Alan

alan wrote a new post 6 years, 6 months ago

Since it’s December and the nights are long and dark, a short quiz on vintage horticultural stuff might pass 5 minutes. Here are ten general questions, the answers and explanations are at the bottom of the page. […]
alan started the topic Home Page Photos in the forum General talk and discussion 6 years, 6 months ago

Eagle-eyed members will notice that we change the photographs on the homepage several times every year.

These four photos link through to the four website sections for Ride-on machines, Walk-behind machines, Hand tools and Gallery images.

We are now running low on new images and if any member has any suitable images they’d like to share that…[Read more]
alan wrote a new post 6 years, 7 months ago

I’m sure club members will no doubt have seen adverts for any number of machines or tools claiming to be bigger, better, quicker, stronger or more versatile than anything that has ever graced a garden before. T […]
alan replied to the topic Newark Show in the forum General talk and discussion 6 years, 7 months ago

Excellent photos, many thanks for posting those.

The Barford with the sawbench is a nice display.
alan started the topic Website in the forum General talk and discussion 6 years, 7 months ago

Members may have noticed that the website has a new security certificate. This can be seen by the new little padlock symbol by the website name in the address bar.

If your computer has cached the old website and the new padlock doesn’t show then refresh the page to show the new secure version. Or refresh by pressing F5 on your keyboard (or force…[Read more]
alan started the topic VHGMC Log Sheet in the forum General talk and discussion 6 years, 7 months ago

If anyone is exhibiting at Newark next month and needs a log sheet for their exhibit then they can be downloaded from this website at the following link:

http://staging.vhgmc.co.uk/member-downloads/vhgmc-log-sheet-download/
alan replied to the topic Machinery Register Updates in the forum Help and information 6 years, 7 months ago

What appears to be the matter? It’ll cost you a pork pie.
alan replied to the topic Wheelhorse 1959 in the forum Ride-on machines 6 years, 8 months ago

And then I have an image sent which is of the same Wheelhorse model in 1960 in France. Apparently sold by a company called Champion.
alan wrote a new post 6 years, 8 months ago

I’ve been reading a Webb lawnmower brochure from 1973, the first page headline is “How to choose the right mower for you and your lawn” which is quite fortuitous as someone recently asked that very statement via e […]
alan replied to the topic Ransome ts 30 plough in the forum Help and information 6 years, 8 months ago

The ploughing section is at:

Ploughing

Also there’s some paid member downloads at:

Ransomes MG Downloads
alan started the topic Wheelhorse 1959 in the forum Ride-on machines 6 years, 8 months ago

I’ve got a photo (sadly not the best image) from 1959 of a Wheelhorse tractor in the UK, it’s thought the machine is a 4hp RJ58 model.

We’ll never know the tractors exact ID but it’s quite possible this very tractor is still in the UK and may be owned by a club member, who knows!

I’ve seen the photo in a few contemporary reports and twice it…[Read more]
alan replied to the topic Fairlawn Spreader in the forum Help and information 6 years, 8 months ago

That’s an interesting and possibly rare piece of equipment, you really must give it a try!

I’ve found a piece of text from 1953 which explains it:

“The Fairlawn spreader is made by the Fairlawn Company, Fairfield Works, Buxton, Derbyshire, to fit any normal wheelbarrow and enables accurate distribution of small repeated doses of artificial…[Read more]
alan replied to the topic Parts in the forum Pedestrian operated machines 6 years, 8 months ago

I think it’s a Flymo DM rotavator with 3hp Briggs engine. Introduced in 1978 and sold for many years.
alan replied to the topic Free offer of (1940s/50s) Tarp Grassmaster in the forum Garden implements 6 years, 8 months ago

The earliest reference and advert I have to the Grassmaster is 1951, so it could well have been several years old by 1969.
alan replied to the topic Landmaster 150 engine in the forum General talk and discussion 6 years, 8 months ago

I’ll add a closeup if I can…
alan replied to the topic Landmaster 150 engine in the forum General talk and discussion 6 years, 9 months ago

Actually I cheated and searched the website via Google.

To search the site from the Google search bar on the Google homepage type site:staging.vhgmc.co.uk followed by the search wanted

e.g. site:staging.vhgmc.co.uk landmaster 150

The search includes images too and I see there’s some photos of the engine amongst them.
alan replied to the topic Landmaster 150 engine in the forum General talk and discussion 6 years, 9 months ago

Also an 1960 advert for the L150 – I assume this is the machine in question, but it doesn’t mention the engine.
alan replied to the topic Landmaster 150 engine in the forum General talk and discussion 6 years, 9 months ago

There’s some information that may help, it’s possibly a JAP 16H.

http://staging.vhgmc.co.uk/forums/topic/landmaster-numbering/
alan replied to the topic Landmaster truck in the forum Ride-on machines 6 years, 9 months ago

As far as I know the Landmaster trucks were made by Byron Horticultural Engineering Ltd which was originally a manufacturer of greenhouses in the 50’s and 60’s. It was started by Frank Bonser, and somewhere in the muddle are a few Bonser companies including Frank Bonser (Sales) Ltd, Frank Bonser & Co. Ltd and Bonser engineering Ltd – I’m assuming…[Read more]
alan replied to the topic Qualcast jetstream in the forum General talk and discussion 6 years, 9 months ago

Indeed there was two different pressed deck designs and both on sale at the same time too. One had a blue grass box, but you could well be right about the blue painted deck….as there was also an orange one too!

There’s an image of both mowers and info on one of the VHGMC articles:

http://staging.vhgmc.co.uk/2017/08/when-machines-go-modern/
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@alan