Smallest tractor in the International Harvester line

All the way from North America

The Farmall Cub (above left) is the smallest tractor in the International Harvester line. Production began in 1947 and continued relatively unchanged until 1964. This little tractor was aimed at the needs of the small-acreage farmer. Seven or eight implements were initially designed for it: Plow, Disc, Backblade, Sickle-Bar Mower, Belly-Mower, and a one-armed front-end loader for starters. The Cub was easily one of the most popular small chore tractors made in history. This is shown by the sheer numbers of Cubs that were built. People would not stop buying them! With a production run lasting almost 20 years, over 200,000 of them were built between 1947 and 1964

(Above right) Allis-Chalmers' history as a manufacturer extends to the 1840's in Milwaukee. In 1914 the growing company entered into the farm equipment business. Over the years Allis-Chalmers was responsible for many innovations in farm equipment and grew to become one of the largest and most diverse manufacturers in North America. However, Allis-Chalmers became the victim of rapidly changing financial times and was eventually forced to sell the farm equipment division to K-H-Deutz AG of Germany in 1985

An Austin Champ of the early '50s

The Austin Champ: This specifically military vehicle was designed to meet a British army specification of the late 1940s. At the end of World War II the success of the US Army's Jeep had many armed forces wanting similar vehicles of their own. The FV1800, as the Champ was first known, was powered by a 2.8L Rolls Royce engine and the engine was fully enclosed for wading. The gearbox had 5 forward and 5 reverse speeds and an all round independent suspension. Production started in September 1951 and the first of what was to be a run of 12,000 vehicles, was delivered in March 1952. The War Office ended up paying about £1200 for each one - in today's money, about £30,000.

The soldiers who had to use the Champs weren't keen on them and the list of defects - the worst of which was rear axle failure - seemed endless and the Champ quickly acquired a reputation for unreliability. It remained in service with the Army from the mid '50s to the '60s but were always considered awkward and expensive to maintain and, in terms of miles per gallon, were poor. They were eventually replaced by the cheaper but very efficient Land Rover, still the standard issue vehicle fifty years later.

There are those who would tell you that the Champ was a vehicle which was technologically ahead of its time and a victim of its own complexity but, in spite of the innovations on board, it's ended up being generally regarded as a failure.

A static portable single cylinder diesel engine, made in Belfast

Of course the show doesn't only feature all manner of wheeled vehicles. There are many 'Static Engines' on show too. These once played a vital role as portable sources of rotary power for pumping, generating, woodcutting, grinding etc. Today, many such implements carry their own power source, be it lightweight petrol or electric motor. This lovely looking static Diesel Engine is clearly designed to provide power to belt-driven machinery. This one, called a 'Handie Boy', was made by Brownlees of Belfast.

Anyone for tea? What is this little engine designed to do?

What this machine is doing is anybody's guess... perhaps you can tell us? You can respond to this, or any article on your place and mine, by clicking on "Reply to this Article".

(Photos - Marty Johnston)