SALTEX Exhibition NEC Birmingham, 3 – 4 Nov

[hdtrust]

SALTEX for those who do not know is the main event for all Grounds Maintenance Machinery (New) which is being held at the NEC Birmingham on November 3 – 4 . Entry is free, but you will need to register via the web site http://www.thegma.org.uk
This year there is a special event as its their 75th Birthday, started back in 1938 when the organisation was known as The Institute of Groundsmanship, today it is known as The Grounds Management Association.
The Hall & Duck Trust has been asked to exhibit on a main stand showing artefacts of Groundsman equipment from 1938.
This means that at the moment we are running around like blue —- flies! There is much work to be done behind the scenes of we have enlisted help from this most wonderful club, thanks Geoff for your help with Global Press!
Well worth a visit for club members

[trusty220]

Well done, Andrew, for securing such a prestigious venue for showing off your collection. As stand space is at a premium in the NEC the GMA must think it important to advertise their long association with the industry. I can remember the unique displays that you put on at SALTEX when it was at Windsor Racecourse and nothing but complimentary comments were overheard.

Besides, it will be good advertising for the VHGMC as well and may introduce some new members to our club. I’m certainly looking forward to it.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by trusty220.

[charlie]

I hope the global press give the VHGMC and H&D Trust a good write up.

[trusty220]

Global Press have now invested in a new notebook and sharpened all pencils and crayons especially for the event. If all goes well it should be a good show.

[wristpin]

Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be !
I went to my first outdoor IOG show at Motspur Park in 1976, I think. The show moved to a few other venues such as Kempton Park an eventually settled at Windsor Race Course. The show was always held at the beginning of September and it was always fine!!
We used to shut the business for the day and hire a mini bus, take all the staff and the head groundsmen / gardeners from our important customers – a good boys and girls day out.
I even attended s couple of Windsor shows after official retirement in 2012 but when commercial pressures brought about the move to the NEC which probably made business sense it was time to call it a day.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by wristpin.

[trusty220]

I know what you mean, Angus. The old days of the Windsor Show in September are long gone, but what a show it was! Woodchippers running, Blec digging holes and filling them in and countless mowers running on demonstration plots. One of the last ones I went to had Ransomes challenging all comers to drive their Spider remote control mower around a set course in the fastest time.

The new show at the NEC is a mere shadow of the old days, but the problem was that it cost a fortune to put on some of the old displays and the manufacturers were starting to pull out or, at best, only show every second year.

Money, or the lack of it, seems to drive everything these days unfortunately!

[hdtrust]

Dear Angus
Never say your to old!
The motto for The Institute of Groundsmanship is ‘Through Training to Service’, I’m in my 42nd year of the now Grounds Management Association.
Kind regards
Andrew

[trusty220]

The first day of the show has gone really well and plenty of membership forms have gone off the stand. It seems that plenty of groundsmen and greenkeepers are interested in “our” machinery so we’ll see in the coming weeks how many of these forms get returned!

Here are a few pictures just to show what the team achieved at the NEC. The idea behind it was to show the machinery used by IOG members over the last 75 years and it proved popular so far.

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[hdtrust]

Arrived home just a couple of hours ago, still fully loaded, with a few extras,Now got to get ready for our open day on Sunday for the Somerset Land Rover Series One Club.
Found a cracking gardening book for 1941, which has a cracking picture of the Royal Albert monument opposite the Royal Albert Hall Kensington London,with soldiers tending cabbages all around.
Could this be a picture for the future! Less air miles!

[trusty220]

Another curiosity at the show was a pedal-powered garden roller exhibited by Trevor Luckhurst of Poweroll, one of the few companies these days which specialise in sportsground rollers. Trevor has a large personal collection of old and unusual rollers which do get an airing from time to time; a personal favorite of mine is his Trusty Roller which he has just finished and shown for the first time at Truro a few weeks ago.

Definitely a case of making your hobby into a job!

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[trusty220]

……oh, and I should have said that I’m glad you got home safe and sound Andrew!

Well Done, Big Ears!

[coxey1979]

What are the leaf shaped bent arm spades and there use?

Thanks
Take care and stay safe, Mike

[charlie]

Mike, I take it you mean the two at edge of display. These are turf irons used for lifting turf, the bend allows the blade to run parallel with surface.

[coxey1979]

Thank you, the lady I bought the Howard off is disposing of her father’s collection and had one and I had never seen one before. I am helping her identify what some of the items are so she can get fair prices.

[hdtrust]

Hi Mike
Any further problems with idents, email me directly
Kind regards
Andrew

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