A 1920 International Titan with an estimated value of £14,000 – £16,000 will be going under the hammer at the Cheffins Vintage Sale.

Highlights among the tractors include a Roadless Ploughmaster 6/4 with an estimated value of £35,000 – £40,000. Other notable tractors comprise the 1919 International Junior and the 1920 International Titan, both with estimated values of £14,000 – £16,000.

A 1975 Ford 7000 will also be on offer, with only 6,334 hours on the clock. The machine was initially registered to Ernest Doe & Sons in Maldon as a company demonstrator. This well-maintained and authentic model is estimated to sell for £25,000 – £30,000.

Meanwhile, the vintage motorcycle section consists of almost 70 vehicles, including five Kawasaki two-stroke triples (250, 350, 400 and 500cc models) with estimates ranging from £4,000 – £10,000.

A 1956 Matchless 500cc G50, with an estimated value of £25,000 – £28,000, is set to be of particular interest to collectors, alongside a 1968 250cc Aermacchi Ala d’Oro racer, which is expected to sell for £18,000 – £20,000.

Other brands featuring at the sale include Ducati, Moto-Guzzi, Raleigh, BSA, New Imperial, Cotton, AJS, Velocette, Norton, Triton, Greeves, Royal Enfield and Triumph, as well as a series of project machines and choppers.

Last but not least, the automobilia section is offering various collectible items, including a rare Kismet Autocol air and water tower pump from the 1950s, standing at a height of 181cm with an estimated value of £3,500 – £4,500.

Another interesting item is an Esso-branded Avery-Hardoll forecourt petrol pump dating back to the 1960s, which is expected to fetch between £1,000 and £1,500. Lastly, there is an Avery-Hardoll Century petrol pump on offer from the post-war era, measuring 190cm in height, with an estimated sale price of £2,000 – £2,500.

Oliver Godfrey, head of machinery division at Cheffins, commented: “The April Vintage Sale really kicks off the calendar for collectors UK-wide. We always have a really strong consignment, and this year is no different, with over 2,600 lots going under the hammer.

“Last year saw some incredibly strong prices paid across the whole of the vintage sector, with classic tractors from the 1970s onwards in particular seeing some real growth in values.

“We expect the 1975 Ford 7000 to be of significant interest to a number of our regular buyers, whilst the excellent range of motorbikes ought to bring the motorcycle enthusiasts to the sale,” he concluded.

The Cheffins Vintage Sale is scheduled for Friday 21st April (live and online auction for literature, models, bygones etc) and live on Saturday 22nd April (tractors, motorcycles, automobilia, vehicles, implements etc) at the Cheffins Machinery Saleground, Sutton, near Ely, CB6 2QT.

For more information, visit www.cheffins.co.uk, or call Cheffins auctioneers on 01353 777767.

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East Anglian-based auctioneer, Cheffins, will host the on-site sale on Saturday 7^th May in Skipton, Yorkshire. The tractors will be sold on behalf of well-known collector, Alan Bancroft.

Highlights will include a 1982 Massey Ferguson 1250, estimated at £40,000; a 1975 Massey Ferguson 148, estimated at £8,000; and a 1995 Massey Ferguson 390T with an estimate of £18,000.

Oliver Godfrey, head of machinery sales at Cheffins comments: “Alan Bancroft is a well-regarded collector of Massey Ferguson classic and vintage tractors, with an eye for real quality. He is a long-term client of Cheffins and has bought many of these tractors at our sales over the years.

“This collection could easily achieve over £500,000 in total, as Mr Bancroft was known for only buying the very best in class of tractors. There is a great selection of 100, 300, 500 and 600 series Massey Fergusons, as well as some superb Ferguson and Massey Ferguson implements on offer at what is set to be the biggest Massey Ferguson sale in decades.”

The sale will take place on 7^th May both online via www.cheffins.co.uk and on-site at Skipton, Yorkshire.

For more information, visit the Cheffins website or call Cheffins auctioneers on 01353 777767.

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A number of British manufacturers were making small four-wheel tractors for smallholdings where a pedestrian-controlled garden tractor was often used. Most 1950s and 1960s small four-wheeled tractors had air-cooled engines in the 6–15hp bracket, including the Martin Markham Colt, Gunsmith, Newman and Trusty Steed.

Fernando Ferrari, not connected with the famous car company of the same name, was already making two-wheeled garden tractors in 1957; a bogie seat for the tractor was added in the early 1960s.

The articulated four-wheel Ferrari 74 with an air-cooled diesel engine was current in the mid-1970s, followed by the Ferrari 75RS of the same design and the conventional four-wheeled 30W/SDT.

The specification for the articulated 75RS with four equal-sized wheels included a 30hp air cooled diesel engine, a seven forward and three reverse gearbox, and a diff -lock. The conventional 30W/SDT, available in two- or four-wheel drive, had a water-cooled diesel engine and the gearbox provided 12 forward and six reverse ratios. By the early 1980s, there were six Ferrari models on sale in the UK.

They included the four-wheel drive Ferrari 95, 85 and 75 articulated tractors. The 95 offered the choice of a 33hp twin cylinder or 34hp three-cylinder engine, six forward and three reverse gears, hydraulic linkage and ground speed power take-off.

Ferrari UK at Oldham was selling pedestrian-controlled garden tractors, four-wheel drive tractors and ride-on lawnmowers in the early 1990s. The top of the range four-wheel steer models had 49 and 64 hp diesel power units, a synchromesh gearbox and oil-immersed brakes.

They could be used in either direction by rotating the seat, steering wheel and controls through 180 degrees. The conventional 29 and 38hp Ferrari tractors in production at the time had a 12 forward and six reverse speed gearbox, power steering and two-speed power take-off. The 33hp cost £10,750 (plus VAT) in 1993.

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The Overtime. Credit: Cheffins.

The vintage sale is hosted at the Cheffins sale ground at Sutton near Ely, the sale grossed over £1.1m at what is Europe’s largest auction of its type.

Amongst the tractors, the highest price paid was £42,400 for a Roadless Ploughmaster 6/4 which had seen only two owners from new and had a pre-sale estimate of £35,000 – £40,000; which was followed by an Overtime Model R which made £40,810. Both of these tractors were sold to UK-based collectors.

Originally imported in 1915, The Overtime was the British name for the American-made ‘Waterloo Boy’ tractor which was imported to the UK by the Overtime Farm Tractor Company. This tractor was discovered in an abandoned state by the present owner in 1959 in Farnham, Surrey, and has since seen a major restoration. Having been used in over 120 ploughing matches and exhibited at 200 shows, the Overtime well exceeded its pre-sale estimate of £30,000 – £35,000.

Roadless Ploughmaster 6/4. Credit: Cheffins.

The vehicles section also saw a varied catalogue, with a 1919 3048cc Belsize 15/20 Open Tourer which sold for £25,440 to a private UK-based collector. This car saw much pre-sale interest as it was the first motor car built by Belsize Motors Limited at the end of World War One and was widely advertised and demonstrated throughout the year as the company’s new post-war model. It was much acclaimed by leading automotive magazines including The Autocar and The Motor and this unique prototype was then used for the model to go into production in 1920. Another vehicle which was highly sought after was a 1950 1600 cc Land Rover Series 1 which had been in its current ownership for the past 17 years. This was sold for £23,120 against an estimate of £14,000 – £16,000. It reportedly was used for filming in the second series of Heartbeat and was sold to Warwickshire-based collector.

The motorcycle section saw a series of early examples, including a 1928 596cc Scott Flying Squirrel which has been in the same family for three generations which made £7,020 and a 1966 649cc Norton 650SS motorbike which made £6,264

The first part of the Pooley Collection dominated the petroliana section of the sale, with circa 30 restored and unrestored two-gallon petrol cans, over 80 early oil cans, oil pourers and a petrol pump. This fresh to the market collection saw unprecedented interest, with a number of items well exceeding their estimates, such as a Monovo VC Motor Oil early 1-gallon can which sold for £932 against an estimate of £350 – £450 and an early 1-gallon Shell Oil can with ‘stick man’ image which made £660 against an estimate of £300-£400

Other popular items at the sale included a Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies RTYPL two furrow ride-on plough which sold for £21,200 and an Atkinson L1586 commercial vehicle which made £18,500.

Director, Oliver Godfrey at Cheffins says: “This was our final collective sale of 2021, and what a year it has been! The market for all things vintage has continued unabated and we’ve seen some record-breaking prices paid throughout the year, particularly for the newer classic tractors which are really the toast for collectors at the moment.

“Other results have shown that the Land Rover Series vehicles can still make some great prices and that the best in class of vintage motorbikes also see a dedicated following. The petroliana market is really on fire at the moment and we are looking forward to selling the other parts of the iconic Pooley collection at our Christmas timed online sale and also at the April Vintage Sale. Hopefully, we have many happy buyers and sellers following Saturday’s sale, many of which now have full sheds of both restored and project machines ready for plenty of fun over the winter months and ready for next year.”

The next vintage sale will take place in the form of the Cheffins Christmas timed online vintage auction from 1^st December until 13^th December, for which entries are now invited.

The next Cheffins collective vintage sale will take place on the 24^th April 2022, at Cheffins Machinery Sale Ground, Sutton, Ely, CB6 2QT.  For more information, please visit www.cheffins.co.uk, or call Cheffins auctioneers on 01353 777767.

You can share your views with us on vintage sale auctions, or any other farming issue by emailing us at views@farmersguide.co.uk

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The club stand will be showcasing some of the earliest 990 and 880 models at this year’s Newark Vintage and Heritage Tractor Show on the 13th and 14th November. There will also be a focus on the revolutionary Hydrashift gearbox, 50 years after it was introduced, and information on founder David Brown.

David Brown made a significant contribution to farm machinery development, as Club secretary Roger Brereton explains.

His involvement began in 1936 when a subsidiary of David Brown and Sons (Huddersfield) Ltd struck a deal with Harry Ferguson to manufacture the Ferguson Brown tractor. The tractor was the world’s first production tractor to be equipped with a hydraulic lift and converging three-point linkage.

Around 1,350 Type As were built before Ferguson left to work with Henry Ford, prompting David Brown to create his own prototype tractor. The tractor – the Vehicle Agricultural Kerosene 1 or VAK1 – was demonstrated at the Royal Show in 1939, and established the brand.

Fast forward through a number of range changes and the marque’s most popular tractor, the 990, was unveiled in 1961. Known as the Implematic, it wore David Brown’s red and yellow livery.

“The crossflow cylinder head, in conjunction with a two-stage front-mounted air cleaner, developed 52hp from the direct injection diesel engine,” Mr Brereton says. The tractor earned a reputation for being able to handle the cultivation kit of the day with ease, and sales grew.

“In the early 60s a six-speed Implematic would cost £784.14.0d and the 12-speed variant £815.14.0d,” Mr Brereton says.

The Implematic range was followed up with the launch of the Selectamatic 990 in 1965. The livery was changed from red and yellow to the iconic orchid white bodywork and poppy red wheels and mechanics. The term Selectamatic referred to the hydraulic system and the tractor boasted a multi-speed PTO as standard, differential lock and an engine uprated to 55hp.

The main production run lasted until 1971, with smaller runs being produced right up to 1980. More than 67,000 990s were built at the company’s Meltham works, making it numerically the most popular David Brown tractor ever built.

The 990’s sibling, the 880, also celebrates its 60^th anniversary this year. It was offered alongside the 990 from 1961 as a four-cylinder Implematic developing 42.5hp from its diesel engine. In 1964 the first model was superseded by the new three-cylinder engine which produced higher torque and better pulling power.

A year later the 880 was upgraded again, adopting the same Selectamatic hydraulic system as the 990 and the new colour scheme. Production ran until 1971 with a total of nearly 40,000 machines having left the factory for use across the world.

The third key anniversary that will be celebrated at the show is the 50th year since the Hydrashift gear system was introduced in the 1212 tractor. This revolutionary gearbox, introduced in 1971, was one of the first semi-automatic powershift transmissions fitted to a tractor in the UK.

Through low, middle and high ranges and selectable without a clutch through 1, 2, 3 and 4 gears made tractors infinitely more controllable in the field. “Such was the groundbreaking innovation, descendants of the Hydrashift still keep modern-day tractors working hard on the land,” Mr Brereton says.

This importance to agriculture meant David Brown Tractors Ltd was awarded the Queen’s Award to Industry and the Design Council Award. Visitors to the Newark Tractor Show will be able to see a wide range of David Brown tractors, alongside other key historic brands and equipment.

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Mr Taylor was always searching for an early TE20 from his home in County Down, Northern Ireland, and eventually one was spotted in Norfolk. The tractor turned out to be one of the earliest surviving examples in the UK, bearing the serial number 33.

“We had stumbled across the 33rd TE20 to roll off the production line just days into the first year of manufacture, 1946,” Mr Taylor says. There were 321 TE20s manufactured from June to December in 1946 so this would place this vehicle within the first few weeks of production, though some of the castings can be dated to May 1946, almost a month before the first tractor was completed.

Because of its rarity and significance Mr Taylor decided to restore the tractor with only original parts where possible. It was a tough target – the tractor was a rough runner with a knocking engine; in later working life it had been used to mow grass right into the early 2000s, he explains.

The restoration period began with painstaking research using photographs and web-based documents to piece together the vehicle’s history. Mr Taylor found out that the first examples off the production line, including Number 33, were demonstrator tractors which were used all over the country at shows and sold later through dealers.

The pressure on the factory to supply dealers and to get returns on their investment was increased by huge logistical hurdles in a war-torn Britain, he says. Shortages of steel and parts meant Harry Ferguson had to compromise just to get the tractors out of the factory.

“The intention was to use a Standard engine from the outset but delays in development forced a switch to import Continental motor company Z120 units for the early examples – then the Standard units were phased in in the later part of 1947.”

Other parts of the tractor which are different from the later units include the gearbox, which is cast iron rather than the normal Elektron alloy unit. This tractor’s gearbox is also stamped gearbox Number 33.

The internal hydraulic linkages were cast out of brass, which is much weaker than steel, and was likely a stopgap measure to keep production moving. Several other differences are found on the brake pivots/linkages, check chain anchors and even the dashboard bolts, which have a slot head compared to the later captive splined bolts.

“The bolts on Number 33 are noticeably thicker on the heads and have the Bees Bolts logo on them – even down to the front axle bolts which have ‘unc’ thread compared to the normal ‘unf’,” says Mr Taylor. The later slimmer headed bolts were obviously a material/expense saver.

It took a few years and a search that extended across Europe and into America for Mr Taylor to track down the exact parts required to restore the engine.

One of the biggest hurdles was the steering wheel. “The very early steering wheels are made of an alloy casting with thin pressed steel spokes; it was extremely fragile and extremely rare today.”

This proved to be almost useless and most were replaced within the first few months of use as they were so fragile. However, the wheel on Number 33 required major surgery and aluminium welding to repair it.

Other items which proved tricky to track down were the original style front wheel bearings, which are different to the normal TE20 ones. “The early Dunlop tyres were another problem and almost impossible to find in sound condition,” says Mr Taylor.

It took the purchase of another tractor in Hereford to salvage this set. “I had to buy and transport the whole thing home but it was the final piece of the jigsaw and had to be done.”

Mr Taylor also set the rear wheel track to 48″ so the combination is exactly as the early pictures show the tractors.

A few other smaller details are the angle of the fuel tap and petrol line; also the length of the HT leads, which Colin has matched to original pictures of Harry Ferguson on very early production tractors.

The unpainted alloy distributor body with black painted cap clips are also cloned from original pictures. “Number 33 is now almost entirely original. Just about the only things that don’t date back to 1946 are the battery, fuel and oil.”

Now, Mr Taylor is giving the public a chance to see his restored gem in person. This fascinating piece of history will be on display at the Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Machinery Show on 13th and 14th November, alongside a wide range of other ‘Little Grey Fergies’ as part of the 75^th anniversary tribute to the much-loved TE20.

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The Crawley 75 tractor was designed in America and made in Holland in the late 1950s.

Around 200 Crawley 75 tractors were marketed in the UK in the late 1950s by Crawley Metal Productions at Crawley in West Sussex, and later at East Preston near Littlehampton. Developed in the UK from an American design, there was a choice of three engine types for the basic Crawley 75 tractor, which was built in Holland and modified in the UK by Crawley Metal Productions.

When the tractor was introduced to British growers in 1958, there was the option of an 8hp air-cooled JAP petrol engine or vaporising oil engine or a 7hp Petter air-cooled diesel engine. The spark ignition engines had a fuel consumption of two gallons and the Petter used about 1.5 gallons in a 10-hour day.

The Crawley 75 had an automatic centrifugal clutch, three forward gears and one in reverse, independent rear wheel brakes, a central power take-off shaft and a universal drawbar. The draft control hydraulic system had a belt driven oil pump. The tractor had a 32in wheel track and, by reversing one or both wheels on their hubs, the track could be set at 36, 40, 44 or 48in spacings. Front wheel weights, a rear power take-off and a foot throttle were included in the list of optional extras.

The 1958 price list included the Crawley 75 with a petrol or vaporising oil engine for £280 and the diesel model was £298. Potential buyers were tempted with the offer of two free services during the first 18 months of its life.

Crawley Metal Productions advertised the tractor as the first model of its size on the UK market and was strong enough to do heavy duty work around the farm. It was suggested that every farm should have a Crawley 75 as it could do virtually every job including ploughing, cultivating, drilling, fertiliser spreading and spraying. At hay time, it could be used with a mid-mounted mower.

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1953 David Brown 50D tractor with an estimate of £25,000 – £30,000 (Picture: Cheffins)

The sale is anticipated to raise from £800,000 to £1,000,000 as the 1,500 lots go under the hammer at what is Europe’s largest auction of its type. Based in East Anglia but operating nationwide, Cheffins is one of Europe’s leading auctioneers of vintage machinery, and this sale is set to be a major event for collectors and enthusiasts.

Amongst the tractors, the lot with the highest estimate is a 1915 Overtime Model R tractor which is believed to be one of the oldest working examples in the UK. Originally imported in 1916, The Overtime was the British name for the American-made ‘Waterloo Boy’ tractor which was imported to the UK by the Overtime Farm Tractor Company. This tractor was discovered in an abandoned state by the present owner in 1959 in Farnham, Surrey, and has since seen a major restoration. It has been used in over 120 ploughing matches and exhibited at 200 shows and is now set to sell for between £30,000 and £35,000. Also available in the tractor section is a 1953 David Brown 50D tractor, which has been perfectly restored and has an estimate of £25,000 – £30,000 and a 1963 Roadless Ploughmaster tractor which has had only two owners from new and has an estimate of £35,000-£40,000.

1915 Overtime Model R tractor, estimate £30,000 and £35,000

The vehicles section also sees a varied catalogue, with a 1919 3048cc Belsize 15/20 Open Tourer set to sell for between £25,000 and £30,000. This example, with registration number SV 9204, was the first motor car built by Belsize Motors Limited at the end of World War One and was widely advertised and demonstrated throughout the year as the company’s new post-war model. It was much acclaimed by leading automotive magazines including The Autocar and The Motor and this unique prototype was then used for the model to go into production in 1920. The car was registered to a private owner in 1921 and following that was bought by 1966 by Whitakers Chocolatiers in Skipton and painted a ‘chocolate’ brown. The bodywork was then changed to green and black in 2003 and it was bought by the current owner in 2014.

Other cars in the section include a 1950 1600 cc Land Rover Series 1 which has been in its current ownership for the past 17 years. It was used for filming in the second series of Heartbeat and has an estimate of £14,000 – £16,000. There is also a 1967 Morris 1000 Pick-Up which has an estimate of £8,000 to £10,000. The sale will also include the only car built by the Manchester-based Belsize manufacturers in 1919. This car was test driven by all the motoring journalists at the time and used in all advertising and promotion, this is an incredibly rare car and was the only one to have been built by the company in that year, it has an estimate of £25,000 – £30,000.

The motorcycle section includes a series of early examples, including a 1937 499cc Norton Model 18 which is part of a private collection where it has been held since 1995, it has an estimate of £8,500 – £9,500. There is also a 1928 596cc Scott Flying Squirrel which has been in the same family for three generations and is offered in good condition with an estimate of £6,500 – £8,500 and a 1966 649cc Norton 650SS motorbike which has an estimate of £5,500 – £6,500.

Dominating the collectors’ items is The Pooley Collection, which could be set to make £65,000 in total. The collection, which was kept by a Mr Alan Pooley, a car body finisher from Norfolk, was amassed over 20 years. It includes over 60 restored and unrestored two-gallon petrol cans, over 250 early oil cans, oil pourers, cycle oilers and a petrol pump. This fresh to the market collection includes a number of rare examples, including a Racing Shell can which was only in production for one year in 1930 and is expected to sell for £400 – £600.

Oliver Godfrey, Director, Cheffins says: “We are looking forward to welcoming enthusiasts from far and wide for our fourth and final collective sale of 2021. This year has seen some stellar prices paid for classic and vintage tractors, with a number of record prices smashed as the market continues to go from strength to strength. This particular catalogue includes a whole host of desirable tractors, with both fully restored and project machines on offer. There is also a series of interesting classic vehicles and also motorbikes, and the Pooley Collection will be popular with the scores of petroliana collectors who are currently active in the market.”

The sale will welcome live bidding as well as bidding via telephone and online.

The sale will take place on the 23rd October, at Cheffins Machinery Sale Ground, Sutton, Ely, CB6 2QT.  For more information, please visit www.cheffins.co.uk, or call Cheffins auctioneers on 01353 777767.

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