hdtrust

Hi Angus, just found your reg number, your machine was made in July 1957 and according to Ransomes records that we hold the engine should be a Villiers 98 cc code BCH 363 Mk 2 spec

Angus what does it say on the registration number, it should be prefixed with either one letter or two
Regards Andrew

Yes looking for more smiley faces for this years event, those of you who go to Dorset are welcome too. I wont cramp your style like that event!

Hi Charlie
The photo comes from an official Atco promotional shot. What you are looking at is the Atco Power Scythe, this was introduced in November 1934, the 2 stroke engine powering the power scythe is a villiers “Mar – Vil”
This Villiers engine was introduced in February 1934, the engine is a single cylinder horizontal 2 stroke, and develops…[Read more]

Yes I had the same problem on the air compressor for the brakes on a brand new Bedford TL coming out of Windsor SALTEX one year. The problem was solved by sprayed new paint which had got into the non return valve, so releasing the air pressure. Unfortunately to get to the answer was extremely expensive, as the lorry fully loaded with exhibits from…[Read more]

Got mine, what a cracking picture on the front cover of two extremely rare cultivators, just goes to show there are survivors out there still, I wonder who the owner is?

Before going any further on this subject, is it worth asking the validatory of this report, Although Old Glory may have a far better way of reporting than the internet, they are still subject to media mistakes or not listing a balanced view!
As The Hall & Duck Trust we have to apply to the letters of the law, when releasing items listed in the…[Read more]

Hi its down to you for restoration, but for me I would restore it, good to see the spanner, actually the spanner does help to date the machine, I would say it late 1920’s early 1930’s. If the spanner is what is referred to as a cut away (that means no metal around the letters) then it would be pre 1920.
The main importers of Planets were Lloyds of…[Read more]

I would love to see a picture of your find Model 17 Planet Junior, I know were made for several years but 1004 year old! Must be older than the reign of King Edward 111 surely a spelling mistake
regards
Andrew

The origins of the Sisis Auto Trak, was first called a Ransomes Hargreaves which would have had a large JAP engine and be from the 1950’s, they then changed the name to Ransomes Sisis Aero Main, from the early 70’s Sisis went out on their own, dropping Ransomes.
Hope this helps

Looks to me you have a Sisis Auto Trak which was made for use on hard porous areas, the give away is the shortened handle bars, looks like you have a MAG engine on it, which I think from memory is an SR1, from that I deduce the age to be from 1978 to the early 1980’s, parts and attachments usually can be found in ex- municipal auctions

Hi Andy
In answer to your thoughts, the truth probalby being something to do with the time they were given by the production company filming. Cutting cylinders are harder to make from scratch than a lot of people think. We’ve constructed many over the years and getting them right can call for a lot of head scratching at times.
Although 5 in total…[Read more]

The peening hammer is used on the blade only when the sharpening has worked back on the width of the blade, at that point the blade gets thicker, by penning all you are doing is thinning the blade again.
Just remember sharpening a scythe blade is not like sharpening a knife blade, its putting a sharp edge which under close looking is a saw edge,…[Read more]

Can you load a picture of your Nickerson please. The early ones were notorious at dropping nuts and bolts all over the grass areas!

There were two main dealers near to Kent, Earnest Does in Essex, who are still in buisness but trade under different names and Gibbs of Bedfont who went bust years ago when Textron purchased Ransomes

Hi
Nice machine, the Sisis rotorake came with different selectors, you are showing the verticutter, not just a scarifier, when you set this selection correctly, it will scarify but also slice the roots of the grass allowing the grass sward to re germinate without seeding.
Other selectors include a scarifier and also a brush which can be used on…[Read more]

Hi Geoff now you have cut your teeth on the Allett perhaps you’d like to have a go on this one!