Table of contents for September 2025 in Tractor & Machinery

FUND-RAISING NEWS The Thurlow Nunn Standen Ltd 1971 Massey Ferguson 135 is to be sold at auction by Cheffins, at its Sutton site in Cambridgeshire, on October 18th, 2025. The sale will provide a great opportunity for a new owner to acquire this very presentable and desirable classic. This special tractor, which is already at the saleground, was supplied new to The National Stud at Newmarket, and will go under the hammer as part of Cheffins’ Autumn Vintage Collective sale. The tractor was restored in 2012, by a former employee of its supplying dealership. Thurlow Nunn Standen Ltd is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and won the Best Stand award at the recent Suffolk Show. This particular MF 135 represents a moment of change for the Thurlow business, when…

Baled silage can be prone to soil contamination due to dust and slurry being incorporated into bales. Shane Brewer, from agricultural testing specialist Eurofins Agro UK, suggests that if slurry isn’t incorporated into the soil, the crop will not see the full benefit, and any residues risk contaminating bales with harmful bacteria such as enterobacteriaceae. He explains that high applications followed by dry weather can also cause the fibre from the applied slurry to lift up into the crop, but this can be detected by accurate ash analysis. Normal ash levels in the plant should be 6-8%, depending on the crop. Higher numbers indicate additional mineral content which will have occurred due to soil being incorporated into the bale. Soil can contain clostridia, spores and enterobacteria, which can be become…

INDUSTRY UPDATE In an age when many once-famous British companies have fallen by the wayside, Suffolk-based agricultural machinery manufacturer Claydon Yield-o-Meter Ltd continues to go from strength to strength. Its latest achievement is to be shortlisted in the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ category at the prestigious British Farming Awards, which recognise the commitment, resilience and innovation of British farmers and agricultural businesses in an industry that consistently serves the nation. Founded by Suffolk arable farmer and agricultural engineer Jeff Claydon in 1981, Claydon Yield-o-Meter Ltd exemplifies UK manufacturing at its best. With a track record of continuous growth, it remains a wholly family-owned business, one which is being steered into the future by Jeff’s sons, Oliver (operations director) and Spencer (commercial director). Ever since the company launched its first direct…

As I mentioned last month, the 1970s was a key decade for tractor development, both in terms of the designs being implemented and the new models being launched. When Mercedes-Benz introduced the MB-Trac 65/70, it represented a new concept in the world of four-wheel drive tractors. The design featured a centrally-mounted cab that allowed room for a load platform behind, and this could be used for the mounting of hoppers or spray tanks etc. The tractor also had equal-size wheels and, despite its relatively modest, 65hp power output, it was a very capable performer. Nevertheless, despite its undoubted qualities, the MB-Trac remained something of a niche market machine here in the UK, compared to the conventionally-designed alternatives. While its popularity gradually increased as new models were introduced during the decade,…

JULY 5TH, 2025 Flintshire Vintage & Classic Tractor Society (FVCTS) has been in existence now for 20 years. It was formed in 2005 by a group of Flintshire farmers and likeminded friends who decided to all pull together and create an organisation that would meet and satisfy the requirements of tractor and machinery enthusiasts, collectors and traders in the Flintshire area of North Wales. Over the past two decades the society has held many successful events, and this year saw the first Grassland Event to be staged at Plas Captain Farm at Llyn Helyg, in Trelawnyd, Flintshire. The idea was the brainchild by Dylan Hughes, and his late father, Gwyn, who we tragically lost a couple of years ago. So, in memory of his father, Dylan – with the support…

The last episode ended at the point where I’d removed two out of the three cylinder head sections, and had been inspecting. I’d also decided to remove the pistons just to satisfy myself about the internal condition of this engine, so that was my first job for this instalment. Getting access to the big ends meant removing the oil sump but, of course, the engine was still full of oil. So, having found the sump plug I thought draining the old lubricant would be a simple process. But it wasn’t. The first thing I noticed was that the hexagonal sump plug was stuck solid. I tried loosening it with spanners and mole grips, but all that did was chew-up the hex head even more. It did cross my mind to…

19TH-20TH JULY, 2025 More than 2,000 lots were sold by Cheffins at its mid-term Vintage Collective, across five separate sales. The highlight among the memorabilia sold on Friday was a replica, 10in 1980s Marshall & Sons Co Ltd clock, which made £1,600. There was also a Ferguson system demonstration clockwork Mills Models tractor with runway track, plough and drag plus box. It looked well-used but original, and sold for £6,200. Turning to the tractors, the sale got under way with a 1999 John Deere 8200T tracked crawler, which had been used locally (mostly on mole draining duties), and it sold for £23,000 + VAT. A number of entries from mainland Europe came next, including a 1973 Massey Ferguson Super 135 with Selene front axle (No. 431915) and a German Hydrac…

OCTOBER 11TH-12TH, 2025 Organisers of the British National Ploughing Championships & Country Festival have announced a high number of entries for this year’s event, set to take place on 11th-12th October, at Allesley, near Coventry, in the West Midlands. More than 240 of the country’s top ploughmen and women will be competing eagerly for National titles, with the very best of them also trying to win the chance to represent their country at next year’s World and European ploughing contests. This year’s strong turnout reflects growing interest in traditional and competitive ploughing, with entries set to compete in a variety of categories, including classes for vintage tractors and horse-drawn ploughs as well as more modern, conventional and reversible plough groupings. “We’re thrilled with the level of interest this year,” said…

CHARITY ROAD RUN The Llanybydder charity tractor run took place on July 13th and, this year, the event was restricted to vintage and classic tractors only. There was a great turnout with 53 machines taking to the lanes of this part of Carmarthenshire, in west Wales. What set this run apart was that the tractors made visits to two care homes along the route. The first was Maesyfelin, in Drefach, where many of the residents enjoyed getting outside for a chat with the drivers and to inspect the tractors parked in the grounds. From there the convoy moved on towards Rhuddlan, then on a figure-of-eight loop taking them back through Llanybydder and up the Rhydcymerau road to the All y Mynydd care home where another great welcome awaited. Once the…

One of the more unusual sights at the recent Welland Steam &Country Rally was this International 434/434 tandem. It was entered by Dave Eady, from Llandovery. #International #tractor #WellandRally #tandem Tom Bargh Anyone wants to make one of these out of a hi-clear, I’ve one in kit form it’s all there with really great tinwork 2K would buy it James Wootton David Weekes guess once one miraculously fires up it can pull the second one for a few laps of the field to wake it up! George Mutch My grandfather had a 434! It was a brilliant tractor with great wheel grip! A bit numb to start in winter, though! Johnny Edwards Lovely gentleman and a wealth of knowledge! Johnny Patterson Jezzzze, one on its own is bad enough! George…

Sticky business This Hook & Loop Heavy-Duty Stick-On Tape offers a quick and easy-to-use alternative to screws and glues, for all manner of useful applications. Can hold up to 7kg per 50x100mm piece. Velcro Heavy Duty Stick-On Tape £25.52 Lighting the way Wessex 240V LED Portable Work Light 03303 333303 £18.64 This 30W, 3,600-lumen is IP65-rated and features a die cast housing and tempered glass lens. The steel handle has a soft grip and the light produced is cool white. The LED has an average life of 25,000 hours and the unit is supplied with a 2m rubberised cable. Get a good grip These pliers feature a high-leverage design ensuring optimal efficiency and ease of use. This professional-quality set includes: 8in combination pliers, 8in long-nose pliers and 7in diagonal cutters.…

August 24th-25th August WHITE HORSE SHOW Uffington White Horse, Farringdon, Oxon. OX12 9QJ whitehorseshow.co.uk 24th-25th August EDENBRIDGE & OXTED AGRICULTURAL SHOW Ardenrun Showground, Tandridge Lane, Lingfield RH7 6LL edenbridge-show.co.uk 24th-26th August STAPLEFORD MINIATURE RAILWAY VINTAGE STEAM RALLY Stapleford Railway, Stapleford Park, Nr. Melton Mowbray LE14 2SF fsmr.co.uk 30th August LINCOLN AUTOJUMBLE Hemswell Cliff, Gainsborough DN21 5TJ lincolnautojumble.com 30th August CANONBIE VINTAGE CLUB PLOUGHING MATCH Canonbie, Dumfriesshire, Scotland canonbievintageclub.com 30th-31st August NORTH COTSWOLD STEAM & VINTAGE SHOW A436, Notgrove GL54 3BS northcotswoldsteamshow.co.uk 30th-31st August MACMILLAN VINTAGE RALLY Langhurst Hill Farm, Balls Cross, Petworth, W. Sussex GU28 9JW Tel: 01420 474298 or 07803 237694 Email: sylvia.haydon@btinternet.com 30th-31st August HARVESTING THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY Oldwick Farm, West Stoke, Chichester PO18 9AA harvesting.1900s.org.uk 30th-31st August YORKSHIRE TRACTION ENGINE RALLY Scampston Hall, Malton, N. Yorks. YO17 8NG…

25TH MAY, 2025 The Carrington Rally is a quality, two-day event that owes so much to the effort put in by the Crawfords and the team of helpers each year. It’s always a special treat for the tractor connoisseur, and this year was no exception. The energetic Alex Bell leads the organisation and, this year, it had been decided that land drainage equipment would be a special feature of the rally. This machinery was demonstrated in the field opposite the main site, with a Fordson N and Henderson trencher belonging to P Knights, from West Barkwith, catching the eye. It was towed by John Sheppard’s International 22-26. Other interesting equipment was supplied by John Crowder and James Hardstaff, who brought a cabbed, 1955 County Fulltrack E1A fitted with a Bray…

With the harvest season upon us, this is the time of year that the combine harvesters earn their corn, quite literally! Now, although there are quite a few makes of machine to be seen toiling in the cereal fields, there’s perhaps one name and colour scheme that epitomises the harvest season above all others nowadays, and that’s Claas. For countless years, combine harvesters from this German manufacturer have been the machines of choice for a great many UK farmers and, to help explain why, I thought it would be interesting to delve into the company’s history, and to discover the story behind the success story that is the Claas combine harvester. A FAMILY AFFAIR The Claas combine story is intrinsically linked to the Claas family itself. Heinrich Claas was a…

DIY projects in this issue – MF 135 brake refurbishment, Marshall 12/20 gauges and gaskets, Zetor bottom-end inspection and a Leyland 154 clutch swap Easy Straightforward Moderate Challenging Nigh on impossible This is the area that typically gets dry and rusty, so can be the source of squeaking or other noises when the brake pedal is operated With the engine, clutch and steering already attended to on this project, I turned my attention to the tractor’s braking system. The stopping power of most classic tractors, while adequate for the times, is far removed from the sort of performance delivered by our modern cars, so it’s very important to make sure what you have on your tractor works as effectively as it possibly can. In addition, it’s an added bonus to…

The Leyland 154 was a popular little tractor that went through as few colour schemes during its production life. The one I’m working on here, with its dark and light blue livery, was the final incarnation. It was a small and relatively underpowered tractor, so wasn’t the greatest for many farm jobs. However, it did excel in its own little way, with many finding appreciative homes on small holdings. It was also well-suited to golf course work where, when fitted with a set of grass tyres, it would happily pull a set of gang mowers, ensuring minimal damage as it did so. But this example has been used by a private owner to cut his lawns over a 25-year period. During that time he’s spent many happy hours at the…

Dorset agricultural mechanic, Billy Kitcher, is planning to drive his 1954 Fordson Major from John o’ Groats to Land’s End in aid of the mental health charity #Willdoes. The run will start on September 8th and Billy is keen for more sponsors and donations from as many people as possible to help make the run a real success for the charity. His aim is to raise £1,000 and if you feel able to help you can do so by visiting Billy’s JustGiving page at: bit.ly/452QoMQ. There’s more information about #Willdoes at: willdoes.co.uk…

AGRICULTURE NEWS THammond Farms co-directors, Jon and Andy Hammond, are the fourth generation at New Farm, near Nottingham, and the family started with vegetables there in 1900. “We recently bought our 50th Fendt tractor from B&B Tractors, having bought our first in 2000,” explained Andy. “The farm has grown from 1,100 acres to 2,750 in the past 25 years, and we’ve only added two members of staff, which is testament to how technology is improving farming efficiencies.” The business grows potatoes, parsnips, carrots, beetroot, brassicas, rhubarb and squash together with cereal, maize and oil seed rape. Ten Fendt tractors make up the fleet that cultivates, plants and harvests the crops. “B&B has helped us as we’ve grown, and Fendt makes the type of tractors we need, with a high power-to-weight…

SCALE MODEL NEWS Another new arrival from Universal Hobbies is this beautifully-detailed Claas Atles 926RZ with fixed front weight. The new 1/32 scale model isn’t a limited edition and has been created with new tooling. Key features include foldable cab mirrors, roof, front, rear and warning lights with realistic clear lenses and soft PVC tyres. The integral front weight is well detailed and the tampoprinted Claas logos on either side of the bonnet (and on the front of the cab) look very authentic. The entry steps are impressively engraved while the adjustable three-point linkage and rear coupling system looks good. The tractor is constructed using 131 pieces and 188 tampoprinting operations, and weighs 578g. The rrp for this on is €79.90. Order yours from: universalhobbies.fr/en PIC QUIZ Make and model,…

One of the most influential factors governing the success of any growing operation on a farm is soil condition; without it being tip-top, the task of producing decent crops will prove all but impossible. A good soil structure is fundamental to overall condition, and it’s essential to avoid soil compaction which can, in the worst cases, be sufficient to stop water permeating down to the plant roots. Of course, the gradual increase in the weight of tractors and other implements since the 1960s means the risk of compaction has progressively increased, but it’s not a new problem. Even in the days of horse-drawn ploughs, when fields were ploughed to the same depth year after year, the development of a hard ‘pan’ was a real risk. Preventing this required the use…

Nobody doubts the many positives associated with the old tractor hobby; by and large it’s a win-win for enthusiasts everywhere. But there are those owners for whom the benefits of being involved with vintage and classic tractors run much deeper, both for themselves and to the benefit of others. An increasing number of people are now using their venerable old machines to assist with charity projects and fundraising events. Brian ‘Badger’ Kettell is just such a person; somebody who utilises his passion for heritage machinery of all sorts as both a form of therapy for himself, and as a means of assisting with his charity work. Working as a mobile truck fitter based in Northamptonshire, Brian leads a busy, ‘on call’ lifestyle, with work dictating that he could have to…

‘Zimbabwe’ is a name that conjures-up a multitude of thoughts, memories and emotions. For me it triggers a whole host of recollections from my County days, most of which are very good ones. I even returned to the country in 2015 while on my honeymoon and, as always, the place left its mark. In early 1980 I’d not long been in my new job looking after the interests of County Tractors in South Africa. One March morning, as I recall, I got a call from my boss, Brian Taylor, who wanted to talk about ZimbabweRhodesia, and the possible opportunities that existed there for County. He suggested that I plan a fact-finding visit to check things out, and that’s what happened. Well, this was the start of a whole new adventure…

“I started collecting tractors when I was 15 years old, and that was back in 2000. The first machine I got was a special one for me, as it used to belong to my grandfather. It was his Ferguson TE-20 petrol/TVO model, which had been first registered in 1948. “As a general rule, I like to do as much work on my tractors myself as I can, but I also get help from my uncle. However, I inevitably end up juggling time and work priorities, so there are occasions when I’m forced to farm-out work to another mechanic. But this doesn’t happen very often. Darwin’s Top 10 tractors 1938 Ferguson Brown 1962 David Brown 750 Farmatic 1968 Douglas Tug (DB-based) 1970 David Brown 990 1970 Satoh 550 (DB) 1971 David Brown 1200 4WD 1974 David Brown 775…