Latest News

Tractor World 2/3 March - Malvern 2013 / ferguson Club Stand

The Ferguson Club win best Club Stand - a marvellous display was put on replicating the AIRFIX Ferguson Tractor Kit - the first Airfix kit made in the World! .........see pictures below............. full thanks go to all those that took part ; especially Gary and Wendy Downes Ferguson Club Reps. There was great teamwork on display and the judges selected the Ferguson Club stand as the best at the show.

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.Tractor World2013-Rhys and Lewis Kedward receive award for best Ferguson junior members.

Harold Beer - Close friend of the Ferguson Club

It is with great sadness that we report the passing away of Harold Beer

Harold and his wife were Ferguson Club area reps for North Devon, he also starred in the three Ferguson on the Farm videos, he will be sadly missed by all  

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Rotary Club Charity Ploughing Match 20th October 2012, Nr Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

The first photo is of Bob Shepherd who went on to pick up the third prize on his first shot

of competition ploughing. The second one is of a 1948 TEA Ferguson being driven by Club member

Mr. Henry Michie (5740) who is over on holiday from Australia and had no idea that he had been roped

in to take part in this match, but he thoroughly enjoyed the day out, although the ground conditions were

far from ideal, at least the rain stayed away and Henry Mitchie also came away with a prize, a bottle of whisky for

his efforts. The group photo is of some of the Club members we managed to press-gang into the line up.

From L to R they are, Henry Michie, Bob Mitchell, Bob Shepherd, Douglas Scott & Bill Beaton,

Thanks to Henry Pirie for the photos. 

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Gwent and East Wales Usk Show- Sept 2012

 
General Secretary Peter Aston presents a cheque of £500.00 from the Ferguson Club to Phil Reece, organiser of the National Vintage Tractor Road Run 2013.
The 1st prize in the main draw is the Massey Ferguson 35.
The run takes place on Easter Sunday 31st March 2013 starting from Beachley Barracks, near Chepstow. (Further details can be found at www.nvtrr2013.co.uk)
Proceeds from this event are going to:-  SARA - Severn Area Rescue Association
                                                    and HELP FOR HEROES.
 
The 53rd All Wales Ploughing Championships and Five Nations Challenge, September 2012
 

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At last! For two days the sun shone down on the coast at Morfa Mawr, Llanon, Ceredigion where the 53rd All Wales Ploughing Championships were held, against the backdrop of Cardigan Bay. Not only good weather, but also good company, such as Basil George and one of our younger, newer members Sam Ritchie aged 14 and other members. Sam participated in the Ferguson class, ploughing alongside other Ferguson club members, some of which have been ploughing for many years.   Photographs by Andy Ford.  

National Ploughing Co-ordinator

The Ferguson Club are pleased to welcome Mrs Sylvia Bills in a new role as National Ploughing Co-ordinator.

If you have any queries as to ploughing rules or upcoming ploughing matches please let Sylvia know.

Sylvia is on 01455 284639 or e-mail.... glynpdriver@tiscali.co.uk

Next Ferguson Club Committee Meeting - 19th January 2013 - East Midlands Airport

Thistle Hotel 1030hrs

Please advise your relevant Area Reps if you would like any subjects raising.

Banner Lane – a brief history – by Duncan Russell

Banner Lane, means much toomany people, not only those who worked there but to the many owners and enthusiasts of Ferguson and Massey Ferguson tractors throughout the world.But Banner Lane is no more; the site is now a housing developmentcalled Bannerbrook Park which has been planned and developed by house builder Persimmon, eventually some 1000 new homes will have been built on the site, together with a school, shops and an entire infrastructure.

Gone completely is the factory that had stood on the site since the late 1930’s when the site was developed as a Shadow Factory as part of the Government’s plan to rearm the forces, particularly the RAF in the run up to the Second World War. The Banner Lane site had once been farmland on the outskirts of the industrial city of Coventry, home to many manufacturers, including the Standard Motor Company who would administer Banner Lane on behalf of the Government during the war period.

The last Massey Ferguson tractor rolled off the production line on Christmas Eve in 2002 ending over six decades of manufacturing, including 56 years of tractor production.

The facade of Banner Lane Factory, familiar to so many.

As the demand for military aircraft and aero engines increased at the beginning of the Second World War, a number of Government financed shadow factories were built all over the UK. One of the largest was the Banner Lane site just west of Coventry. The site covered 80 acres in total,with a floor area of over 1 million square feet and had cost £1.7 million to build and prepare for production. This was quite a figure when the cost of a small car was around £130. The Standard Motor Company agreed to manage the site for a fee of £40,000 per annum. The Banner Lane plant manufactured the huge Bristol Hercules aero engine, as fitted to the Wellington bomber and several other aircraft. The Bristol engine was a massive 39 litre, twin row, 14 cylinder radial engine, producing between 1290 and 1735 horsepower depending on application. During the war years some 20,000 engines were produced.

With the end of the war in 1945 the plant was quickly shut down and the Standard Motor Company negotiated a lease for the factory for £36,000 per annum. The Standard Motor Company was keen to take on the factory as Sir John Black, Standards Chairman, had been in discussions with Harry Ferguson to produce the new Ferguson tractor in the UK. Thus in September 1945 the deal was struck for Standard to build tractors for Ferguson, Standard being paid a fee for each tractor produced. Standard then signed a ten year lease for Banner Lane and agreed a plan to produce up to 200 tractors per day.

At the height of production Banner Lane employed more than 6,000 people and in ten years produced over 500,000 Ferguson TE tractors for export all over the world.

The Standard/Ferguson agreement continued through various squabbles and disagreements until the summer of 1959 when Standard severed all connections with Massey Ferguson and tractor production.During this time Harry Ferguson Ltd had sold out to Massey Harris to become Massey Harris Ferguson and then Massey Ferguson. Massey Ferguson hadtaken the lease of Banner Lane factory from Standard Motor Company in 1956.

Massey Ferguson developed the Banner Lane site and at one stage it was reported to be the biggest AGCO manufacturing facility in the World and was headquarters of AGCO’s European, Middle and Far East operations. The famous tower block was officially opened in September 1966 and had office space for around 500 people.

As with all things change was inevitable and new Massey Ferguson tractors were gradually being built elsewhere, particularly at Beauvais in France. When production was being further rationalised and it was proposed that either Banner Lane or Beauvais would be closed, the French plant proved the more difficult to close due to Government and worker pressure and Banner Lane was to be no more.

The last tractor number 3,307,996 was driven off the production line on Christmas Eve 2002 and the factory site was earmarked for housing. The huge task of decommissioning started before the demolition and clearance of the site, the last part of the demolition and the most spectacular, took place on 8th July 2012 when the 16 storey Tower Block was downed using high explosive.

There are many proposal’s on how the mark the site of the once great factory, a factory that produced so much for the British economy with much of its production being exported. The suggestions range from naming various roads around Bannerbrook Park and naming the school. But, there needs to be a permanent memorial to the tractors produced there, something that continues to remind future generations that at thissite was produced the tractor that revolutionised mechanised farming throughout the world.

Banner Lane "Tower" demolished - 8th July

The tower building on Banner Lane in Coventry which was latterly the HQ for AGCO Europe (Massey Ferguson) for many years was demolished on 8th July at 1000hrs.

AGCO 2006

The Coventry Council are looking into ways to commemorate Banner Lane and any ideas are welcome by them. There is also an e-petition at :- www.coventry.gov.uk/epetitions

Councillor Thomas is interested in hearing ideas of how the site should be marked for posterity. Please can you let your Ferguson rep or the Committee know your thoughts for a Ferguson Club mark; alternatively Councillor Thomas can be emailed with ideas here Steven.Thomas@coventry.gov.uk

Can you Please help Find a Tractor ?

1. If anyone knows the whereabouts of 1948 petrol / TVO Ferguson, original reg. no. EPY 408 and sold new by JD Ord of Northallerton, could they please contact Tony Megginson on 01287 635662

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2, Does anyone know the whereabouts of a TEF20 tractor, registration number XWB 892. This tractor may be in the Sheffield area.

Would anyone who can help please contact Brian Pickering ; brianpickering@tiscali.co.uk

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3, Mr & Mrs Wright are trying to find a grey FE 35, purchased/installed on 31/10/57 in Kersey, Suffolk. Serial number 57448, engine number SJ39817ED, supplied by Barclay Motors Ltd, Bury St Edmunds to my husbands grandfather Mr Wright.

It would mean a great deal to my husband if he could see this tractor again or even be lucky enough to purchase it.

We live in Leavenheath, Suffolk.

In the first instant please contact John Selley.

john_selley@btinternet.com

or 01359 271 032

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4. My father used to have a Ferguson tractor which was sold at our farm dispersal Sale in August 1984. I thought the person who bought it did so to restore it and I would love to know what happened to it.  The registration was FDB 671

Please contact ; Catherine Cowley on.... Ccmoorside@aol.com

2012 Lincolnshire Road Run- Sunday 10th June

The Lincolnshire Road Run organised by John and Judy Jeffries was held on Sunday 10th June. 62 tractors congregated at Red Lodge Farm, Holbeach St Johns and were a site to behold. It was a lovely sunny morning and there were many spectators too. As well as local entrants there were two visiting tractors from Durham and four from North Lincolnshire.

The route took them along 21 miles of local villages and countryside and took about 2.5 hours to complete.

The local airfield had a Vintage Show on the same day and several of the tractors exhibited there after the road run.

The run concluded by having a Ploughmans lunch in the local public house where the village was holding its annual fete. Many wives, partners, sons, daughters, grandchildren and friends joined in to make a really sociable end to the event.

Special thanks to those who helped in any way and to Mr Mawby for the use of his farm yard and facilities. A grand sum of £418.25 was raised which will be presented to the local branch of Macmillan Nurses.

fergusonClub Jubilee Rally - Burnside.

An event Colin Pike & his wife, Sylvia organised to celebrate

the Diamond Jubilee. The aim was to amass sixty Ferguson & M.F.

 tractors, a figure that was exceeded. All entrants had a great time,

thanks to the attention to detail that Colin & Sylvia put in to organising

the event,

Many thanks- Henry Pirie (3238)

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FergusonClub Stand at 2nd Scottish rally of the season - BA Stores 2oth May 2012

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The first picture shows the beautiful scene as seen from the stand,

 the 2nd. shows the ladies holding the trophy that the Club were

awarded for the best stand, an accolade we are very proud of,

Cheers Henry Pirie, (3238)

Royal Welsh Spring Festival and Small Holders Show, Builth Wells

Over the weekend, 19th/20th May 2012 the South Wales branch of the Ferguson Club attended the show and enjoyed the company of both existing and new members.
On the Sunday, four young lads, representing the Ferguson Club, took on the challenge of rebuilding "Daffodil" the Fergie T20, they were Sam Ritchie, aged 13, Rhodri Huish, 14, Jamie Williams, 15 and Morgan Sussex aged 17, they did very well, completing their first rebuild in 11 minutes and 4 seconds! After a very short positive discussion they decided to have another go later in the day. On this occassion they completed the rebuild in.......9 minutes and 58 seconds!! Congratulations to them all.

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Chiltern vintage tractor charity run

The Ferguson Club completed the above in mid May with tremendous success. 58 tractors took part and over £2,000 was raised for the local Air Ambulance.

A lunchtime stop was held at Wycombe Air Park and we were very lucky to have the Helicopter position in to support us from a call out.

Here is a picture of the Paramedics having a tractor driving lesson on a Ferguson TET 20, please click on this link for more photos of the event........CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS........

........Click here for Superb Video of the above run...

2012 Annual Members Weekend & AGM Draws to successful end

A great weekend was held by all Ferguson Club members and families attending the 2012 AMW/AGM in Sheffield and Derbyshire Dales. The AGM was held at the Crich Tramway Museum near Matlock. Full details will appear in the next Club Journal.

..Venue of 2012 AGM .....outgoing Chairman John Selley(left) congratulates new Chairman - John Jeffries

Report on The Ferguson Club AGM & Annual Members Weekend. 2012.

The 26th AGM & AMW was this year based on the excellent Sheffield Park Hotel on the outskirts of Sheffield. Members gather on Friday evening and enjoyed an informal buffet whilst renewing old friendships and making new ones.

On Saturday morning we boarded the coach, which took us to the National Tramway Museum at Crich where the AGM was to take place. There were 42 members together with their spouses and partners. The business was conducted in the usual efficient manner and it was soon time for the elections. John Jeffries was elected as Chairman, Brian Pickering as Vice Chairman, Peter Aston as General Secretary, Denise Bailey as Treasurer, and Jo Pickering as Membership Secretary. The departing Chairman, John Selley thanked the committee and the membership for a very enjoyable two years and wished the new Chairman every success for the future. Our thanks to Maurice Kirk, our Returning Officer, and his team who conducted the election.

There then followed an illustrated presentation by Mr Dave Whittle about his restoration projects, which varied from JCBs, through lorries to buses and coaches. This was followed by an excellent buffet, after which many of the ladies took the coach to Masson Mills for retail therapy whilst the fellows took the trams around the site. The South Wingfield Tractor group had brought several tractors and stationary engines, which they exhibited. Our thanks to them for the work needed to do this.

We then returned to the hotel in time for the ladies to put on their finery for the semi formal dinner. After dinner John Jeffries presented John Selley with a beautiful cut glass decanter and two glasses for which JS thanked those present. The raffle then took place with Henry Anderson drawing the tickets. What would we do without the lad? We are most grateful to Fergiland, Blue Force Tractor Club, Trevor Rose Vintage Restoration, Mrs Margaret Bywater and Kirby and West Dairy who provided the prizes. £345 was raised for the MacMillan Nurses and The local Air Ambulance. The band Rockwood played and the brave danced. All had a very enjoyable evening.

Sunday saw us once again board the coach to travel to Kelham Island Industrial Museum. Here the Past Chairman thought he had passed to heaven when The River Don engine was fired up. This is a 12,000hp three-cylinder steam engine, which was used for nearly 70 years driving a steel rolling mill specialising in rolling amour plate up to 16” thick. This amazing engine is capable of slowing, reversing and regaining speed in 2 seconds without shutting the throttle! Quite some feat when you consider the flywheel alone weighs 51 tons!

Two quite amusing things happened which should be recorded.

 Firstly at The Tramways Museum is a ‘functional’ external urinal for use by the gentlemen. One of the ladies thought this was just an exhibit and entered. The incumbent was able to give a full description of its use, which seemed to take quite a long time. On exiting, the enquiring lady was embarrassed to find a long queue of desperate blokes!

The second occurred at the dinner. Our Chairman heard that a certain Michael Vaughan was attending the ball, which was being held in an adjacent room. He enlisted the help of a most attractive, but scantily dressed, young lady to verify this fact. His efforts were rewarded by MV autographing his dinner programme, MV’s efforts were rewarded with the past Chairman’s commemorative badge!

The AGM did attract the attention of the BBC. A couple, who were not members but had travelled with a member, visited The Crucible. A reporter asked them what they were doing in Sheffield and they told him about the Ferguson Club AGM and the piece went out on Radio Sheffield.

Members started to return home and reflect on another great weekend.

Our grateful thanks must go to Sylvia Bills and Glynn Price who took on this task because their good friend, Brian Bywater’s, who was doing the organising, became very poorly and subsequently died. They provided us with a lovely weekend, Thank you both.

Now is the time to start saving for the 2013 AGM & AMW which will be held in Newport, Gwent. We look forward to seeing you there.

The Ferguson Club - 25th Anniversary - 1986-2011

"Special Anniversary Badge - free to all who were paid up members during 2011, our Silver Anniversary year."

Formed in the Autumn of  1986 ,the Club had only 180 members by the end of that year.  Officially recognised by Massey Ferguson(UK) Ltd., the Club was administered by David Bates ( Editor ), Ken Goodwin ( Membership Secretary ) and Geoffrey Smith (General Secretary). The principal objective was to promote interest in the late Harry Ferguson, his designs for the mechanisation of agriculture and in particular “the Ferguson System”.

The Club covered – Ferguson  A (Ferguson Brown), Ford –Ferguson 2N,8N & 9N, TE20, TO20,, TO30, USA & UK implements, and by agreement with  Massey Ferguson the MF35 & MF65. 

Right at the beginning they decided to issue 4 Quarterly Journals per year, to the Membership, who paid the princely sum of £10 per year.

The Journal ( Volume 1 No 1 ) promised to give Members the opportunity to advertise Sales & Wants, help other members with technical queries, and publish Member’s articles on their Tractors with Photographs.

Membership at this early stage included Members from USA, Australia & Ireland.

The first Technical Article gave valuable data on the TYPE TE-F20 (1951/2), this being a Diesel  engined  version of the TA-20 petrol Tractor, and listed the Special tools from V.L. Churchill & Co Ltd.

This Journal included the recipe for TVO ( Tractor Vapourising Oil ) as :

5 Gallons of 28 second Central Heating Oil /1 Gallon Petrol /½ Pint Universal Engine Oil. (TVO--25 litres @£8.50)

It also gave the costs of a TE-A @ £ 395, and many more items.

The Club has a very privileged and proud connection with the Ferguson Family, and in 1989, Mrs Elizabeth Sheldon (daughter of the late Harry Ferguson) became the Patron, and followed later by her son Jamie Sheldon,our first President under the new Constitution.

Recently the Club announced that Mrs Sally Fleming & Mrs Caroline Blest (  Mrs  Sheldon’s daughters ) had accepted the invitation to become Vice-Presidents.

Publication of the Journal continued without any missed years and currently Journal No 68  is  much  improved , and has a current circulation of approx. 1500. Colour pictures having been introduced in 1996, by the then Editor Alan Dunderdale.

In 1994, the Club became, as it is now, a totally independent Members Club, and income relying mainly on annual subscription . Some income is also derived from advertising in the Journal and Sales of Merchandise .

3 very  dedicated people have succeeded in ensuring that the Club is structurally sound  -- John Cousins( General Secretary) Ian Halstead (Chairman) & Lawrence Jamieson (Membership Secretary)  were elected in1995,  and these Officers were instrumental in keeping the Club in good shape, implementing a  5 year Plan,  whilst  unfinished business was completed. The first Constitution & Rules were agreed in 1995, and have only been modified to take account of new Officer positions. The Club is financially secure and Membership continues to increase year by year, and is currently 1500.

In 2001 the Club produced the new “Handbook”, which contained Maintenance information, Tractor data,  the Constitution & Membership application Form.

The Club organises annually, a large number of Rallies, Shows, Ploughing  matches , Harvest work-ins, Charitable events, Workshops, Agricultural shows and a host of recreational events across the UK.

A highlight of the Club’s activities was” the Grey Ferguson Challenge” , held in 1994 at Wickenby, when over 100 tractors ploughed together in one bout covering over 1000yards.

Management of the Club is carried out by the Executive Committee- (   Chairman,   Vice Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer  & Membership Secretary) and Area Representatives forming  the General Committee, with the Executive Committee. The Club Rules include the tenure of office for the Chairman & General Secretary, serving for only 2 consecutive years.

It is worthwhile noting that in 1986, the number of Area Reps. was 8 , rising to 18 in 1989, 30 in 1991 and 37 in 1993.

The Club has also appointed members to be responsible for :-  Commercial Advertising, Website Co-ordinator,  Area Rep. Co-ordinator,  Merchandise Co-ordinator,  DVLA Officer, Safety Officers  & Technical Team.

The Annual Members Weekend & AGM is held around the UK, in order to give members the opportunity to meet new faces and to take part in the AGM, as well as seeing other members tractors, and has proved to be a great success.

The 25th Annual Weekend & AGM was held in Beamish, Co. Durham and our 2012 event was held in Sheffield.

The Club is enjoying probably the best years now, since formation in 1986, with a high level of interest by the Members and the Management.

Harry Turkington

General Secretary/Executive Committee

NB:

**New Ferguson Historic Photos of Dealer "Hollingdrake of Stockport" in the 1950's have been loaded onto "Gallery" of this website**

2012 Tractor World - Malvern Three Counties ShowGround 3/4th March

The Ferguson Club put on an excellent display of vintage MF and Ferguson tractors at the UK's busiest tractor show of the year so far.

Thousands of people turned up on Saturday to view the superb display of vintage tractors and witness an auction of over 2000 items at HJ Pughs grand event.

The Ferguson Club used Brent Thomas's original Ferguson tractor and Road Roller as centre stage for an "Industrial" extravaganza. The majority of vintage tractors on the club stand had an Industrial or Council history. A lot of good friends were made and the Ferguson Club made new members as their own interest was ignited.

Special thanks must go out to Gary and Wendy Downes, the Hereford, Worcestershire and Shropshire Reps. Their personal efforts really made the event extra special. The Ferguson Club was judged third out of dozens of stands at the show.

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BOOK Review By Duncan Russell - The Book of the Standard Motor Company

By Veloce Books

I’ve recently been reading a book which I would recommend to those interested in the history of Ferguson. The book of the Standard Motor Company may not seem the most obviously choice but if you’re in the know Banner Lane was owned by the Standard Motor Company. The book has a whole section on the history of the plant: The government paid £2.75 million for the building and fitting out as part of the shadow factory scheme in 1938. The plant built the 14 cylinder, 1800 horsepower Bristol Hercules aero engines, completing some 20,000 before the end of hostilities, Standard Motor Company were paid £40,000/annum to manage the plant during this time. At the end of the war Standard took over the plant and after much negotiation Sir John Black and Harry Ferguson agreed to co-operate. Standard building the tractors, receiving a fee for each one produced and Ferguson selling them. As we know over 500,000 of these little machines were produced before Standard eventually sold Banner lane to Massey Ferguson in 1959 for £11.8 million. The book covers the history of one of Britain’s big six car companies in great detail, written with authority by Graham Robson and contains previously unseen of the early years of Banner Lane. It’s not cheap at £35 but for those interested in the detailed history of Ferguson is invaluable in the information contained. I would recommend it to you. Available through Veloce Book - www.velocebooks.com

Duncan Russell

Interesting Ferguson/Vintage Tractor Videos online:-

Anyone with any particular interesting links please let us know:-

1. NEW TRACTOR DEMONSTRATED - British Pathé

2. Photographs are being loaded into the Gallery of this website all the time. Please keep looking....................

Ferguson Club at Onslow Park - Shrewsbury - August Bank Holiday

The Ferguson Club was in attendance at Onslow Park and hosting the first Ferguson Baler with demonstrations.

Bought in the USA by Peter Smith and Julie Brownings this rare Detroit built FO35 and FERGUSON SIDE MOUNTED BALER was on the the Ferguson club stand at Onslow This was the first outing for this unique piece of equipment in this country.  

Photos show Peter and Julie baling on the field at Onslow.

The Ferguson Club would like to thank Peter and Julie with Steve Kirk and Dave Lory(assisted in transporting and assembly of baler )for bringing this to Onslow Park and allowing the Ferguson Club to display it over the weekend.

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Brecon Agricultural Show - 6th August - Gwent & East Wales Branch

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The Gwent and East Wales branch of the Ferguson Club attended the Brecon Agricultural Show on 6th August 2011 and were very fortunate to be awarded 1st prize and overall champion of all the stands that were on display at the show.
The judge was particularly impressed by the display of local Fergies, the information boards relating to each of these tractors and the friendly welcome he received from members as he entered the stand!
Photographs show Peter Aston receiving rosettes from the judge. Photographs taken by Andy Ford.

Scotland NE Branch Broomhill Station Near Aviemore - Courtesy of Henry Pirie

16/17th July 2011

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The Scotland N.E, branch of the Club were asked once again to put on a display at Broomhill Station, near Aviemore to support "Steamfest", an event to publicise the Strathspey Steam Railway. The passengers dismount at this station and sample the delights the Ferguson Club has to offer and have a chat over a cuppa.and take pictures of the tractors. The members manning the stand really enjoy meeting a different section of people from both home and abroad.

75 th Anniversary of Type A Ferguson Brown Tractor

Massey Ferguson celebrates the

75th Anniversary of the Type A - Ferguson Brown Tractor and

the introduction to commercial manufacture of the Three - Point Linkage System in June 1936.

MF Press Release-June 2011

Massey Ferguson is celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the introduction of the legendary Type A - Ferguson Brown - tractor, which went into production in June 1936. The first ever series production tractor to feature the Ferguson three-point linkage system, it’s the tractor that began the power farming revolution.

“Massey Ferguson is immensely proud of our heritage, which encompasses virtually every major innovation in tractor technology from the three-point linkage, which went into production on the Ferguson Brown, right through to the launch of the first ever Selective Catalytic Reduction system to be used in agriculture on the MF 8600 Series,” says Campbell Scott, Massey Ferguson Manager, Brand Development and

Sales Engineering.

“We feel it is important to acknowledge the enormous and significant contribution our founding fathers – Daniel Massey, Alanson Harris and Harry Ferguson – have made to mechanize and change the face of farming across the globe. We continue to honour these pioneers every day by striving to develop further innovative ideas for the up to date, high quality farm machinery that still proudly bears their names,” he adds.

To commemorate this important anniversary a display area has been created in the Massey Ferguson Technology Centre at AGCO’s Beauvais Manufacturing Facility in France. Star of the show is the first production model, the Type A, No 1 which was sold to Thomas McGregor Greer for use on his farm at the Tullylagan Estate, near Cookstown, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland.

Although its official name is the Ferguson Type A, it is now more affectionally known as the Ferguson Brown. Harry Ferguson is purported to have always referred to it as the ‘Irish Tractor’, maybe because the first Type A tractor made its public debut in April 1936 at Ballyclare, County Antrim, in Harry Ferguson’s home country of Northern Ireland.

The tractor, however, was first produced at David Brown’s Park Gear Works in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England. About 500 of the tractors were built there, all powered by 20hp, Coventry Climax Type E engines. Later on production shifted to David Brown’s Meltham Mills tractor factory, also in the English county of Yorkshire. About 1,350 Type A or Ferguson Browns were built here and in about 1937 these began to be fitted with a David Brown-built engine, which was based very closely on the original.

As well as being the tractor that introduced the first ever three-point linkage system, the Type A also presented many of Harry Ferguson’s other ingenious manufacturing and marketing ideas. On the engineering front he insisted on using high tensile bolts with specially hardened heads of only two sizes, so the single ‘Ferguson Spanner’ would fit all nuts and bolts. The tractor was also offered with four different implements. It also began Ferguson’s promotion of a light and agile tractor that was easy use and, as he said, “not merely a tractor but mechanisation which entirely supersedes horses!”

Photographs have been uploaded from the Ferguson Club Annual Members Weekend (AMW) and AGM 2011. They are in the Gallery Section of this website, under the relevant folder.

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***The Ferguson Club 2011 Chiltern Vintage tractor Run has completed and raised a huge sum of £2,028.31 for the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance.

Thank you to all concerned. Photographs are in the Gallery Section under Tractor Runs, plus click on this link to see more photos of the Chiltern Tractor Run....Chiltern Tractor Run

New Massey Ferguson Book

"INSIDE MASSEY FERGUSON - A story of Service" By former MF employee - David Walker.

Inside Massey Ferguson Release v3 - Click here

Farm Power Publishing.

1st Rally of 2011 (MAY)- Forres, Moray, Scotland - Photos Courtesy of Henry Pirie

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The Ferguson Club was at the Tractor World Malvern Show - weekend of 5 & 6th March 2011.

**************Fergie Club scoops seven awards at Malvern Including best club stand.........photos below....................

Many thanks to the team led by Ferguson Area Rep; Gary Downes..........................

....The winning stand under the title "Hedgerow Harry"

......Show winners left to right Gary Pepper TED-20 (Best Masey Harris/Ferguson FOFH award) Gary Downes (Best Club stand) Peter Rash FE-35(3rd place 1900-57 Veteran to Vintage )Austin Carroll TEF-20 +2 Furrow Plough (Tractor with Implement attached 1st) Geoff Dunn MF-135(Post vintage to Classic 1st and Best Massey Ferguson FOFH award) Kneeling down are Wendy Downes and John Reece (Best Club Stand)

....... Brent Thomas TE-20 Continental  (Unrestored Veteran to Vintage 1st)This tractor is No 69 !

A very successful show for the Ferguson Club and I would like to thank all who took part and brought tractors of which we had a total of 18 Ferguson related tractors - Gary Downes HSW Ferguson Rep.

New Haynes Ferguson TE20 Manual now published

Click here to preview New Haynes Ferguson TE20 Manual

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"Old 20 Parts" - Vintage Tractor parts

Is offering a 15% discount on all orders from members of the Ferguson Club. Please ensure that you are a paid up member and quote your membership number when placing orders to ensure that you qualify for your 15% discount.

Old Prototype steering system for ferguson tractors.

A bit of interest!

A member whose grandfather was a Nuffield, Ferguson dealer was given an item which bolts onto the grey Ferguson tractors, and steers it, whilst the farmers deals with the cattle in field etc. It was a prototype and he was given it whilst selling these tractors.

Here are some pictures:-

1909 - 2009/10 Centenary of First Flight in Ireland

It was during 1909 that Harry Ferguson designed and built his aeroplane in Ireland. After many unsuccessful attempts due to poor weather, it was on the last day of 1909 - 31st December - that he completed his first successful flight. Harry was aged 25 years old at the time.

So Harry Ferguson made the first flight in Ireland.

The pictures below show Harry Ferguson with his Mk1 and 2 aircraft designs (one a taildragger, the other a tricycle undercarriage) - the passenger in the aircraft is one Rita Marr who travelled from Liverpool to fly with HF in Northern Ireland, date is not recorded.

Ferguson club -journal commercial advertising-2012

Introduction from Alan Dunderdale, our Commercial Advertising Manager.

Our club has a membership of 1500 and each receive 3 copies annually of our Journal. The vast majority of our members are actively engaged in tractor restoration, including the very many implements which Harry Ferguson designed and manufactured. Our new advertising rates are shown below and is self explanatory. We have included costs for colour, should you consider that without it your advert may not "catch the eye", as it were,but in the main most of our current adverts are "Black & White".  Please consider our new rates and if you are interested in advertising please contact me (details below). It is worth noting that a considerable number of our members and friends support our advertising very well, and our executive committee actively encourage them to do so.

I look forward to your valued instructions, and hopefully we can proceed with your advertising requirements in our next journal. Very many thanks for taking the time to consider this matter, and I can assure you of my very best attention to your reply.

Alan Dunderdale - Commercial Advertising Manager.

Please e-mail ; adunderdale@btinternet.com

or call Mobile number ; 07801 195603