Classic Tractor Issue 224 December 2019

Reader Rebuild:​​ ​​ The owner of this Ford 5000 Select-O-Speed has known his tractor from new.

Fleet Profile:​​ ​​ This German farm has a classic fleet​​ of 17 Deutz-Fahr tractors on just 20 acres.

Blue Force Weekend:​​ ​​ County and Roadless anniversaries are celebrated at an event in Warwickshire.

Modern Classics:​​ ​​ MF 3085 Datatronic:​​ ​​ A 1993 MF 3085 Datatronic receives​​ a full refurb and some useful upgrades.

Modern Classics:​​ ​​ Refurb Specialist:​​ ​​ In Cyril Hanna’s workshop, tractors are​​ returned to their brand-new appearance.

Modern Classics:​​ ​​ New Holland 7840:​​ ​​ This 1998 New Holland 7840 has been​​ repaired and updated for modern work.

Modern Classics:​​ ​​ Case IH MX135:​​ ​​ A special edition 2001 Case-IH MX135​​ is refurbished by a leading professional.

Claas Factory:​​ ​​ We join Claas at its Harsewinkel plant​​ as it marks the centenary of the facility.

From the Archives:​​ ​​ Looking back to the colourful artwork​​ from a massive 1961 MF​​ ad campaign.

Classic Tractor Issue 223 November 2019

Driving Impressions:​​ ​​ The 1884 is every County fan’s dream machine and this one is up for auction.

Reader Rebuild:​​ ​​ A Ford 8600 is rebuilt by​​ the son of the farmer who bought it new back in 1974.

Harvest Highlights: Claas Dominator:​​ ​​ Charting the development of the Claas Dominator 6-Series and CS combines.

Harvest Highlights: Carting Crawlers:​​ ​​ A fleet of Track Marshalls carry out the carting using large bulkers on this farm.

Harvest Highlights: Harvest Giants:​​ ​​ A pair of US-built​​ MF muscle tractors assist a Claas Dominator 105 combine

Harvest Highlights: Working Classic:​​ ​​ This 1960s BM Volvo S-950 combine harvests the fields others cannot reach.

Harvest Highlights: Harvest Contractor:​​ ​​ There’s nothing unlucky about this fleet of 13 combines harvesting in Yorkshire.

Harvest Highlights: Fleet Profile:​​ ​​ We visit a Co. Offaly contracting team that operates a fleet of modern classics.

Harvest Highlights: Rachel's Harvest:​​ ​​ Sunshine attracted 2000 visitors and 20 combines to this working harvest event.

From the Archives:​​ ​​ Looking back to 1988 and the very last tractors from the David Brown factory.

Original Classic:​​ ​​ A 1980 Hydrocut G-Rahf hedge cutter demonstrates its impressive long reach.

Classic Tractor Issue 222 October 2019

Fleet Profile:​​ ​​ IH and Deere lead in a fleet that works​​ evenings and weekends in Derbyshire.

2WD Special: Modern Models:​​ ​​ Modern two-wheel drive​​ tractors still have a role to play in daily farm work.

2WD Special: Big Red:​​ ​​ A full set of MF 1000 Series tractors is put to work together in the same field.

2WD Special: Reader Rebuild:​​ ​​ This Marshall 100-2, rebuilt in a five year project, has an unusual​​ back story.

2WD Special: Pulling Power:​​ ​​ There’s more power in these two-wheel drives than the manufacturers intended.

2WD Special: High and Mighty:​​ ​​ A custom conversion elevates this John Deere 2250 tractor to lofty new heights.

Deutz Factory:​​ ​​ We take a guided tour of Deutz-Fahr’s new factory and its museum collection.

Fiat Production:​​ ​​ A look back to the heyday when Fiat’s agricultural division was at peak power.

From the Archives:​​ ​​ An insight into life on a Hereford farm through 1960s and 70s family photos.

Classic Tractor Issue 233​​ September​​ 2020

Fleet Profile:​​ ​​ A Cumbrian silage contractor builds an engine-on harvester to boost his output.

Farming Diary: ​​ A round-up of what the Suffolk Bunch group did and also bought during June.

Deutz-Fahr Special: ​​ Deutz Distributor: ​​ A look back at Watveare Overseas’ 22 years of distributing Deutz in the UK.

Deutz-Fahr Special: ​​ Case Study: ​​ Visiting farms in Germany using Deutz DX tractors for a wide variety of work.

Deutz-Fahr Special: ​​ Driving Impression: ​​ A former Deutz-Fahr dealer apprentice is reacquainted with the AgroStar 6.11.

Deutz-Fahr Special: ​​ Forever Fahr: ​​ A brief history of Fahr and a visit to a superb club museum in its home town.

Deutz-Fahr Special: ​​ Original Classic: ​​ A North Yorks farmer tells us about his one-owner Deutz DX6.05 Commander.

From the Archives: ​​ A carefully-kept ledger gives an insight into the 1968/69 season on a large farm.

Market Shares: ​​ The second and final part of our tractor market review focuses on 1986 to 2016.

Tractor Registrations: ​​ Analysis of the tractor market shares in​​ 2019, using registration data from DfT.

Prairie Monsters:​​ ​​ This Australian museum contains a set of ingenious farm-built prime movers.

Coronavirus Update:​​ ​​ An update on the impact of coronavirus.

Classic Tractor Issue 220​​ August​​ 2019

Reader Rebuild:​​ ​​​​ Scottish collectors have put the sparkle​​ back into this modern classic NH 7840.

Fleet Profile:​​ ​​​​ We profile a 900-acre dairy​​ farm that’s​​ operating classic and modern machines.

Forager Special: Ford Conversion:​​ ​​​​ The story of the Ford 5000s converted to six-cylinders by the late Rick Jones.

Forager Special: From the Archives:​​ ​​​​ Archive images provide a reminder of forage harvesting kit used in the 1970s.

Forager Special: Hesston Harvester:​​ ​​​​ We visit a farm in Co. Meath that relies on a veteran ‘76 Hesston 7650 forager.

Forager Special: New Holland FX:​​ ​​​​ Examining New Holland’s FX Series forager, its back story and its features.

Forager Special: Case-IH Fleet:​​ ​​​​ Collectors are clamouring for 1455XL tractors but these four are hard at work.

Forager Special: Grass Demo:​​ ​​​​ All the action from the Border Counties Vintage Grassmen’s huge working day.

Forager Special: Working Classics:​​ ​​​​ Readers show​​ us their foragers, all over 20 years old, at work earlier this season.

Market Shares:​​ ​​​​ Analysis of the tractor market shares in​​ 2018, using registration data from DfT.

Original Classic:​​ ​​​​ It might be 39 years old, but this 1980​​ Steiger is still working in the​​ frontline.

Online Fraud:​​​​ ​​ Investigating fraudulent online auction​​ listings and how to avoid falling victim.

Show Report:​​ ​​​​ Lincs-supplied and built machines were​​ the theme at the 2019 Carrington Rally.

Classic Tractor Issue 219​​ July​​ 2019

Fleet Profile:​​ ​​ Profile on a 300-acre farm with a huge frontline fleet of mainly blue machines.

Classic Collection:​​ ​​​​ A complete set of​​ equal-wheel Leyland and Nuffield models is a very rare sight.

Show Report:​​ ​​​​ All the action and highlights from this year’s Ford Big Tractor Working Day.

Implement Icons: Howard Rotavator:​​ ​​​​ How the Howard Rotavator became a​​ big success on farms across the world.

Implement Icons: Farmhand UK:​​ ​​​​ Experiences of working with Farmhand​​ and the big range of tackle it offered.

Implement Icons: MF Implements:​​ ​​​​ We view a variety of MF implements​​ collected by three fans of the marque.

Case Study:​​ ​​​​ Fendt tool carriers, rarely​​ seen working in the UK, are still popular in Germany.

Refurb Costs:​​ ​​​​ Counting the cost of doing up a scruffy example of a four-wheel drive JD 2850.

Classic Tractor Issue 218​​ June​​ 2019

Fleet Profile:​​ ​​​​ This mixed family farm has kept loyal to MF tractors to meet its power needs.

Reader Rebuild:​​ ​​​​ A John Deere​​ fan in Holland rebuilds two popular 6410 models in one year.

Fiat Comparison:​​ ​​​​ We drive and compare three very tidy Fiats that are up for sale in Shropshire.

Limited Edition:​​ ​​​​ A chance to inspect a freshly-imported limited edition Fiat Centenario T5.120.

Original Classics:​​ ​​​​ This 1985 Marshall 100-4 and its Opico square plough make a rare combination.

Project 6600:​​ ​​​​ Owners compare eight machines based on the highly popular Ford 6600 model.

From the Archives:​​ ​​​​ A look at the Ploughmasters that were made by Roadless​​ from 1965 to 1983.

Memory Lane:​​ ​​​​ The history of James C. Ashworth, the former haulier of equipment for IHGB.

Show Report:​​ ​​​​ Highlights among the classics at the recent Tractor World Scotland show.

Classic Tractor Issue 217​​ May​​ 2019

Fleet Profile:​​​​ ​​ Profile on a Warwickshire contracting​​ business with a multi-coloured line-up.

Auction Preview:​​​​ ​​ Huge sale of 40 blue tractors​​ will be an​​ event that Ford fans will want to attend.

Reader Rebuild:​​​​ ​​ We meet an MF 1200 enthusiast who is​​ making new parts and providing advice.

Tractor Trade:​​ ​​​​ As Carrs Billington celebrates 25 years​​ as an MF dealer, we look at its history.

IH Celebration:​​​​ ​​ We report from Fingal Vintage Club’s​​ recent IH tractor celebration in Ireland.

Working Classics:​​ ​​​​ Older tractors come into their own for​​ beet drilling in the lower Rhine valley.

From the Archives:​​​​ ​​ A review of the unequal-wheel 4WDs​​ produced by County, circa 1968-1983.

Working Wonders:​​​​ ​​ At the FTMTA show, visitors voted to​​ select their top working modern classic.

Reflections:​​​​ ​​ Reg Wilkinson recalls his involvement​​ with the launch of the Ford 6X tractors.

Tractor World:​​​​ ​​ Impressive club displays, great exhibits​​ and a big auction were show highlights.

Steiger Parts:​​​​ ​​ A visit to a US firm making new parts​​ to keep older Steiger tractors working.

Classic Tractor Issue 216​​ April​​ 2019

Fleet Profile:​​​​ ​​ We profile a 700-acre farm in Scotland that runs a very mixed machinery fleet.

Reader Rebuild:​​​​ ​​ This John Deere 3130 has been​​ revived as a reminder of its owner’s childhood.

Dyno Testing:​​​​ ​​ A range of tractors are put to the test as owners discover their true performance.

Modern Classic:​​​​ ​​ Two Claas Challenger 75E tractors are the tools of choice on this Suffolk farm.

Diamond Edition:​​​​ ​​ The story of the McCormick Diamond Edition models produced at Doncaster.

MF Control System:​​​​ ​​ How a Yorkshire farmer is using MF’s Dual Control system with a big plough.

From the Archives:​​​​ ​​ The history of the unique Bidirectional models built by Versatile,​​ Ford and NH.

Somerset Show:​​​​ ​​ The Somerset Tractor Show’s special IH theme attracted some nice classics.

Tractor Trade:​​​​ ​​ A retired tractor parts specialist shows us his massive stash of new ‘old stock’.

Classic Tractor Issue 215​​ March​​ 2019

Fleet Profile:​​​​ ​​ This Aberdeenshire farm keeps all of its machines in totally mint condition.

Reader Rebuild:​​​​ ​​ These Ford Series 10 models look like they have just rolled out of the factory.

Original Classics:​​​​ ​​ The owner of a John Deere 4440 gives us the low-down on this stylish model.

Case Study:​​​​ ​​ The Moffett MFT provides the benefits of both a tractor and a dedicated loader.

Modern Classics:​​​​ ​​ A contractor shares his experiences of using two steel-track crawlers in 2018.

Reflections:​​​​ ​​ A look back at what the late Herman Simper thought to machines of 1972.

American Experience:​​ ​​ Kinze Visit:​​ ​​ The visitor centre at Kinze’s Iowa HQ is home to several impressive classics.

American Experience:​​ ​​ Salvage Yard:​​​​ ​​ Colfax Tractor & Combine Parts stocks used parts and overhaul projects galore.

American Experience: IH Collection:​​​​ ​​ Jerry Kustser owns 80 IH tractors and three of them were the first ones made.

From the Archives:​​​​ ​​ Potato hoovers and harvesters were the staple products for Johnson’s of March.

Classic Tractor Issue 214​​ February​​ 2019

Fleet Profile:​​​​ ​​ Proven Ford and New Holland models work well on this arable and dairy farm.

Modern Classics:​​​​ ​​ We visit a drainage contractor who has a pair of Case-IH Magnums in his fleet.

David Brown 1690 Special: History:​​​​ ​​ An in-depth look at how David Brown developed and tested its 1690 flagship.

David Brown 1690 Special: Impressions:​​​​ ​​ Owners relate their experiences and we get to go cultivating with a 1690 Turbo.

David Brown 1690 Special: Advice:​​​​ ​​ What to look for when buying and then refurbishing a six-cylinder 1690 model.

Reader Rebuild:​​​​ ​​ Clever mods to this 1982 Muir-Hill 121 Series III have made it easier to operate.​​ 

Working Event:​​​​ ​​ We report from a German event where Communist Bloc models were at work.

Fiat Concept:​​​​ ​​ Centenary of Fiat tractor production is being marked by some special models.

Visitor Centre:​​​​ ​​ There are some great classics displayed in Case-IH’s Racine Experience Center.

Show Report:​​​​ ​​ A round-up of the classics exhibited at Newark’s very successful tractor show.

Tractor Trade:​​​​ ​​ A look at how Worthington Ag Parts of Iowa operates its huge salvage business.

Classic Tractor Issue 213​​ January​​ 2019

Fleet Profile:​​​​ ​​ Driving Comparison:​​ A JD 7810 and 6195R go head-to-head in a unique trial of power and strength.

Reader Rebuild:​​​​ ​​ Fitted with a 225hp Perkins V8 engine, this IH 955 is very much one of a kind.

Ford Force Special: ​​ History:​​​​ ​​ The background to the Force range that put Ford back on top of the UK market.

Ford Force Special: ​​ Advice:​​​​ ​​ Some useful advice on what to look for when considering a Force 5000 tractor.

Ford Force Special: ​​ Marketing:​​​​ ​​ Some of the literature and merchandise that helped to promote the Force range.

Fleet Profile:​​​​ ​​ A fleet of 10 Steyr tractors powers this specialist farming business in Holland.

Case Study:​​​​ ​​ Classic Claas combines reign supreme in the Upper Tay Valley in Perthshire.

Show Report:​​​​ ​​ All the action from a German working event for MB-tracs and Unimogs only.

Tractor Trade:​​ ​​ We pay a visit to dealer C. T. Hayton as it celebrates.