Walk Behind Machines
March 25, 2013 in Machinery
A collection of Landmaster motor hoes being shown with various attachments.
The range of pedestrian-controlled machinery is certainly extensive and it is all covered by the VHGMC. Whether it was built in the 1920’s or the 1990’s it is all the same to us.
The walk-behind category is probably the largest one in the club and encompasses everything from the humble cylinder lawn mower to the larger Iron Horse type tractors that compete at ploughing matches.
Now that insecticide sprays are widely used in agriculture the motor hoe has completely disappeared, yet these were widely used in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s to combat weed infestations and these remain one of the main collectible machines of our club members. They are generally light and easily transported yet very eye-catching, and were always painted in bright colours to increase their appeal.
Walk behind machines are excellent for showing or using.
Another favourite of collectors is the rotavator that has been used on allotments since it’s invention in the 1950’s and is still a firm favourite today, with manufacturers varying from Atco to Wolseley with every company in between.
The appeal of this machinery is that the collector can restore it using very few tools and in a very small workshop. It is generally inexpensive to buy and is widely available, and when the restoration is finished the restorer can use it at many of our club working events so that the work is never finished when the restoration is complete. You can actually play with the finished article, or even use it for what it was deigned to do originally – assist in growing food.
spider said on October 23, 2013
Just feel the need too say invention of the rotavator 1950s I believe it was as long ago as 1910 Clifford made its 1st rotavator in 1946
said on November 8, 2013
Sorry to disagree but A C Howard was the first to use a rotavator in Australia back in the early thirty’s before coming to England and opening a factory in West Horndon Essex before the second world war. I worked for him from 1956 until the factory closed in 1975
Thanks Jack
said on November 22, 2013
Correction I should have said he first made a rotavator in 1912 and he then patented it in 1919 before coming back to the UK again to open the factory here before the second world war
Thanks Jack
spider said on December 10, 2013
Are you disagreeing with me ? I was only pointing out that someone made a rotavator a long time ago not a bad guess on my part just 2 years out 😉
said on October 22, 2014
What about the Acre made in Derbyshire