nicholson of Scottish Central Works.

The company conducted business from their premises in Dumbarton Road, Stirling, as Kemp, Murray & Nicholson, in 1858. The company had further business activities further east in East Lothian. In the North British Agriculturist in November 1858 stated that “Kemp, Murray & Nicholson have removed from their branch establishment, Haddington, to their headquarters in Stirling where they have been in business for the last 10 years and where their business will henceforth be exclusively carried on.” By 1859 the company described itself as agricultural implement manufacturers, though by 1870 it had expanded its range of trades to be joiners, agricultural implement and reaping machine makers and engineers, activities that it became renowned for in the following decades.

The company underwent a number of significant changes in its early years: the partnership changed in 1876 so that it became renamed Kemp & Nicholson, a title it retained until the 1930s; in 1884 it moved from Dumbarton Road to more commodious premises at Cow Park Siding which adjoined the goods station of the North British Railway; it set up the Scottish Implement Works in the mid 1880s; by the 1890s it became an important agent as well as manufacturer of agricultural implements and machines, selling manufactures from the leading makers throughout Britain and further afield (this activity had started in the early 1870s with the company stated that “in addition to implements of their own manufacture, they have always in stock implements and machines of the best English manufacture”); by the mid 1890s it was also a cart, van and wagon builder.

The company was quick to publicise its manufactures to the farmers of Scotland. From 1858 until 1931 it was a regular exhibitor at the Highland Show, also having an extensive stand. It was also a regular advertiser in the Scottish agricultural press, being one of the few Scottish companies to advertise throughout the year.

The company was renowned for a number of types of implements and machines. From the 1870s, at the height of the development of local harvesting machinery, it quickly established its reputation as a maker of reaping machines, for which it continued to be renowned until the 1900s. By 1890 its specialisms were reapers, mowers, horse takes, grubbers, harrows and ploughs. In 1903 these specialisms were reapers, mowers, horse rakes, harrows, food coolers and turnip slicers, and two years later reapers, mowers, horse rakes, grubbers, harrows, ploughs, carts, vans, turnip cutters and hay presses. These were to be its staple manufactures into the early 1930s.

The company was highly recognised for its manufactures. In 1857 it was awarded 4 sovereigns for the best three row sowing machine for beans at the Highland Show. The company received a long list of awards from the Highland Show in following years: best harvest cart (1857), commended best sowing machine for grass seeds (1858), bronze medal for second best harrows for heavy land (1860), bronze medal for second best harrows for light land (1860), bronze medal for the second best harrows for light land (1860), bronze medal for second best drill sowing machine for grain (1860), best sowing machine for grass seeds (1860), best one harvest part with harvest frame (1860), best sowing machine for grass seeds 91861), highly commended combined reaping and mowing machine (1861), commended for food cooling barrows (1868) silver medal for collection (1870), medium silver medal for collection (1871), medium silver medal for collection (1873), medium silver medal for collection (1875).

The company continued to trade until shortly after the death of Major Kemp Smith in March 1930. The North British Agriculturist had commented favourably on him and his role within the Scottish agricultural implement and machinery trade in July 1894. It wrote:

“Mr J. Kemp Smith-Although the youngest of the Scottish implement trade, Mr Smith is not by any means the least important member of it. By force of circumstances he occupies the enviable position of principal in Messrs Kemp & Nicholson’s, one of the oldest and most extensive businesses in the agricultural implement trade. Mr Smith is a grandson of the late Mr john Kemp, of Stirling, whose career we fully detailed at the time of his death last autumn, and who, for some years of ill-health prior to his decease, sought for means whereby he could be relieved of the onerous duties which a large engineering business involved. While considering the advisability of forming a limited company against disposing of the whole business as a going concern by private sale, Mr Kemp was delivered from his dilemma by his being joined by his grandson, then only about nineteen years of age. Mr Smith started his apprenticeship in the works nine years ago, on 7th July 1884, and for nearly five years engaged in the practical work in the workshops. Upon his grandfather’s death, in August last year, Mr Smith found himself, with a comparatively short experience, at the head of the Scottish Central Implement works, a position which many older men, from its great responsibilities, would have hesitated from taking up. Mr Smith has, however, with great pluck, assumed the command of the works, as they are now busily employed with the production of all sorts of tillage and harvest implements, as well as of farm carts, of which latter Mr Kemp made quite a speciality. Mr Smith is a young man of good capabilities and engaging manner, so that he bids well worthy to fill the place so long occupied by his late respected grandfather.”

Kemp & Nicholson: a well-respected and long-established implement and machine maker that was renowned for its manufactures and moving with the times.

If you were looking to buy a new corn and seed drill in 1952 you would have had a number of machines to choose from which were made by a range of makers in Scotland, England and Ireland.

By this time there were, however, only a small number of Scottish makers. If you had been purchasing a machine in 1910 you could have chosen one from makers including George Sellar & Son, Huntly, Thomas Sherriff & Co., West Barns, Thomas Turnbull, Dumfries, Kemp & Nicholson, Stirling, Bon Accord Engineering Co. Ltd, Aberdeen, and Robert G. Garvie, Aberdeen. They provided a network of sowing machine makers throughout the country.

If you were a farmer in the Lothians in 1919 you would have had a number of implement and machine makers to purchase your machines from. Some were local while others trades across the Lothians and also across Scotland and further afield.

The North British Agriuclturist carried an extensive article on the agricultural traders in the Lothians in 1919. It provides a great deal of information about them, their activities and the history of their company.

“The first on our list is Mr Alex Ballach of Messrs Ballach & Sons, Leith, who has had a very long association with the implement trade. He was trained in agricultural engineering under the late Mr G. W. Murray of Banff, and has had a varied experience in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and later on in Newton-Stewart, whence he removed to Leith about a dozen years ago. No one knows better the requirements of the farmer than does Mr Ballach. He has been eminently successful in the making of corn drills and drill scarifiers, and whatever he puts out is known for its efficiency as well as its finish.
… Mr Alex Newlands of the firm of Messrs Newlands & Sons, St Magdalene Engineering Works, Linlithgow. Mr Newland’s firm was founded by his late gather in 1861 at Inverurie, but in 1880 the latter removed to Linlithgow and acquired the premises of that famous ploughmaker-the late Mr George Ponton. Some years after his father died in 1907 Mr Newlines, along with his brother, Mr George MNewlands, erected larger worrks to increase the capacity of the output of the firm’s implements, which are principally cultivators, chilled ploughs, drill ploughs, horse rakes &c.
… Mr Wm Poole JP, possibly now the best known of all the Scottish agricultural engineers. For the past forty years he has been identified with the introduction and improvement of many of the labour-saving machines now in extensive use by the farmers of the country. On the farm of Castle Mains, Dirleton, in August 1878, Mr Poole conducted the first trial of a sheaf-binding reaper ever held in Scotland, namely, the McCormick wire sheaf-binding reaper; and during the same month at the first trial of sheaf-binders held by the Highland Society on the farm of Liberton Tower Mains, Edinburgh, he secured the Society’s Gold Medal for that machine. Owing to the strong objection to wire-bound sheaves, this machine did not become a success; but, following this, in the early “eighties” Mr Poole sold and started at work for the late Mr Waugh of Eweford, Dunbar, the first twine sheaf-binder ever put to work in Scotland (a McCormick). Closely following the introduction of the McCormick binder, Mr Poole introduced into this country the now better-known Deering twine sheaf-0binder, and, through his efforts in the harvest fields, and suggestions of improvements, this binder is now one of the most popular throughout Great Britain nd Ireland. It may well be said, through his continuous and long experience in our harvest fields, he is one of our greatest authorities on harvesting machinery, and no one now living in Scotland has bestowed greater benefits in this respect on our farmers. In 1915, in response to a requisition by the agricultural engineering trade throughout Great Britain, Mr Poole was elected a director of the Highland Society to represent their interests. During his term in office, he accomplished good work on that board in getting the Society to make an inquiry amongst farmers throughout Scotland as to the efficiency and economy resulting from the use of milking machines. The information obtained was of a satisfactory nature, and, as a result, the use of milking machines has been largely increased. So far as general work on the average farms of Scotland is concerned, Mr Poole has never been satisfied with the oil agricultural tractors that have been introduced into use during recent years, and from a recent interview, we find that he is of opinion that the tractor suitable for all-round work in Scotland is still to come. In that belief, he submitted a motion adopted by the board of the Highland Society to the effect that it should hold trials of British designed and British made oil tractors, and to award substantial prizes to the machines found to be best suited for work in this country. When these trials take place he is of opinion that oil tractors far in advance of those in present use will be produced by the engineers of our own country. At present, Mr Poole is president of the Scottish Agricultural Engineers’ Society.
Mr A. M. Russell, we always look upon as “The Universal Provider” for the varied wants of agriculturists. Shortly before the outbreak of the war he removed his headquarters adjoining the old Corn Exchange, to extensive premises at the east end of the Grassmarket. Mr Russell is a specialist in many lines, and, as our readers well know, is a specialist also in the way he advertises his goods.

Mr Wm Smith is the Scottish representative of the Dairy Supply Co. Ltd, and we may almost venture to call him “the grand old man of the implement trade”. If he does not approve of a Separist policy he at least approves of a policy of the separator, especially is it should happen to be an Alfa Laval. In addition to being a J.P., Mr Smith is a Parish Councillor. He is an acknowlwdged authority on all dairying matters, and the author of a very useful guide to dairying, which has had a large sale.
Mr Jas H. Steele is one of the juniors in the agricultural implement trade, but he has a long experience and successful record behind him. For a long number of years he was with Messrs A. & J. Main Ltd, and later represented Messrs P. & R. Fleming of Glasgow in the Scottish capital. Born and brought up on a Lanarkshire farm, he has a practical knowledge of agricultural requirements, and this gives him a great advantage in the upholding of his business motto, “Everything for the Farm”. In addition to agricultural machinery, his firm hold agencies for Messrs A. Cross & Sons Ltd, Glasgow, and Messrs Gartons Ltd, Warrington, Through enterprise, pushfulness, and attention, Mr Steele has gathered a large clientele, and supported by an able staff, he has “lengthened his cords and strengthened his stakes” by opening a new depot at 61 Harrison Road, close by Merchiston Station, on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

If you were a farmer in the 1960s you would still have recognised a good number of the key names in agricultural trading that had been recorded in 1919. It says a lot about the stature and importance of these business men and their businesses.

Ransomes, Sims & Head, later Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies, of the Orwell Works, Ipswich first exhibited at the Highland Show in 1877 when it was at Edinburgh. By comparison to other English plough makers such as James & Frederick Howard, Britannia Iron Works, Bedford, or other major English agricultural and machine makers, it was a late comer to the Highland Show. By 1877 other major English exhibitors had been exhibiting for a number of years: Richard Garrett & Son, Leiston Works, from 1847 (as also Richmond & Chandler, Salford), Clayton & Shuttleworth from 1850, J. & F. Howard, Bedford, from 1854, E. H. Bentall, Haybridge, Maldon, Essex, from 1858 (as also Picksley, Sims & Co., Bedford Foundry, Leigh, E. R. & F. Turner, St Peter’s Iron Works, Ipswich).

Ransomes had preferred to use a network of Scottish agricultural implement and machine makers and the newly emerging agencies in Scotland to exhibit its manufactures at the Show. In1867 they included A. & J. Main & Co., Glasgow. It was not until it firmly established its footing in Scotland, that it started to have its own stand – a sign of its changing approach to advertising and selling its manufactures. However, like many of the English companies, it did not have a business address in Scotland. (the earliest one to do so was John Fowler & Co., Leeds, opening in India Buildings, Edinburgh, in 1869). Agents were the order of the day.

Changing post-war conditions and opportunities after the Second World War brought changes to the company and its aspirations for Scotland. On 22 December 1947 it incorporated a company within the Ransomes family of companies, forming a subsidiary, one of three: Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies (Scotland) Limited; two of the subsidiaries were concerned with undertaking business in South Africa and Argentina. It was a private company with a share capital of £50,000 divided into 50,000 shares of £1 each. The first directors and shareholders were directors of Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies Ltd: Henry Dick, John Geoffrey Pawlyn, John Henrick Wulff Palwyn, and Humphrey Dawson. A further Director was James Stirrat, an engineer in Edinburgh. The company’s registered office was 161 St John’s Road, Corstorphine. The parent company had the controlling interest, with 49,995 of the 50,000 shares.

In the year ended 31 December 1950 the Scottish company was performing well. The Chairman’s statements noted: “The improvement in the Scottish company’s profits arises partly from the fact that at the end of 1949 the Scottish company had a substantial stock of implements for the MG tractor. Tractor sales have made such headway during 1950 that the Scottish company has realised a great proportion of these stocks of implements … .” However, the year had been a difficult one from a production point of view due to difficulties in obtaining materials, though the volume of production had been maintained.

The Chairman referred to the MG tractor. The implements that were associated with that tractor were manufactured at the Scottish company’s works at Edinburgh. By December 1951 the company’s annual report noted that the outlook for the Scottish company was not as rosy (the company was undergoing significant issues due to the wider operating environment, including shortage of raw materials, high taxation, steeply rising prices etc): “The Scottish subsidiary company, in spite od increased production, shows reduced profits, We have now adjusted selling profits, but it was not possible in the earlier stages to make the necessary adjustment quickly enough to counteract the full extent the heavy increases in costs of manufacture arising in Scotland.”

The company’s annual report for 1952 provided further insights into the Scottish subsidiary: it described itself as successors to the Morton Engineering Co., Corstorphine. That company had been agricultural and general engineers since at least 1922, participating in the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland’s exhibition of farm tractors and tractor implements in 1922 and being awarded a silver medal by that Society in 1927 for an improved plough share. Indeed, post office directories for 1929 and until at least 1940, described the company at its Corstorphine premises as “Ransomes’ Lawn Mower Repairing Depot for Scotland, in conjunction with The Morton Engineering Co.”

The Scottish company did not continue for many more years. The parent company continued to face significant difficulties, many of which were external to the company. A special resolution to voluntarily wind up the Scottish company was passed on 12 May 1954. The assets were transferred to Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies Ltd. The final winding up meeting was held on 10 May 1956.

Though the company ended its presence through the closure of its Scottish subsidiary, Ransomes continued to have a strong presence in Scotland. If you go round the ploughing matches of Scotland you will see the huge impact that Ransomes had on the Scottish ploughing scene (as well as for everyday ploughing): at some matches virtually all the ploughs are Ransomes ploughs. What an achievement!

The photographs of the Ransomes ploughs and tractors were taken at Scotland’s Farming Yesteryear, September 2014, and the Scottish Ploughing Championships, October 2016.

If you were a farmer or agriculturist in Scotland in 1952 and were looking to purchase a set of disc harrows for thoroughly pulverising the soil, and cutting up tough sides or boggy land,you could have chosen a set from Scottish as well as English makers.

There were two Scottish makers. The first was A. Newlands & Sons Ltd, St Magdalene Engineering Works, Linlithgow. It made tractor drawn, tandem discus with a working width of 7 feet 6 inches. The discs ranged from 20 to 24 inches in diameter. The second was A. & W. Pollock, Implement Works, Mauchline. It made two models of disc harrows: tractor drawn with 24×18 inch diameter discs; and tractor drawn with 28018 inch diameter discs.

Harrows were used for breaking down lumps or clods as well as covering newly sown seeds.  According to Stephens’ Book of the Farm in 1908 harrows were “an implement of no small importance; and yet its effects are apparently rude and uncertain, while its construction is of the simplest ordwe.  So simple indeed is the construction, that at a very remote period it appears to have taken that form which, in so far as the simple principles of its action are concerned, is almost incapable of further improvement.”

If you were a farmer in Aberdeenshire in 1898 you would have been well aware of the firm of Allan Brothers, engineers, 102 West North Street, Aberdeen. As well as being engineers, the company was also a gas engine manufacturer, mechanical engineer, oil engine manufacturer and a machinery oil merchant and refiner.

By 1901 Allan Brothers had moved its premises to the Ashgrove Engineering Works in Back Hilton Road, where it continued its activities until the mid 1950s. The company held its final winding up meeting in February 1957.