[vhgmcbuddy]

Happy New Year
In the end I made my guards from cardboard and masking tape initially until I was happy with the fit and look.
I then made them out of mild steel plate and soldered them together very pleased with the result.

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[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi Tom,

My number is 0 eight seven two six two one five nine eight.

Send me a text and i can send you details of where we will be in January.

Gavan.

[vhgmcbuddy]

the Howard 700 is probably more rightly called a ‘Clifford-Howard 700’ rather than its decal name of ‘Howard-Clifford 700’.

Compare to the Clifford Mk IV and the basic design history is evident,
think of the 700 as actually a Clifford MK V,
with a Yeoman type quick hitch,
and suddenly the development cost is mainly about size and power balancing,
it is not a whole new type of machine.

While its short production run is sad, the 800 is sadder,
and possibly gives us a clue as why the 700 run was short,
the 800 never went into full production because the actual cost of production was going to be too high, this implies that the similar type of machine 700 also had a high cost of production.

I also am surprised that the 700 did not continue in production for a couple more years,
considering that it was in production, and a significant portion of the market did choose to buy them.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Berry Croft stores is still very much alive and kicking, catering for horticultural growers and local gardeners. I used to buy Strawberry punnets and suchlike from there. When I last used them they were still based in quite an old building, probably the same they used in the 1960s. It was the sort of place that may well have had cupboards and filing cabinets stuffed with old sales records and invoices!

[vhgmcbuddy]

That’s great, many thanks. Just the engine to go to complete the restoration, luckily recently run I think and kept in the dry.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi Tom,
Whereabouts in Ireland are you based. I am based in County Meath there is a few of us, can be up to six that plough with Anzani’s and trusty’s at the different county ploughing matches around ireland. We also have a class in the all ireland. Most of us don’t take it too seriously and just enjoy the day out doing some ploughing with these old machines and attracting some interest and attention as they do look unusual. I included a link below to the Louth ploughing match where we ploughed.

Thanks
Gavan Duffy

[vhgmcbuddy]

while we are looking for unusual 700 attachments, keep an eye out for a pair of small car mudguards hanging on a nearby shed wall, see pic from a promotional road run…

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[vhgmcbuddy]

“I’d guess by 1963 Howard had stopped production of the 700, probably explaining short run of the conversion.”
yes roatavator,
that would be right.

I am slightly confused as what exactly is meant regarding date of last 700,
one way to read this list would be to have the listed serial number as first in 1961,
but other way is to prioritise statement of the 1961 number being last made,
so it could have been anytime during that year, with no listing of first for that year.

Either way, no more after 1961.

when reading the service notes, it would seem they were full of problems, but mostly I hear they are great machines to use.

it is my guess that they were only discontinued to make way for the 800 production line?

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[vhgmcbuddy]

MERL? yes please, can I have a list of the contents of the pictures/negatives?
unless they are labelled, it would be pointless asking someone who doesn’t know RHL products for an opinion of what the machines might be.

https://rdg.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/merl/search/results?qu=rotary+hoes+ltd&te=&lm=MERL2

https://www.reading.ac.uk/adlib/Details/archive/110178815

ages ago I purchased scans of 3 of their Howard brochures,
1 has since turned up in paper form, all good.

I thought I had another photo of a HH700 tractor towing a trolley, as part of some report, but cant find it. did find screenshots of Bootsowen youtube of brochures, which includes the same brochure as I have.

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[vhgmcbuddy]

It’s a JAP, serial number: S80/G/4989/40.

[vhgmcbuddy]

maybe the memory is playing tricks, I have just been thru most of my brochures,
and could only find a Gem / Bantam brochure from 1951,
with dealer stamp in top right, Holttum 408 Cherryhinton Road.

Thanks for the background on Mr Holttum, very interesting.
cheers Rod.

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[vhgmcbuddy]

trusty220: can you please check the full name of the company you refer to as a very active machinery dealer, reason being I have a Howard brochure with a xx Holtum xx etc dealers stamp on it, sorry I don’t remember what the brochure item was, so can’t find it easily, but the name caught my eye at the time I got it, so I checked the names, it only has 1 T, quite different to the maker of the 3rd wheel conversion with 2 Ts. thanks Rod.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Thanks for the responses. I’m planning on taking the cylinder head off this winter to finally change the head gasket. I’ll take a look and see how the repair is holding out.

As it happened in the summer I needed a quick fix before the lawn grew too high!

[vhgmcbuddy]

I am genuinely amazed at your knowledge of such obscure machines.
Im a general trader and wish to sell it, any idea on value?
I have never bought one before but see similar regularly.
I can get pictures and post on here to see if there is interest a couple of days before sale, most of the sales I go to are not online.
If there is a spares machine or something I can buy and just strip the bits needed, post at cost and a drink for me. I’m not greedy but will expect a profit on the good stuff!
Many thanks
David

[vhgmcbuddy]

I’m unsure I don’t know about them
Thanks
David

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