This is the headline from an article that was printed in the North British Agriculturist of 22 April 1920. At that time there were significant changes being made in the development of tractors for the Scottish farmers. The Glasgow Tractor – which was designed and manufactured in Scotland – had come onto the market a year earlier. Steps had been taken by its maker to set up a works for its manufacture. This was described at length by the North British Agriculturist. It is worth quoting at length as there are few accounts of implement and machine works.
“The Glasgow Tractor Works: a colossal undertaking
All schools of economists agree that in these transition days from war to peace there is no sounder policy than the conversion of big war supply establishments into hives of industrial production. These times of world food-shortage are demanding implements of improved type to quicken and increase food production, and amongst machines of this class the agricultural tractor is bound to play a leading part. There are those who argue, with good reason, that if wages continue to rise and prices fall, as they are bound to do some day, then the man who has invested his capital in a tractor will be bound to score. To what extent that will be the case depends very much on the trend of events during the next few years. Thoroughly alive to this position, The Wallace Farm Implement Co. Ltd, who have the proud distinction of evolving the first Scottish built tractor, seized a rare opportunity by purchasing the extensive shell factory at Cardonald, on the outskirts of Glasgow, for the development and manufacture of the Glasgow tractor. It was brough out last year at the leading shows and the Lincoln trials, and was favourably commented on for its originality in design. As we have previously noted, the point which differentiates the Glasgow from all other tractors is that all the three wheels on which it is balanced are directly driven. The grip of the ground thereby obtained is what specially fits it for working on the hilly lands of Scotland, and that under moist and adverse conditions. Along with these notes we give an illustration of the perfected type of the Glasgow tractor as it is now being turned out.
Extent of the factory
To give some idea of the scale of the enterprise it may be stated that the ground site at Cardonald extends to about 25 acres, and. Of these nearly 13 consist of covered buildings of modern solid construction, with concrete floor throughout used as the Government factory for 8-inch shells. To this there is to be added a model foundry, covering an additional five acres where the castings will be made. Already embraced in the plan of the works is a line of rails (entering at both ends) of the Joint Caledonian and South-Western railway, the lines radiating to five collecting and distributing centres. On the occasion of a recent visit, we had a walk round the establishment. The machine shop, in the main building, is a sight to be remembered and almost bewildering to any but a practical engineer. The whole place is designed on the latest production principle-the tractor being standardised throughout -with the raw material brought in at one end and the finished tractors discharged at the other. Electricity is the power used throughout, the factory having its own substation supplied from the Clyde Valley Electric Power Co. On the occasion of our call the pattern-making shop was in full swing working on the frame and new engine. A portion of the floor in the main building, with its lofty glass roof, 800 ft by 160 ft, has been set aside for storing finished tractors, and is situated adjoining the railway siding, where there is ample dispatching facilities. The handsome set of drawing offices are situated inside, at one end of the building, and have separate rooms for the chief draughtsman and designers. Although the number of hands employed in the present developing stage is about 400, it is reckoned that when fully equipped work will be provided for upwards of 3000 men. A very useful “leaving” by the Government when the building was taken over is the admirable set of canteen rooms. They, too, are on the modern principle, with spacious cloakrooms, ample washing accommodation, and a set of kitchens with up-to-date machinery, while the dining hall into which the employees flock at the dinner hour is large, airy, and well appointed.
Machinery installation
Available space is insufficient to describe all the various sections found under the rood of this mammoth engineering shop, where the whole process of tractor manufacture is being organised on a scale hitherto unattempted in any Scottish agricultural engineering establishment. Suffice to say that the machinery installed for making, shaping, and finishing the various parts is of the newest and of the most up-to-date type, both of British and American make. A novel point is the organisation of the work through departments-such as the “experimental”, the “progress”, and the “production” department, so that by co-operation the out-turn of orders may be guaranteed within a specified time. This is most important in view of the great demand, not only from countries within the British Empire, but also from foreign countries such as France, Spain, and Italy, where the three-wheel drive principle has caught on. By a service of special outside inspectors the makers have arranged to keep in touch with the working record of each tractor turned out, and to retain for reference a tabulated statement showing construction details, so that the tractor user, if any defects are discovered, may have them rectified free of cost. Besides the making of the tractor, arrangements are being made to turn out, on a large scale, stationary and portable farm engines of the single sleeve valve pattern, for paraffin or petrol. This is in view of the great development of this type of engine for all agricultural work, and we believe these are to be listed at prices to compete favourably with the numerous imported engines of this class now on the market. We understand that with a view to develop their extensive undertaking and provide the requisite capital for its expansion it is the intention of the company to float the concern under the style of “Wallace (Glasgow) Ltd” at no very distant date, when an opportunity will be afforded to the public and all interested in tractor cultivation to acquire an interest in this Scottish undertaking which seeks to provide an efficient tractor not only for home use, but for countries all over the world.”
