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I think you must realise that Kelsey are a purely commercial concern and their actions are finance led. If you look at the last few years at the number of “vintage” publications that have sprung up, merged, sold off or shut down etc it only relates to the financial overview and it must be extremely disappointing for truly enthusiast writers/contributors to these magazines.
The opportunity for VHGMC , its members and the Cultivator is huge because we are a very broad church of enthusiasts not governed to the same extent by the same financial return on investment sought in these commercial companies.
Also I think with the development of websites and similar instant information/communication must influence content within magazines.
It is up for us members to contribute to The Cultivator and make it the magazine we want, we have been very lucky with editors and people making contributions in its development to date but why not write or put together a article/news report whatever. I have done the odd bit of writing, my English graduate daughter says my sintax is terrible but I just think it reflects the way I talk and think ,so do not think you cannot do it !!!
If there is not a commercial magazine out there that covers our interest we have the opportunity to develop The Cultivator into something that does and the recent magazine bodes well for this.
There was negative comment on the dropping of the Farm and Horticultural section on the Forum and in the Cultivator, being Positive what a WE the VHGMC membership going to do to remedy the situation and lift the load a bit on the excellent work carried out by our committee and editor.

regards
Joe Paget

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The Brockhouse Spryte engine was also used in the Brockhouse Corgi motorbike,it had a kick start while in the Hoemate had a rope pull start.
The vintage motorbike spares market may well be a source for spares

regards Joe Paget

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Like Charlie says steel wheels with optional road bands were a alternative fitting on the Hoemate and I would also agree the best thing when not using your machine for a time is to put it up on timber blocks or axle stands to take weight off wheels. Also agree with joegraham on sunlight on tyres, keep them out of prolonged sunlight also I think a coat of tyre paint helps maintain tyre walls.
Various engines were used in the Hoemate when produced by BMB the JAP 2a 1HP and Briggs & Stratton 1HP were used. After production was taken over by Brockhouse the Brockhouse Sprytg engine was used which had been used by Brockhouse in the corgi mini airportable motorbikes these were still being produced for private use at the same time as the Hoemate.The only difference is the motorbike version is kick start while the Hoemate has a rope pull.As a result of motorbike production you will still see spares advertised for this engine.I would have thought you could drop across a sprytg engine or complete hoemate with patience.
Hope this helps
Joe Paget

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I do not think it is just theft from your dwelling that is increasing I had a very upsetting incident last year when I had borrowed a friends ifor williams trailer to collect something I had purchased.
It is a very handy trailer tilt bed with winch makes loading so easy and having collected the item on the way home I called in at one of those filling station/shops so common these days to buy a can of pop parking on the far side of the forcourt.
In the short time I was inside some robbing sod out of sight removed one of the drop in corner posts which I discovered later when arriving home.I know it was there I had done up the fixing pin to the tailgate and screwed in the securing bolt before leaving.
It cost nearly £50 to replace but has made me increasingly wary about security in transit, my brother in law who works for a insurance company told me that most caravans are stolen from motorway service stations while owners are taking a break.
The question is what is the solution ?
The problem is that a reaction in the heat of the moment that is subsequently deemed excessive would probably result in you ending up in court rather than the robbing sod.
regards FP

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Alan,
Any idea the manufacturers of the Hop dusters on display at Malvern ?
With regard to your sprayer I think there is one very similar currently advertised on a certain auction site manufactured by either Weeks or Drake and Fletcher

Kevin,
I do not think the Hop Duster will be finished in time for Biddenden, but perhaps next year, it would be about a 300 mile round trip for me .The tinwork is pretty bad and wind blowing through when I collected removed all old bird nests, straw etc to reveal agitator brushs in hopper.

Charlie,
Scanning all old adverts would be very informative,there was a wide range of equipment made specifically to meet needs of fruit,market garden and hopyard growers. I have a very narrow Ransome dauntless hop yard cultivator for working between hop rows and did at one time have a Onnerley Implement Hop yard Manure spreader which was only 30 inchs wide.

I unfortunately missed Malvern and seeing the photographs of what was there makes it even worse !!!!!
regards FP

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Photographs, if at first you do not !!

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Try again with photographs

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You never know what is going to turn up, very interested in the Weeks Hop Duster as I have acquired one from Kent for restoration.Your advert shows a horse drawn one , the one I have acquired is tractor drawn with wheel drive to the fan unit in the duster and also a agitator in the hopper.
Have a look at the attached photographs .
The tin parts,hopper,extract chute need work but I have found someone who owns another so hope to get details of missing bit
regards Joe Paget

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David,

8hp engines serial numbers start with “Y” followed by six numbers.

The numbers you supplied are RY135710(0)IP and RY1091356PC
You have too many numbers ?
If it was RY135710, this would be a reconditioned engine (R) Y for 8hp and 135710 was manufactured in 1936
If it was RY109135,, this would be a reconditioned engine (R) Y for 8hp and 109135 was manufactured in 1935
The one thing for sure is you have two Ford reconditioned engines , so these engines are not original to your tractor and will not help with dating
Another route is to have a look at the Lucas dynamo and starter,Lucas stamped year of manufacture on the body casing if they are originals and hopefully the same year this might give you a manufacturing year.Anyway worth a try
regards Joe Paget

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Thought you might find this page interesting from Farm Implement and Machinery Review dated December 1st 1945 announcing start of production of Colwood Motor Hoe by Dashwood Engineering

regards Joe Paget

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Wingnut,
It looks like your tractor was a 684 model, I am afraid I do not have any literature on the MAG engine.
Perhaps a little research by you on the internet or “help pages” in Tractor and Machinery for example might throw up some information
regards Joe Paget

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The Bean used a Ford 8hp sidevalve engine with the 10cwt Ford van axle
I have a Ford engine dating record if you can give me the engine number stamped on the angled surface above the exhaust manifold I can give you a manufacturing year for the engine and approximate month of production,which if the engine is original should give some guide to age of machine.
Your machine looks to be a three wheeler which was the original design dating from 1940’s, I have a early price list dated May 1946 and the introduction by Humberside Agricultural Products Co Ltd of a new horticultural tractor was announced in Farm Implement and Machinery Review in April 1945.
All Bean’s I have seen have been painted red with implements painted green
Hope this assists, will try and add some illustrations
regards Joe Paget

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What a absolutely fascinating video, I thought the blue four wheeler might be a STAUB but from there company history they only made two and single wheel cultivators.The wheel weights do have something cast into them but I am unable to read.
Anyway firstclass entertainment on this wet and cold morning
regards Joe Paget

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The B&S ZZ engine was fitted to early production BMB Ploughmate’s
A publication which may be helpfull to you is The Motor Traders Service Data sheet No 116 “Servicing the BMB Tractor” published in October 1942 gives data on engine and complete machine.
Postwar American built B&S engines were not used in cash strapped UK by BMB and particularly after devaluation of pound against USA dollar also became much more costly.
You could fit the alternative and much more readily available JAP 5 engine used by BMB in the ploughmate to get ploughing until you restore your B&S to working condition .
regards FP

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Just recently received some Coleby Shire information and from this three models are given :-

Mk1 has BSA model G/PL Petrol 5.75bhp
MK2 has JAP model 6, 6.75 bhp at 2400rpm
MK3 has JAP model 55, 10bhp at 2400rpm
Hope this assists

regards FP

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