Philip Swain

If you go to the photo gallery section of the VHGMC website and put in ‘seed drills’ you can get up pictures of a Fedex drill like yours. There are a lot of local firms who made similar drills about the turn of the 20th century. I repaired the woodwork of my Horace Fuller drill by building it around the brush and axle as I couldn’t move the brush…[Read more]

For what it’s worth, my Barford Scythe has BARFORD GRANTHAM cast into the wheels. I didn’t know it was a ‘Councillor’ until I joined this site a few years ago.
Is it possible that when Barfords produced a scythe attachment for the Atom they needed to differentiate it from the larger Power Scythe which they then named the Councillor as local…[Read more]

Your lawn roller has very ornate castings and is probably late 19th or early 20th century. There are quite a few collectors of lawn rollers and also they display well with lawnmowers of similar age. The only problem is the weight!
Are you sure there is no name on the castings or the handle or perhaps evidence of a missing label.

Thanks for clarifying about the plough Andyfrost.

That’s a very nice photo Autophil, where and when was it taken? I see all the autocultos have the torpedo type tank so presumably date to around the 1940’s and the ‘ X’ series.
My machine had been stuck in the back of the shed for some time waiting until I could get implements to go with it, so…[Read more]

There is what is probably a model L advertised in this month’s Cultivator magazine in the New Forest. Shame it is lockdown and a long way or I would have had it.
I am interested in Andy’s comments about the plough as I have just obtained a plough for my model EX but without the bits to connect it up to the machine so any ideas on hitching it up…[Read more]

Thanks for a nice calendar with interesting photos

Hi Alan,
I suspect the name changed over the years as I have a faccimile copy of the Country Gentlemens annual Catalogue dated 1894 produced by the C.G.A. It is full of contemporary adverts with prices, just like the annual price books of the 1950’s and 60’s. It is also stated that it is the second annual catalogue they had produced—hence 1893…[Read more]

Thanks for the warning, I haven’t tried to run it yet, got it as a possible replacement for the engine on the Landmaster Stoic which seems to have lost its spark.

Why not post an ad in the VHGMC newsletter, are you looking for any attachments or those other than the usual finger bar mower.

Patrick Edwards tractor jumble and spares day is still going ahead at Clanfield Oxon on Saturday 3rd October.

Price was almost £5 per photograph, about the same price as the Autoculto ones. There was unfortunately no contemporary written information with them to prove where and when they were taken.

It would help to know where you are

This was in the same box as the hoes, any idea what it is for? It appears to have had a long wooden handle.

This was in the same box as the hoes, any idea what it is for?

Thanks, What does the end of the handle look like where it fits into the blade?

Orchard sprayer?, can’t see where the outlet is, but it could be for spraying crops.

Eventually found some numbers, The JAP engine has what appears to be 2AV 85976 pressed into the cowling, although the V could be a U. According to a JAP dating list I found this makes it 1956 or 1943. I’m not sure when they began making 2A engines but since this one had a recoil starter I am guessing it is probably 1956.
Taking a closer look at…[Read more]

Thanks for that observation, the extension appears to be necessary to enable the user to lift the idler pulley in and out of gear effectively and the red catch higher up holds the lever out.
There are no controls on the handlebars you would expect on most motormowers and the JAP engine appears to be a fixed speed.
However the engine is painted the…[Read more]