Timeline of events
There are many highlights in the history of the activities of the Scottish implement and machine makers. I have included a selection of key developments from 1763 to 1970, based on the activities of particular makers. These developments have been identified through agricultural books and newspapers including the North British agriculturist, Farming news and North British agriculturist and The Scottish farmer. The volumes of Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland are invaluable from the 1840s onwards.
1763
James Small, Blackadder Mount, Berwickshire, started to manufacture and sell ploughs on a large scale
1768
George Duncan, Alves, Morayshire, fitted a cast-iron mould board to his plough
1784
Formation of Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (HASS) (later Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland)
1784
James Small, Blackadder Mount, Berwickshire, invented the iron swing plough
1876
Andrew Meikle designed and made the first successful threshing machine
1789
Andrew Meikle started to make threshing machines for sale
1791
James Small’s plough in general use throughout Scotland under the designation the ‘East Lothian Plough’
1793
HASS awarded to Rev Alex Campbell, Kilcalmonell, Argyll, the sum of £10 10s for a plough of his own invention
1794
Mr Clark of Arbigland invented a drill sowing machine
1796
Mr Udny, Udny, Aberdeenshire, invented a turnip seed sowing machine
1796
HASS awarded Duncan Clark, Barr, Kintyre, the sum of £5 5s for a plough muzzle of improved construction.
1800
Andrew Meikle’s threshing machine in general use
1802
HASS awarded (1 November) 1st prize to a plough made by Robert Young; 2nd to Thomas Oliver, near Jedburgh’ 3rd James Small
1802
HASS awarded (8 November) prizes for ploughs to James Small, Mr Wilkie, Uddingston, and Robert Murray, Greenlaw, Berwickshire
1809
HASS awarded Duncan Clark, Barr, Kintyre, the sum of £21 for a plough.
1815
HASS awarded a piece of plate to James Smith, Deanston, Doune, Perthshire, for constructing an efficient machine for reaping corn.
1817
HASS awarded to Rev Alex Campbell, Kilcalmonell, Argyll, £10 10s for improvements on drill ploughs
1818
HASS awarded the sum of £5 5s to Mr Wotherspoon, watchmaker, Tranent, East Lothian, for his model and description of a reaping machine.
1823
James Smith of Deanston’s subsoil plough developed
1828
Rev Patrick Bell, Auchterhouse, Angus, designed his reaping machine and used it on his father’s farm and others in the district
1843
Rev Patrick Bell’s reaper brought into general use
1845
HASS silver medal to Robert Watt, Dumfries, for mode of ventilating corn and hay stacks
1847
HASS silver medal and 10 sovereigns to George Sellar & Son, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, for their ploughs, grubbers and drill harrows
1848
HASS commended medal to Alexander Young, Monifieth, Dundee, Angus, for best improvement to the common farm cart
1850
HASS offered a premium of £200 to the person succeeding in the practical application of steam power in ploughing land
1852
HASS awarded prize to Thomas Sheriff, West Barns, Dunbar, for a sowing machine
HASS awarded premium to Rev Patrick Bell for his reaping machine.
1856
HASS award of 5 sovereigns to Young, Peddie & Co, Edinburgh and Glasgow, for best land presser for preparing seed bed and for grain
HASS commended George Sellar & Son, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, for best two horse plough for general purposes
HASS award of 3 sovereigns to George Sellar & Son, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, for best trench or deep furrow plough
HASS award of 1 sovereign to James Smith, Lawhill, Auchterarder, Perthshire for best scythe for general purposes
HASS commended to Smith Brothers & Co., Glasgow, for steam engine
HASS award of 5 sovereigns to Smith Brothers & Co., Glasgow, for best steaming apparatus for preparing food
1857
HASS commended John Robson, Perceton, for best glazed socketed pipes for sewerage
HASS premium of 2 sovereigns to Young, Peddie & Co, Glasgow and Edinburgh, for best stone or iron stack pillars with framework
HASS award of 6 sovereigns to Thomas Sherriff & Co., West Barns, Dunbar, for best horse-shoe for drilled grain crops
HASS award of 5 shillings to Smith Brothers & Co., Glasgow, for best steaming apparatus for preparing food
HASS award of 6 sovereigns to Thomas Sherriff & Co., West Barns, Dunbar, for best broadcast sowing machine or grain and grass
1858
HASS commended Robert Mitchell & Son Ltd, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, for best one horse farm cart
HASS award of 2 sovereigns to Young, Peddie & Co., Glasgow and Edinburgh, for best stone or iron stack pillars with framework
HASS commended to George Sellar & Son, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, for best two horse plough for general purposes
HASS award of 1 sovereign to Thomas Sherriff & Co., West Barns, Dunbar, for best sowing machine for carrots
HASS commended to George Sellar & Son, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, for steel mould boards
HASS commended to Wingate & Lowe, Alloa, for meat cooler for the farm yard
1859
HASS award of L3 to Thomas Sherriff & Co., West Barns, Dunbar, for best turnip cutter for sheep, attachable to a cart
HASS bronze medal to George Porteous, Flora Bank, Haddington, for second best root washer
HASS award of L1 to James Smith, Lawhill, Auchterarder, Perthshire for best scythe for general purposes
HASS bronze medal to George Sellar & Son, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, for second best subsoil plough for two horses
HASS bronze medal to James Payne, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, for second best scythe for general purposes
HASS commended James Payne, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, for American cast-steel hay and straw forks
1860
HASS award of 2 sovereigns to Thomas Rogerson, Trailflatwood, Tinwald, Dumfriesshire for best harrows for covering grass seeds
HASS award of 5 sovereigns to Thomas Sherriff & Co., West Barns, Dunbar, for best broadcast sowing machine for grain
HASS bronze medal to Smith Brothers & Co., Glasgow, for second best land presser for preparing seed bed for grain
1861
HASS commended to Smith Brothers & Co., Glasgow, for oat ad bean bruiser for power
HASS premium of one sovereign to Wingate & Lowe, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, for best barrow for conveying cooked food
HASS award of 3 sovereigns to Robert Wight, Seton, Prestonpans, East Lothian for best sowing machine for turnips
HASS award of 5 sovereigns to Thomas Sherriff & Co., West Barns, Dunbar, for best drill sowing machine for grain
HASS award of 5 sovereigns to Thomas Sherriff & Co., West Barns, Dunbar, for best broadcast sowing machine for grain
HASS award of 3 sovereigns to Thomas Sherriff & Co., West Barns, Dunbar, for best turnip cutter for sheep attached to a cart
HASS silver medal to James Moyes, Balwearie Mill, Kirkcaldy, Fife, for best broadcast sowing machine for grain
1867
HASS medium silver medal to Andrew Pollock, Mauchline, Ayrshire, for barrow wheel of iron
Thomas Pirie, Kinmundy, Longside, Aberdeenshire, patents the ‘modern’ double furrow plough
1868
HASS silver medal to William Rae, Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire, for turnip sowing machine
HAS silver medal to George Sellar & Son, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, awarded for zig zag harrows
HASS highly commended to Ben Reid & Co., Aberdeen, for chaff cutters and corn rake
1870
HASS silver medal to Thomas Pirie, Kinmundy, Longside, Aberdeenshire for collection of ploughs
HASS silver medal to A. & J. Main & Co., Glasgow and Edinburgh, for collection of fencing
HASS medium silver medal to Robert Peddie & Co., Edinburgh, for collection of fencing
HASS minor silver medal to Thomas Rogerson, Trailwood, Tinwald, Dumfriesshire, for harrows and grubber
HASS silver medal to Thomas Sherriff & Co., West Barns, Dunbar, for collection of sowing machines
HASS silver medal to William Shivas, Kinmundy, Summerhill, Aberdeenshire for collection of ploughs
HASS silver medal to Robert Mitchell & Son Ltd, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, for collection of ploughs &c
HASS silver medal to Alexander Walker, Stagebank, Heriot, Gorebridge, Midlothian for reaping machine
G. W. Murray, Banff, highly commended by Royal Agricultural Society of England for double furrow plough and subsoiler
1872
G. W. Murray, Banff, first prize of 10L by Royal Agrciultural Society of England for double-furrow plough, not exceeding 5cwt
HASS medium silver medal to George Sellar & Son, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, for combined common and subsoil plough
Royal Agricultural Society of England silver medal for patent ‘disc’ broadcast sowing machine to Ben Reid & Co., Aberdeen
Royal Agricultural Society of England second prize of 5L to Ben Reid & Co., Aberdeen for improved heavy harrows
1873
G. W. Murray, Banff, exhibits double furrow plough and subsoiler at Vienna International Exhibition
HASS silver medal to Thomas Sherriff & Co., West Barns, Dunbar, for two-row turnip and mangold sowing machine; and collection
1874
HASS medium silver medal to A. & J. Main & Co., Glasgow and Edinburgh, for star-horse rake
1875
HASS medium silver medal to The Northern Agricultural Implement & Foundry Co. Ltd, Inverness, for zigzag harrows
1876
HASS silver medal to G. W. Murray, Banff, for thrashing machin
HASS minor silver medal to David Whitecross, Banff, for common swing and drill plough combined
HASS medium silver medal to Shearer Brothers, Maybank, Turriff, Aberdeenshire, for foot power thrashing machine
1877
HASS silver medal to Robert Robertson, Niddrie Mains, Liberton, Midlothian, awarded for plough for lifting potatoes with shaws
1880
HASS award of silver medal to G. W. Murray for two row potato planter
1881
HASS trials of potato diggers, manure distributors, and turnip lifters
1882
HASS trials of combined reapers and binders, or lifting and binding machines, also horse rakes, mowers and seed cleaners
1883
HASS trials of turnip thinners, potato planters, ploughs, grubbers, and diggers or cultivators
1884
HASS trials of broadcast manure distributors and machines adapted for cleaning all sorts of grain and other seeds from weeds
1885
HASS trial of ploughs, grubbers and harrows, implements for spring cultivation of land and autumn cultivation of stubbles
1886
HASS trials of manure distributers and turnip thinners
1887
HASS trial of grass seed sowing machines
1889
HASS trial of hay and straw trusser portable for hand power
1890
HASS trial of grist mills
1893
HASS trial of binders
HASS medium silver medal to Struthers, Weir & Co., Carluke, Lanarkshire
for cow milking appliance
1894
HASS trial of manure distributors
HASS exhibition of binders at work
1895
HASS trial of turnip lifters
HASS exhibition of binders at work
Royal Agricultural Society of England silver medal to The Thistle Mechanical Milking Machine Co. Ltd, Glasgow, for patent milking machine
1896
HASS trial of corn-dressing machines
HASS exhibition of binders at work
HASS trial of milking machines and oil engines
1899
HASS trial of manure distributers
1904
HASS trials of manure spreaders and agricultural motors
HASS large gold medal to Scott Motor Cultivator Ltd, Edinburgh, for Scott agricultural motor
1905
HASS trials of suction gas-producer plants and swathe turners
Royal Agricultural Society of England silver medal to J. & R. Wallace, Foundry, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, for milking machine
1909
HASS trial of potato diggers or lifters
1911
HASS trial of potato diggers or lifters
1914
HASS, trial of improved potato planters
1915
HASS exhibition trials of motor tillage implements and improved potato planters
1920
HASS trial of turnip lifting machines
New implement McKenzie’s portable turnip cleaner and cutter (Kenneth McKenzie, Evanton, Ross-shire)
New implement turnip thinner (James H. Steele, Edinburgh)
1921
HASS silver medal to Robertson & McLaren, Stirling, for the ‘Viking’ hay ricker
HASS silver medal to Wallace (Glasgow) Ltd, for 2 ½-3BHP stationary air-cooled single sleeve valve engine
1922
HASS demonstration of farm tractors and tractor implement
New implement manure distributor with enclosed gears (George Henderson, Kelso)
HASS silver medal to Thomas Pate, Strathaven, Lanarkshire, for the Pate’s patent draining plough
HASS silver medal to Alexander Jack & Sons, Maybole, for combined hay and rick lifter, loader and unloader
HASS silver medal to Alexander Newlands & Sons Ltd, Linlithgow, for self-lift brake harrow
1923
New implement hay-rick loader and unloader (Alexander Jack & Sons Ltd, Maybole, Ayrshire)
New implement double-furrow self-lift tractor plough (Robert Begg & Son, Dalry, Ayrshire
HASS silver medal to Alexander Ballach & Sons, Leith, for combined turnip and manure sower
HASS silver medal to Alexander Jack & Sons, Maybole, combined hay rick lifter, loader and unloader
1924
New implement improved threshing machine (James Crichton, Strichen, Aberdeenshire)
New implement combined corn and seed drill and grass seed sower (Thomas Sheriff & Co, West Barns, East Lothian)
HASS silver medal to William R. Storie, Kelso, for ‘Storie’ disc shoe surface sowing attachment
1925
New implement potato digger with adjustable graips (John Wallace & Sons Ltd, Glasgow)
HASS silver medal to Wallace, Laidlaw & Co. Ltd, Glasgow, for a method for electrically driving cream separators through a centrifugal clutch
1926
New implement ‘Allan’ oil engine (Allan Brothers, Aberdeen)
New implement combined sugar beet and turnip seed sowing machine (Thomas Brown & Sons, Kelso)
HASS silver medal to Storie Ltd, Kelso for ‘Storie’ combined rotary cultivator and plough
1927
New implement ‘Universal’ expanding disc drill scarifier (J. L. & J. Ballach, Edinburgh)
HASS silver medal to Thomas Sherriff & Co., West Barns, Dunbar, East Lothian, for a new combined sower, hoer and cultivator
HASS silver medal to Morton Engineering Co., Corstorphine, for an improved plough share
1928
New implement electric tractor (Dodds & Clark, Haddington)
HASS silver medal to Dodds & Clark, Haddington, for power potato sorter
1929
New implement artificial manure distributor (R. G. Garvie & Sons, Aberdeen)
HASS silver medal to James Muirhead & Sons, Glasgow, for a ventilator for byres
1930
HASS silver medal to Hamilton, Dunn & Co. Ltd, Glasgow, for a refrigerating plant for milk-cooling
1931
New implement complete milk refrigerating unit (The Dairy Supply Co. Ltd, Edinburgh)
1932
New implement combined double drill plough and artificial manure distributor (Alexander Jack & Sons Ltd, Maybole)
1933
New implement potato sorter (John Monro, Kirkcaldy)
1934
New implement cultivator and ridging attachment for tractor, self-lift (A. Newlands & Sons Ltd, Linlithgow
New implement combined general purpose coup cart and ricklifter with Dunlop pneumatic land wheels (William Dickie & Sons, East Kilbride)
HASS silver medal to William Henderson & Sons, Catrine, for bracken cutter
1935
New implement convertible general purpose coup cart and hay rick lifter (Alexander Jack & Sons Ltd, Maybole)
New implement rick lifter and low loading float combination (A. & W. Pollock. Mauchline)
HASS silver medal to J. D. Allan & Sons, Murthly, for grange brake for pneumatic-tyred carts or vehicles
1936
New implement rolling disc coulter for grain and seed drill (Thomas Sherriff & Co., West Barns)
1937
New implement bracken and thistle cutting scythe (Cruikshank & Co. Ltd, Denny)
New implement animal feeding trough (Gillies & Henderson, Edinburgh)
New implement three-row combined drill plough, artificial manure distributor and dibbler (Alexander Jack & Sons Ltd, Maybole)
HASS silver medal to Alexander Jack & Sons Ltd, Maybole, for three row combined drill plough, artificial manure distributor and dibbler or spacer
1939
New implement expanding swath turner (William Dickie & Sons, East Kilbride)
New implement combined tractor cultivator, three-row ridger and manure distributor (John Wallace & Sons Ltd, Glasgow)
1948
New implement Eclipse potato sorter (Kenneth McKenzie & Sons, Evanton)
New implement hydraulic tipping trailer (John Oswald & Son, Brechin)
HASS silver medal to James A. Cuthbertson Ltd, Biggar, for drainage plough
HASS silver medal to John Oswald & Son, Brechin, Angus, for 3 way hydraulic tipping trailer
HASS silver medal to A. M. Russell Ltd, Edinburgh, for multi-planter cabbage transplanter
1949
New implement binder, engine driven (J. Bisset & Sons Ltd, Blairgowrie)
New implement ‘Scot-mec’ hammer mill mounted on tractor (Scottish Mechanical Light Industries Ltd, Ayr)
HASS silver medal to James A. Cuthbertson Ltd, Biggar, for bracken cutter
HASS silver medal to Alexander Jack & Sons Ltd, maybole, for three row power shift combination
1950
HASS silver medal to James A. Cuthbertson Ltd, Biggar, for deep drainage plough with tile laying attachment
New implement tractor plough (G. Sellar & Son Ltd, Aberdeen)
New implement Dickie-Campbell ricklifter and transporter (William Dickie & Sons Ltd, East kilbride)
1951
New implement ‘Cuthbertson’ lime-spreading outfit’ (James A. Cuthbertson Ltd, Biggar)
New implement mechanical byre-mucking machine (William Dickie & Sons Ltd, East Kilbride)
HASS silver medal to J. Bisset & Sons Ltd, Blairgowrie for semi-mounted grain binder
HASS silver medal to George Henderson Ltd, Kelso, for self-contained gravity-fed soil injector
HASS silver medal to J. Bisset & Sons Ltd, Blairgowrie, for semi-mounted grain binder
HAS silver medal to Cruikshank & Co. Ltd, Denny, spinner potato collecting mechanism
1952
New implement broadcaster for sowing lime fertilizer and seeds (Gray’s of Fetterangus, Aberdeenshire)
1953
New implement Stirling-Boswell hydraulic model ricklifter transporter (F. M. Fleming & Son, Blairgowrie)
HASS silver medal to Farm Mechanisation Co. Ltd, Ladybank, Fife, for improved fertilizer unit for mounted ridgers
HASS silver medal to F. M. Fleming & Son, Blairgowrie, for hydraulic-model rick-lifter
1954
New implement combined seed and fertilizer drill (John Wallace & Sons Ltd, Glasgow)
New implement bracken and thistle cutter (George Henderson, Mauchline)
1955
New implement sugar beet and root cleaner (F. M. Fleming & Son, Blairgowrie)
1956
New implement Rollo croft master tractor with patented plough mounting linkage (Rollo Industries Ltd, Bonnybridge)
New implement Cairns potato harvester (Cairns Potato Harvesters, Crieff)
New implement hay tedder (J. Bisset & Sons Ltd, Blairgowrie)
New implement ‘Bruce’ turnip lifter and dresser (Forfar Foundry Ltd, Forfar)
New implement ‘Linton’ turnip topper and trailer (Fleming & Son, West Linton)
1957
New implement two row mounted elevator potato digger (John Wallace & Sons Ltd, Glasgow)
New implement swath aerator (Gillies & Henderson Ltd, Edinburgh)
1958
New implement ‘Boswell’ turnip topper and trailer’ (F. M. Fleming & Son, Blairgowrie, Perthshire)
New implement Dickie ‘swath-tedder’ (William Dickie & Sons Ltd, East Kilbride)
1959
New implement powerdrive hay tedder (A. & W. Pollock Ltd, Mauchline, Ayrshire)
1960
New implement ‘Reekie’ potato sorter (Reekie Engineering Ltd, Arbroath)
New implement ‘Reekie’ turnip harvester (Reekie Engineering Ltd, Arbroath, Angus)
1961
New implement automatic weighing machine (Reekie Engineering Ltd, Arbroath, Angus)
New implement ‘Boswell’ major sugar beet cleaner (Boswells of Blairgowrie, Blairgowrie, Perthshire)
1962
New implement bale or stook overloader (Grays of Fetterangus Ltd, Fetterangus)
1963
New implement rotor turnip harvester (Reekie Engineering Ltd, Angus)
New implement root elevator/loader (Boswells of Blairgowrie, Blairgowrie, Perthshire)
1964
New implement safety and anti-roll frame for tractors (Alexander Duncan (Aberdeen) Ltd, Inchbroom)
1965
New implement grain dryer (Scottish Mechanical Light Industries Ltd, Ayr)
New implement feed mill (Scottish Mechanical Light Industries Ltd, Ayr)
1966
New implement potato brushing machine (Reekie Engineering Ltd, Angus)
New implement complete harvester (Boswells of Blairgowrie, Blairgowrie, Perthshire)
1967
New implement multi-purpose potato grader (Reekie Engineering Ltd, Angus)
1968
New implement ‘vari-tip’ trailer (Adams Trailers Ltd, Old Deer, Aberdeenshire)
New implement multi-purpose potato grader (Reekie Engineering Ltd, Arbroath, Angus)
1970
New implement Sloan box tippler (Elliothead Engineering Ltd, Elliothead)
© 2015-21 Heather Holmes
