Accounts of local agricultural shows provide a snapshot of who was making and selling implements in a local area. They can provide evidence in the absence of other sources of evidence being available. This is especially important for geographical areas that are away from the main implement and making businesses.
An account of the Caithness Show from the John O’Groat journal of 4 August 1911 shows that there was a good display of implements and machines from a range of businesses. They included manufactures from local makers as well as leading makers throughout Scotland and further afield. They sold ones that they thought could be useful to the local farmers and crofters and were suited to the needs of the local district. For example, Ben Clyne had “the new Osborne binder, a machine that appears very suitable for the crofter”. There were also other implements and machines seen to be suitable for the smaller farmers and crofters. The author of the account also noted the practicality and economy of some of them.
There were implements and machines from a number of leading makers in Scotland and further afield. They included: George Sellar and Son, Huntly, J. Bisset & Sons, Blairgowrie, Alexander Jack & Sons, Maybole, Melotte Separator Sales Co. (1931) Ltd, Campbell Gas Engine Co, Kingston, Halifax, and E. H. Bentall and Co, Heybridge.
The following is the account of the implements at the Caithness Show:
“Implements
There was a great show of agricultural implements on the ground. Messrs W. & A. Geddes, Wick, had a fine display of binders, back delivery reapers, corn winnowing machines, manure distributors, churns, and cream separators, samples of poultry food, sheep dip in paste and liquid, oil cake crusher, and a Sellar’s plough.
Mr Ben Clyne was on the ground with a specimen of the new Osborne binder, a machine that appears very suitable for the crofter. He also showed one of Bentall’s corn bruisers. We understand Mr Clyne had one of Campbell’s oil engines at the railway station, but failed to get it to the field in time for exhibition.
Messrs Jas McKidd & Sons, Thurso, showed their Leicester vertical engine, 4hp, in full working motion, being driven by petrol. This engine has been constructed specially for the smaller class of farmer and is suitable for being fixed up at little cost to drive a two or a three-horse mill. This is constructors maintain can be done much cheaper with petrol than is at present done with the oil engine. Messrs McKidd also exhibited a 12hp Tangyre oil engine, and one of Jack’s imperial manual distributors with with positive feed, suitable for sowing broadcast in drill or in pasture; also one of Ransome’s latest pattern of potato lifter, which is becoming very popular with south of Scotland framers. There was also shown by this form one of Wilmott’s galvanised iron sheep dipping tanks with patent lifting and lowering arrangement and draining platform.
Mr W. Keith, Castletown had samples of three Bisset binders on the ground, fitted with lathes instead of canvas, “Speedwell” reaper, grass-seed harrows, hay rake, &c.
Messrs Lindsay & Co., Thurso, exhibited a fine type of small plough suitable for crofters, also the celebrated Milwaukee binder, corn bruisers, sheep racks, feeding troughs, Martin’s patent drill plough, cultivators, and scruffier, a one-hand threshing mill, and a hand and foot threshing mill, hay collector, rakes &c.
Messrs Alex Robertson and Son, Wick, had a comprehensive exhibition of farm accessories and agricultural implements, including Scotch fanners, spring-tooth lever harrows, Calwell’s pay collectors, Melotte cream separator, churns, M.P. plough, washing machine, &c.”
