machinery - Vintage Horticultural and Garden Machinery Club

Then and Now – Gamages, Holborn

November 7, 2019April 14, 2019 by Alan

Several manufacturers names and adverts turn up on a quite regular basis, these include: Howard, Greens Mowers, Jap engines, Sheen flame guns, Tarpen equipment, Allen scythes and the list goes on, but also one other name, that of Gamages of… Continue Reading

Husqvarna – Nearly Found One

November 7, 2019March 11, 2019 by Alan

Some machines appear to be rare, scarce, non-existant, but are they? Or are they out there hiding in the bushes? This article is about how elusive some items can be….or perhaps I’m not searching in the correct place for the… Continue Reading

Ariens (& Gravely)

November 7, 2019February 18, 2019 by Alan

Many of the machines and pieces of equipment that are collected fall in to one of three categories: pedestrian machines, ride on machines and hand tools. But there are three more categories which we rarely think of, these are:1. Popular… Continue Reading

Resources for Research

January 14, 2019 by Alan

It’s been fascinating to research and compile several articles for this website homepage over the last couple of years, these articles relate to different machines, places and times in horticultural, retail and engineering history. Where does this information come from,… Continue Reading

Recycling Machinery

November 7, 2019October 27, 2018 by Alan

Horticultural equipment collectors are, in my opinion, quite good at recycling in order to keep their hobby rolling along. One only has to look at a collector’s spares heap or the garage workbench with the aroma of WD40, a line… Continue Reading

Every Machine Has a History

November 7, 2019July 25, 2018 by Alan

One of the pleasures, or depending on ones view it could be a fault, of any hobby is gathering up new items whether they are needed or not. For instance a model railway enthusiast may start with a single train… Continue Reading

Then and Now – 1910

November 7, 2019April 29, 2018 by Alan

Our latest Then & Now picture is from 1910 and features Ashton’s of East Sheen. The sign in the window announcing the stock of Garden Tools & Requisites and the array of merchandise on the pavement tells us that they… Continue Reading

VHGMC in the Telegraph newspaper 2009

November 7, 2019March 3, 2018 by Alan

In April 2009 the Telegraph newspaper ran an excellent article about the VHGMC with the headline of ‘Down Tools? Not these vintage gems’.The Telegraph article can be read online and can be found at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningequipment/5124249/Vintage-garden-machinery-Down-tools-Not-these-vintage-gems.html … Continue Reading

Howard Bantam 1950

November 7, 2019February 22, 2018 by Alan

Humour can capture the attention of the prospective customer far easier than any serious advertising might. All from 1950 are the following four adverts for the Howard Rotavator ‘Bantam’. Each is carefully crafted to highlight the difficulties of gardening that… Continue Reading

G. D. Mountfield Adverts

November 7, 2019January 20, 2018 by Alan

G.D.Mountfield of Maidenhead are well known to be associated with a large range of horticultural machinery and accordingly the company did a vast amount of advertising. Mountfield started their ‘proper’ marketing in 1967 after the appointment of Robinson Scotland and… Continue Reading