Tractors of Thursley

David Young
Aug 8
5 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Tractors have been important vehicles and farm machines in Thursley for decades. This entry will attempt to capture as many of them that currently exist from the oldest to the most recent - and all shapes and sizes!

This is a work in progress entry as many more tractors exist in the village, please send your photograph and details via the website: https://www.thursleyhistorysociety.org/contact

Many thanks to Peter Goble, Malcolm Coles and James Maclean for their help.

*Fordson Model N, built 1939, one of the last in orange as it was changed to green after war broke out.*

This tractor was at a village event and is photographed by The Clump, probably in the mid to late 50s. It is a Ferguson TE20, which was an agricultural tractor designed by Harry Ferguson. By far his most successful design, it was manufactured from 1946 until 1956. The driver was Trevor Sprinks of Bedford Farm with Tom Ranson in bowler hat and tie on the trailer.

*Another Ferguson TE20 which had seen better days.*

Framall A, built 1942, is a small one-plow row crop tractor produced by International Harvester under the Farmall brand from 1939 to 1947.

This is a Fordson E27N Major, a popular tractor produced by Fordson in Dagenham, England, from 1945 to 1952. It was initially known simply as the Fordson Major and was developed as a replacement for the Fordson Standard tractor. The driver was John Stovold on Sid Hall's tractor who he worked for at Mill Farm: he, Trevor and Tom were celebrating winning the best kept village in 1960! — *This is a* *Fordson* *E27N Major*, *a popular tractor produced by Fordson in Dagenham, England, from 1945 to 1952. It was initially known simply as the Fordson Major and was developed as a replacement for the* *Fordson Standard tractor. The driver was* *John Stovold on Sid Hall's tractor who he worked for at Mill Farm: he, Trevor and Tom were celebrating winning the best kept village in 1960!*

*Anthony Langdale on his beloved Fordson Model N, built in the 1940s, and now owned by his son.*

*Another village Fordson. After war broke out the colour was changed to green and there were fewer body panels in order to save metal.*

Field Marshall Series 1, built 1946, was manufactured by Marshall, Sons & Co. of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire — *Field Marshall Series 1, built 1946,* *was manufactured by Marshall, Sons & Co. of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire*

*Pat Coles spraying using a crawler, c 1950*

Case LA, built 1947, powered by a 6.6L 4-cylinder engine, producing nearly 60 Hp, and considered a big tractor in its day. — *Case LA, built 1947,* *powered by a 6.6L 4-cylinder engine, producing nearly 60 Hp, and considered a big tractor in its day.*

*International Harvester B250, built 1958, has a 30HP 2.4litre 4 cylinder diesel engine*

Fordson Dexta, built 1959 and fully restored 2018

Massey Ferguson 35, built 1959, is a popular and versatile utility tractor produced from 1956/1958 to 1964 (United Kingdom) and 1955 to 1964 (United States). It was the successor to the Ferguson TE20 and was a well-regarded, dependable machine known for its agricultural, industrial, and vineyard applications, still remaining a practical and valuable tractor today. — *Massey Ferguson 35, built 1959,* is *a popular and versatile utility tractor produced from 1956/1958 to 1964 (United Kingdom) and 1955 to 1964 (United States). It was the successor to the* *Ferguson TE20* *and was a well-regarded, dependable machine known for its agricultural, industrial, and vineyard applications, still remaining a practical and valuable tractor today.*

*Thursley, Punch Bowl Farm, Barn Field, with Bill Edwards, mowing hay on his Masse Ferguson 35; photographed by Monica Edwards, undated but early 1960s.*

*Massey Ferguson 35, built 1960. The model was launched in 1958, as the successor to the ubiquitous Ferguson TE20,and was a product of the merger of Massey-Harris and Ferguson.*

*A Massey Ferguson 35, built early in the 1960s and with a modified bonnet.*

*International Harvester B-275, built 1960*

*James Maclean in his 1964 Massey Ferguson 135 with a New Holland 174 baler (which has worked every year from 1972 to date!) attached.*

County 1004 Super Six, built 1966 in Fleet, Hampshire. It is based on a Ford and features a 100 hp (75 kW) six cylinder Ford 2703E industrial engine. — *County 1004 Super Six, built 1966 in Fleet, Hampshire. It is based on a* *Ford and features a 100 hp (75 kW) six cylinder* *Ford* *2703E industrial engine.*

Cowdray Cross; England; Surrey; TPX 13F; Thursley; Zetor 3045; tractor, August 1970 after tractor accident repair. The Zetor 3045 Four Wheel Drive Tractor built in Czechoslovakia and marketed in the United Kingdom by Skoda (GB) Ltd in 1967. Power was provided by a three-cylinder diesel engine of 32.5 horsepower. Photo taken by Salosh Edwards. — *Cowdray Cross; England; Surrey; TPX 13F; Thursley; Zetor 3045; tractor, August 1970 after tractor accident repair.* *The Zetor 3045 Four Wheel Drive Tractor built in Czechoslovakia and marketed in the United Kingdom by Skoda (GB) Ltd in 1967. Power was provided by a three-cylinder diesel engine of 32.5 horsepower.* *Photo taken by Salosh Edwards.*

The same tractor on non-agricultural duties at a Rag Day in 1967 on the King's Road, Chelsea. The Rag parade was for the 'Combined London Colleges', and the Zetor lead the parade. Clearly Health & Safety hadn't been invented then: Sean Edwards is the driver!

John Deere 1120, built 1971, is a utility tractor produced from 1967 to 1975 by John Deere in Mannheim, Germany. It features a 53 hp (39.5 kW) gross engine. — *John Deere 1120, built 1971,* *is a utility tractor produced from 1967 to 1975 by John Deere in Mannheim, Germany. It features a 53 hp (39.5 kW) gross engine.*

David Brown 885, built 1979, was a popular British utility tractor produced from 1971 to 1980 , known for its reliability and performance. It featured a 47-horsepower 3-cylinder diesel (or gasoline) engine, a 12-speed transmission, and David Brown's Selectamatic® hydraulics. Manufactured in Meltham Mills, West Yorkshire. — *David Brown 885, built 1979,* *was a* *popular British utility tractor produced from 1971 to 1980* *, known for its reliability and performance. It featured a 47-horsepower 3-cylinder diesel (or gasoline) engine, a 12-speed transmission, and David Brown's* *Selectamatic® hydraulics. Manufactured in Meltham Mills, West Yorkshire.*

Peter Scheffers in his Massey Ferguson 565 tedding the silage in the "Top A3" field in the late 1980. The Massey Ferguson 565 is a British-made, 60 horsepower, 2WD row-crop tractor produced from 1977 to 1982 as part of the 500 Series, powered by a Perkins 236 engine. — *Peter Scheffers in his Massey Ferguson 565 tedding the silage in the "Top A3" field in the late 1980.* *The Massey Ferguson 565 is a* *British-made, 60 horsepower, 2WD row-crop tractor produced from 1977 to 1982 as part of the 500 Series, powered by a Perkins 236 engine*.

Massey Ferguson 390, is a utility tractor from the 300 series, produced from 1987 to 1997, available in both 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive versions. It typically features a 76-80 horsepower Perkins engine and a 12-speed transmission. — *Massey Ferguson* *390,* *is a* *utility tractor from the* *300 series, produced from 1987 to 1997, available in both 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive versions. It typically features a 76-80 horsepower Perkins engine and a 12-speed transmission.*

David Brown 1494, built 1987 is from the David Brown 94 series, produced between 1984 and 1988. It was part of the last David Brown tractors built at the Meltham factory, which was later acquired by Case. — *David Brown 1494, built 1987* is from the David Brown 94 series, produced between 1984 and 1988. It was part of the last *David Brown tractors* *built at the* *Meltham factory, which was later acquired by Case.*

Ford 1910, built 1987, a compact utility tractor produced from 1983 to 1987. It features a 32 hp Shibaura 1.7L 3-cylinder diesel engine, with tested PTO horsepower at 28.60 hp and drawbar horsepower at 24.76 hp. The tractor was built by Shibaura in Japan and distributed by Ford. It came in 2WD and 4WD variants. — *Ford 1910, built 1987, a compact utility tractor* produced from 1983 to 1987. It features a 32 hp Shibaura 1.7L 3-cylinder diesel engine, with tested PTO horsepower at 28.60 hp and drawbar horsepower at 24.76 hp. The tractor was built by Shibaura in Japan and distributed by Ford. It came in 2WD and 4WD variants.

The 1988 Ford 8210 was a powerful row-crop tractor from the Ford 10 Series, known for its durability and suitability for medium to large-scale farming. This model, manufactured between 1982 and 1991, featured a 6-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine, offering approximately 105 PTO horsepower, and came in two or four-wheel drive options. — *The 1988 Ford 8210 was a powerful row-crop tractor from the* *Ford 10 Series*, known for its durability and suitability for medium to large-scale farming. This model, manufactured between 1982 and 1991, featured a 6-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine, offering approximately 105 PTO horsepower, and came in two or four-wheel drive options.

The Valmet 8100 (4WD) is a four-wheel drive tractor. Valmet is the former name of the Finnish tractor manufacturer now known as Valtra. Valmet tractors were originally produced in Finland starting in 1951.