Vintage Horticultural and Garden Machinery Club

Photographs and sale items of horticultural items at Tractor World Scotland 2018. 

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Tractor World Scotland 2018 Report

Tractor World. by Charlie Moore.

Held over the weekend 2nd & 3rd March at The Three Counties Showground Malvern and organised by Tractor & Machinery magazine. The actual show organisation was carried out by a new team this year which saw a few changes to show layout and the introduction of displays of new tractors. Saturday had the usual auction by H J Pugh and on Sunday there was a vintage sort out. A couple of weeks before the show Martin Oldaker, editor of Tractor & Machinery, asked me if I would be willing to judge the horticultural section. For some reason I said yes, (must learn to stop saying yes). This worked out well as I was planning to visit the show on the Saturday anyway.  

Entries in the horticultural section were down on previous years, not helped by a number of horticultural machines appearing on other stands in the show. Entries were varied in both make and model as well as condition, with some as found and others fully restored. The full spectrum of eligible machines and tools was covered, from JALO to Trusty and Ransomes MG. Interesting exhibits included a very unusual single wheeled machine, believed to be a Howard and a good original condition Allman sprayer attachment on a Colwood motor hoe

Judging was very difficult due to the wide diversity of exhibits, I soon realised what a task it is and envy anyone that judges on a regular basis. Knowing some horticultural exhibits were not in the horticultural section I asked if they were to be included, as judging them would involve me walking around the whole show looking for them. The organisers confirmed only those in the horticultural section were to be judged. This was to cause some discontent as this was not clear on the entry forms. 

Results were as follows.

Written by Steve Woollas.

August seems so long ago but Lincoln steam, or to give the event it’s correct title The Lincoln Steam and Vintage Rally took place in glorious sunshine at the purpose built show site owned by The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, adjacent to the A15 at Grange-de-Lings north of Lincoln on the 18th & 19th of August 2012.

Lincoln is the third in a trilogy of steam rallies held over the first three consecutive weekends in the eastern side of England commencing with Pickering, then Driffield, then Lincoln, and, for many a continual pilgrimage takes place to each in turn.

People travel far and wide to Lincoln and it was pleasing to meet club members who had travelled over from the Isle of Man for the event.

Lincoln steam appears to grow each year although the showground boundaries do not, and it is testimony to the organisers’ careful and strategic planning that all exhibits are accommodated within their allotted areas. This year the programme listed in excess of 1550 entries, including some of the 100 full size steamers, a further 100 miniature steamers and over 30 musical organs. Tractors amounted to 330 entries of which 50 fell into the horticultural category. with some 230 stationary engines, 28 awning displays, 130 entries in the models hall including 24 Meccano displays and in excess of 550 vintage/classic vehicles and a large trader market there has to be something at Lincoln for the whole family to view, admire and marvel upon.  

Tractors have their own display area with a “drive through” parallel ring and paraded each day at 2pm lead by horticulturals and the commentary lasts for around 3 hours – not all by me you will be pleased to know!

First in the ring for the horticulturals was one of the nicest Fiddle Drills I have ever seen complete with instruction sheet attached to the body of the drill, along with a demonstration of how the march along in time with the hand movement when drilling, i.e one movement of the bow in time with each step forward. Another interesting item was a 1939 Vivian Lloyd Brush Cutter. One trusty steed was present and attached to the “working end” was an unusual Howard Rotavator attachment.  

I was interested to see some early versions of some machines present including a 1937 Ransome MG2 with the early Sturmey Archer T Type engine fitted, the 1941 allen Scythe MK2 (pictured) fitted with the Villiers 11C engine, finished in yellow livery as this machine spent it’s working life on an airfield. Cliffords were well represented with two Clifford Juniors in the line up, as were Ransomes with examples of MG2, MG5, MG6 and MG40. A 1951 Monrotiller Series One in original paint and transfers made an interesting item in the Parade as did in total contrast a nicely restored 1951 Bolens with cultivator in green and yellow. 

Note: This article has been reproduced and edited from the November 2012 issue of The Cultivator and written by Steve Woollas.