Trusty tractor info

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  • May 28, 2024 at 10:32 pm #42357
    will
    Participant

    Hello,

    I am going to show one of my Trusty tractors at a local show here in Cheshire in the next few weeks.

    I’d like to put some exhibitor info on the tractor so people know what it is. So, could I ask for a bit of info about Trusty (two wheeled) tractors? If possible id like to know how many made in total, first and last (early 30’s to circa 1960?) and how many made per engine type.

    Thank you!
    Will

    May 29, 2024 at 9:55 am #42360
    trusty220
    Keymaster

    Hello, Will.

    Thanks for your interest in Trusty equipment. The first 2-wheeled tractors were made in Broad Lane, Tottenham in 1933 starting with serial number 100 but they weren’t a great success with many of the first production of 25 being returned to works for modification. After a short break production was resumed and the serial numbers started at 200 with a more successful design.

    The last one was sold in February 1968 and was serial number 14586, so there were quite a few made over the years. I’m afraid that I don’t know how they all split up into engine type, transmission type, etc. as there were so many different combinations and so many made it would be a thankless task. Engine types varied from the early tractors which could have either Villiers or Blackburne engines, through the war years with JAP5, JAP6 and Douglas SV54 as well as US built engines such as Briggs and Stratton ZZ and Wisconsin AEH, to post war tractors that still used JAP and Douglas engines as well as Norton Big Four engines.

    Various one-offs were tried from time to time but the only make that seemed to be acceptable towards the end was Villiers in various sizes.

    I hope that gives you some idea of your tractor’s history. If you let me know the serial I can put it on the register……..and don’t forget, there are two books about Trusty stuff available through the club!

    Have a good show, Will!

    May 29, 2024 at 12:15 pm #42361
    andyfrost
    Participant

    Geoff , out of sheer curiosity you say that early Trustys had a Villiers engine fitted , may I ask which model that was. The reason I ask is I’ve never seen Viiliers industrial fourstrokes that were made in the mid to late 1930s.The Mk40 that would have had enough power was a post war engine , I’m baffled what engine it could have been.

    Andy.

    May 29, 2024 at 6:35 pm #42362
    davidbliss
    Participant

    Believe pre war there was a twin ported large two stroke Villiers.

    David

    May 29, 2024 at 7:13 pm #42363
    andyfrost
    Participant

    Indeed there were David , I had thought of that , but figured the revs difference between those and the Blackburne fourstroke would have required different gearing.

    Andy.

    May 29, 2024 at 7:56 pm #42364
    will
    Participant

    Thanks so much Geoff, I really do appreciate the time you must take in writing your replies. All very interesting stuff, thank you again.

    The tractor I will be showing is a Norton, 14274 (on your register already – ex Brian Carter), it’s in very good condition and sounds wonderful. As far as I know it had lain unused for some years before I bought it so I was glad to get it up and running (very straightforward).

    On a separate note I have today resurrected a long standing ‘dead’ machine – 14355, JAP5 engine, took me a solid day and a half, but all good fun and a good learning experience. I believe that the serial number dates it to 1952?

    Will be buying both books.

    Thank you!
    Will

    • This reply was modified 9 months, 4 weeks ago by will.
    • This reply was modified 9 months, 4 weeks ago by will.
    May 30, 2024 at 10:47 am #42367
    davidbliss
    Participant

    Andy
    Often people think the two strokes rev higher by the sound, Saab done a 3 cylinder two stroke car in the 60’s and were very torquay and reasonable quick, they ran up to 4,000 rpm at about 90mph, that sounded like 8,000 rpm like ripping canvas but came at a cost of 20 mpg. Auto Union, Mercedes and Wartburg also made almost identical engines.
    David

    May 30, 2024 at 1:07 pm #42368
    andyfrost
    Participant

    David , all my life I’ve had a love affair with twostrokes , and still to this day love getting my Howard 700s out , if nothing more than to hear that lovely sound , I also have a Holder E6 with a Sachs 201 twostroke.beutiful machine.
    On the subject of Wartburgs , in my youth we used one for night time Rabbit shooting , sounded lovely and would go almost anywhere.
    The Villiers you mention does rev higher than the Blackburne fourstroke , remember that at the age in question Villiers of this type were designed as motorcycle units , although some (eg Atco mowers) did find their way into some industrial uses.

    Andy

    May 30, 2024 at 3:20 pm #42369
    trusty220
    Keymaster

    I have no idea of the model of Villiers engine fitted, Andy, as the company records don’t record it. All that appears is either “Blackburne” or “Villiers” in the respective column. The only survivor from the early days (so far) is my number 220 which has a Blackburne fitted, so it’s still a mystery to be solved.

    If I was to hazard a guess I would say that it was probably of motorcycle origin.

    Will- it’s good to hear Brian’s Trusty is still around and being shown. I still remember the only time I ever beat him at a ploughing match; he finished the opening and had it judged then couldn’t restart the Norton to carry on. He was in a hell of a sweat by the time I finished so, feeling sorry for him, I offered him the use of my JAP 6 powered 3-speed. He finished just in time and I ended up winning by one point- I think the judging was generous and probably reflected the unconventional way that Brian finished as I still think his plot looked better than mine! Happy days, RIP Brian.

    May 30, 2024 at 3:48 pm #42370
    andyfrost
    Participant

    Geoff , thanks for your reply , would be great if one ever turns up.

    Andy.

    May 30, 2024 at 9:50 pm #42372
    will
    Participant

    What a lovely story Geoff!

    Yes I will never plough at the levels of Brian or yourself and others, but I do intend to use the machines as well as showing them (14274,13421,14355,P12352C) Annoyingly I just missed a local working day a few weeks ago. I have a few ploughs and a set of discs and a cultivator so I can have some fun 🙂

    Thanks again for your replies!

    Will

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