This illustrated work covers the stories of five British engineering companies that produced successful ranges of agricultural, earthmoving or construction machinery. County, Doe, Chaseside, Muir-Hill, Matbro and Bray all made extensive use of the Ford tractor skid unit as a basis for their machines and they pioneered the development of the four-wheel drive agricultural tractor in Britain. Stuart Gibbard gives details of all the main models and machines of these manufacturers. He chronicles the fortunes of the firms from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day and discusses many of the personalities involved.
In Volume One of The Nuffield Tractor Story, author Tony Clare took the story up to 1967, the era of the powerful 10/60 model. Now, in Volume Two, he continues with the inception, design and development of the Mini tractor. Tony shows the final development of the Nuffield mid-range tractors, the 4-65 and the 3-45, and their further evolution into the first of the re-badged Leyland Tractors, the 384 and the 344 models. With detailed research and fine photographs - many previously unpublished - this book goes on to cover the roller-coaster background story that was to unfold around this key part of the British tractor industry. The book deals with the later difficulties of the British Motor Corporation and the government-initiated merger with Leyland Vehicles to form the British Leyland group. Further development of the tractor range was to continue with the introduction of the '98' series engines, the introduction of safety cabs and the development of the 'Synchro' gearbox. Additional technical changes took place with the introduction of the 'Harvest Gold' range until the decision was made by British Leyland to dispose of the tractor business, one of the first privatisations by Margaret Thatcher's government in 1982. The influence of the poor national industrial situation and its affect on investment and the development of the tractor range are also dealt with in detail, as is the aftermath of the sale to a private purchaser who was to absorb the nationalised Leyland tractor range.
Anthony Clare starts with the preparatory work of 1943 and takes the story up to 1967, the era of the powerful 10/60 model - the machine that became known by many as the Rolls-Royce of tractors. He deals fully with development, production, models, sales, distribution, implements, after-sales service and testing. He has also unearthed a wealth of previously unseen photographs.
In recent years, historians have debated fervently on the reason for the decline of British Labour History as an academic discipline. Most certainly the challenge of Thatcherism to the working classes and trade unions in the 1980s, and the fragmentation of Labour history into gender studies, industrial studies and women’s history, have contributed to its apparent decline. Post-modernists’ challenges to the concept of class, culture and community have done their damage. As a result “Labour history”, in its broad-school sense, has been taught less and less in British universities. Yet it survives and there are grounds for believing that it will revive. This collection of chapters arose from a conference held at the University of Huddersfield in November 2010, held under the auspices of the Society for the Study of Labour History, where nineteen papers were presented. Ten of this disparate array of papers form the basis of this collection. The theme of community and localised struggle form the first section, ranging as it does from the newspapers’ representation of Yorkshire miners to brass bands and the development of separate culture. The second section deals with the more traditional trade unionism and varieties of industrial struggle. The third section focuses upon the political aspects of working-class activity, drawing upon the role of women, and Labour policy on steel nationalisation and defence. The fourth deals with radicalism, ranging from the failure of Chartism, the policy of working-class organisations to emigration, and the failure of the “soft” section of the British left in the 1920s and 1930s. There is no all-embracing concept here for what is a varied collection of chapters. However, what can be said is that British Labour history continues to provide new areas for research. Indeed, its death as an academic discipline has been greatly exaggerated. This collection of book chapters represents the current revival in Labour history which has emerged in a form that brings together community and culture alongside class and political representation to explore the breadth and depth of working-class identity.
The complete history of farm machinery, from steam and vintage tractors to the latest combine harvesters, is showcased in this lavishly illustrated volume. Packed with more than 450 tractors, from the pioneering engines of Fowler and Froelich, to the groundbreaking AGCO Challenger, DK's Tractor charts the story of the machines that reshaped agriculture in glorious visual detail. Meet the manufacturers whose amazing machinery transformed farming, including John Deere, Caterpillar, Massey Ferguson, and SDF; discover extraordinary vehicles, remarkable engines, and hi-tech modern cabs; and explore an incredible range of tractors from around the world.
The Doe Triple D became a legend in its own lifetime. It was one of the most unorthodox tractors ever built and had two engines, four wheel drive and could articulate through nearly 90 degrees. A very successful machine in its own time, it has remained a firm favourite among tractor enthusiasts everywhere. This illustrated account tells the full story of this remarkable tractor and the company that built it. The rise of Essex company Ernest Doe & Sons from a village blacksmith's shop to the largest machinery retail organization in East Anglia is traced in detail with full coverage given to the machines it made.
The first book to classify, describe and show the wide range of ploughs produced by Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies is to be reprinted with minor amendments in May 2013. 'A requirement for every Ransomes library' (Old Glory magazine), Ransomes and their Tractor Share Ploughs is aimed squarely at tractor and ploughing enthusiasts. Providing a brief introduction to the company's history, author Tony Clare goes on to give an account of the ploughs which dominated the horse era of farming and were then adapted to be trailed behind tractors and mounted on them. The developments of tractor plough design are covered in detail, as are ploughs for special purposes, market-garden use and export. Also covered are Ford-Ransomes manufacturing as well as the rationalisations of the 1960s and the final links with Dowdeswells. Analyses of plough identification codes, the 'TS' classifications and a glossary complete a comprehensive and very usable book for the many people who value their Ransomes ploughs for matches and at work.
The Nordic Tractor traces the history of tractor production in Sweden and Finland. The story goes back over 200 years to the 19th century when the industrial revolution was sweeping across Britain, and Sweden wanted to establish their own manufacturing powerhouses. This was an exciting and fast moving time for engineering and this book traces the ups, downs and eventual demise of some of the first manufacturers working to serve the particular needs of the agricultural and forestry industries in this densely forested and mountainous region. It then looks in depth at the companies who emerged from this, who learnt from their own and others' mistakes and built on the widespread technological advances of the time to build up names for themselves in Northern parts of Europe. Today, Valtra - now owned by AGCO - stands proudly as the last remaining agricultural tractor maker in Scandinavia, but The Nordic Tractor shows where their roots lie in the establishment and history of companies such as Bolinder, Munktells, Volvo and Valmet, who all stood out as being major players in the Nordic region. Including over 100 photos, many of which have been previously unpublished, this book will appeal to those with a specific interest in Nordic tractors, Nordic engineering and general Nordic history as well as the general tractor enthusiast.
