[stevewoollas]

Hello Charlie,
Not heard of the Hortag Bulldog but interesting to see particularly with the difficulties Howard had with Lanz over the name Bulldog.
We have a Hortag mechanical spade which is very similar to the Terex mechanical spade in our collection. As with Terex, Hortag also produced a fork version.–Steve

[stevewoollas]

We have one of these in our collection. On ours the writing on the red section reads:
BRITISH OVERHEAD IRRIGATION CO. MADE IN ENGLAND.
On the circular end of the blue/green section wording as follows:
RAINFAN. BRITISH OVERHEAD IRRIGATION LTD. SHEPPERTON, MIDDLESEX.
APPOINTMENT TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II. MANUFACTURERS OF IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT

Other than yours Sam, ours is the only one I come across–Steve

[stevewoollas]

WOW!….You really know how to find them. A Ransome Flea Beetle Duster and a Planet seeder. Well done Ivan.

[stevewoollas]

Hello Martin,
Thank you for your order which arrived today. Will be posted out tomorrow–Steve

[stevewoollas]

Look forward to seeing the photos.
The usual back-acter bucket fitted to MG crawlers was the Whitlock accessory/conversion.

[stevewoollas]

Brilliant Chris. What a great find.

[stevewoollas]

Hello Martyn,
As Charlie states cheques to be payable to “VHGMC” please and forwarded to my home address as listed above. I will be posting goods out quickly with Christmas approaching.
Please remember to include your postal address……you would be surprised how many people forget to include this information.
Thank you for your enquiry.
Steve the Shopkeeper.

[stevewoollas]

Charlie, Just had a look at these and I quess I underpriced the last pair I sold, but I know they have been used on a machine–Steve

[stevewoollas]

Charlie–interesting to read we are getting the “I was not there at the time” comment from one particular high profile committee member which is a strange statement for someone who appears to know so much about the happenings.
His excuses don’t change do they. Remember “No, not me”….”Dog ate the homework”…and…”Who? Me officer”
Bear in mind all this occoured around 11.30 am, h’ed eaten a full breakfast, three slices of pork pie and was full of more “E” numbers than a schoolboy left alone in a sweet shop so quite remarkable he knows exactly what happened but wasn’t there.
But then, we know he’s remarkable…….that’s why we vote for him each year!

[stevewoollas]

Charlie, Some senior and well known club members were very involved–Steve.

[stevewoollas]

I can only echo the comments already made regarding meeting new people and re-meeting previously met people. Not mentioning any names because I am bound to miss someone out but as always Newark was a great event and an excellent finale to the 2014 show season.
Good of Chair to mention the gas cut-off button–I knew he would.
The true facts are that on Saturday I returned from the auction with a rather nice gathering rake which I propped up against the side wall whilest assisting someone at the Club Shop. Unbeknown to me some interested and inquisitive club members (nosey) decided to inspect my new purchase. In their excitement at my good fortune one of the group replaced the rake in a different position allowing the handle to come into contact with a large, clearly marked red gas cut-off isolation button. This had the immeadiate effect of turning off all the hot air blowers in all four Crocker Halls. A steward crossed the hall with the speed of a hare coursing lurcher and catches the guilty four still in position surrounding the rake and cut-off button. Guilty, by position, placement, association, look on their faces, and by the fact each one of them point blame in a different direction, basically highlighting all four points of the compass. After a few correctly chosen choice words of retribution from the said steward each of them slink off to the protection of the VHGMC club stand.
Me, the totally innocent party, not touching the rake at the time, not admonished by the steward and no guilty look on my face…….is there ever? was totally uninvolved in this debarcle.
Thank you to all those who supported the club shop at Newark–Steve

[stevewoollas]

I good little anecdote worthy Chair and we were all almost convinced until reaching the final part.
Yes, I do sit down to answer my phone, particularly if the caller is one who is known to babble on. When I sit down I remove my cap and place it in front of me and if passers by choose to place their loose change into it I really cannot be blamed. Now, this is where your tale falls flat Mr Chair, as anyone who knows me will confirm, I never turn down cash donations of any denomination, particularly English coin of the realm so any utterance on my part would be acknowledged thanks not re-buff.
Anyway, don’t change the subject, surely the good Lady Chair should be allowed and, indeed, encouraged to comment on her Birthday Day Out.
Come on Lady Chair what did you really think?

[stevewoollas]

I confirm the attendance of myself and Drew Boy who is bringing his Barford Atom. We also have a few new items for the club display which have not been to Newark before.
You won’t be lonely Sam.

[stevewoollas]

As you can imagine the good Lady Chair was looking forward to her birthday and had spent the previous week thinking about the treat in store which Chair had promised. Various options had passed through her mind; a quiet meal for two, a trip to the theatre, a weekend in London, or even Paris. Now you and I know Chair better than this and whilst he also considered each of these options, (in cost decending order), each was dismissed on the basis of excessive cost until he eventually saw the advent for the Shackleton Open Day priced at £2 per head.
What a bargain!
The two of them for £4….even less if he could convince the ticket office staff he was a senior citizen….might even be able to include a cup of tea without spending in excess of a fiver.
So, thanks to Chair’s extremely frugal nature, (he insists Generous nature), the good Lady Chair celebrated her birthday crawling through the innards of a Shackleton aircraft and being totally deafened when the engines were struck up. On the journey home one person sat with a wide grin on his face thinking “what a great day, played at airplanes, treated her to her birthday and change from a fiver” The other sat totally dejected thinking “what a c**p day, stubbed my toe on the spar, banged my head, after all these years is that all he thinks I am worth”.
I think you will agree with me the Lady Chair deserves better than treatment at this level.
I understand the day wasn’t a total loss, however, on their return to Ravenhall the table was laden with a celebrationary Gala Pork Pie adorned with the appropriate number of candles and a bottle of Tizer.
Tuck in Chair, at least you enjoyed celebrating the good Lady Chair’s birthday.
Ruth–better luck next year!

[stevewoollas]

This is an interesting debate which has been aired on this forum before so it may be worth reading past postings. It is possible to bring about variations to the “model in production before the 31st December 1959” rule which allows newer machines and their owners to participate. The 1959 date is the Vintage date of compliance operated by the UKs leading ploughing organisation, The Society Of Ploughmen and it would be difficult for the VHGMC or its members to compete at their National Finals outside of the 1959 dating process.
It is at this stage worth pointing out that there is in operation a “Classic Class” which includes machines from post the 1959 date through to 1976, pre Q-Cab, therefore local level matches could operate their Horticultural/Garden class as Vintage/Classic which extends the dating system by some 16 years.
I have also in the past suggested the introduction of a “Modern Day Classic” category which could include machines from 1976 to (with a rolling forward date) to up to 25 years old. There is a danger of all these different classes becoming messy and difficult to control so here is our local solution.
At our local matches in Lincolnshire and surrounding area we take this a stage further with the Horticultural/Garden class operating as an Open Class which not only removes the machine age barrier completely but also allows home built tractors and ploughs to compete which increases the number of entrants, allows older ploughmen to continue ploughing longer by using more modern easier to handle ride-on tractors, and a wider viewing experience for the public. In terms of public spectator interest we are usually second only to the Horse Class. Should the match be a National Qualifier only compliant pre-1959 machines may go through to the finals but we are all aware of this and accept the ruling.
In terms of ploughing rules we use the established and recognised VHGMC rules with the omission of the machinery compliance date.
The users of pre-1959 machines have nothing to fear from this arrangement as the Trustys, Anzanis and other popular vintage machines tend to rein supreme having, in general, greater levels of plough adjustment which provides increased levels of accuracy particularly in opening up and finishing.
Possibly more members could try this approach in their areas and later in the season post their thoughts.
On a lighter note it is a good thing we are not controlled by an “Antique Class” as the accepted definition of antique is to be in excess of 100 years old which does not bring a motorised garden tractor to mind but possibly the Planet Jr push hoe……could be interesting!

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