Garden Tractors
Our collection includes the following machines in this category:
These small tractors were built between 1948 and around 1955. They were based on the 2 wheeled BMB ploughmate machine. We have two in our collection, the first being built in 1949 and powered by a JAP 5hp single-cylinder air cooled engine, the other having a Briggs &Stratton model ZZ engine. Power to the 2-speed gearbox was via a flat belt. A idler pulley tensioned the belt and when the foot pedal was pressed down releasing the tension, this acted as the clutch,a tight turning circle was helped with seperate brakes for each rear wheel. The machine was fitted with a hand-operated lift mechanism for rear- or mid-mounted implements i.e. plough, toolframe etc.
The British Anzani Iron Horse was built from 1940 to the mid 1950's. The machine was powered by a JAP single cylinder aircooled engine of 6hp. A centrifugal clutch fed power to a Ford 3-speed gearbox. Independent dog clutches to each wheel, controlled by hand levers, aided tight turning. When new, they cost about £140 and could be fitted with various implements including a plough, ridging bodies, toolframe and attachments. Our machine was bought in semi-restored condition and finished in 1999.
The BMB plowmate was the largest of 3 different size pedestrian tractors built by British Motor Boats who started importing American built machines during the 1930,s. The plowmate has a 2 foward and reverse gearbox and is powered by a JAP model 5 engine or a Briggs&Stratton ZZ engine both of around 6hp.
BMB HOEMATE
Smallest of the BMB walk behind tractors, the Hoemate has a 2 stroke engine made by Brockhouse of around 1.5hp, it has a single foward speed and ratchet hubs to aid cornering. a flat belt when tensioned provides the drive from the engine to the wheels. like the other BMB tractors it could be fitted with many implements.
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1937 ROWTRAC
The Rowtrac was built from the 1930's to the 1950's by George Monro of Waltham Cross, who also made a selection of rotovators for the horticultural market. The Rowtrac had a single cylinder Villiers 2-stroke engine of 5hp. Drive to the single speed gearbox was engaged by a lever operating a cone clutch. Ratchets in the hubs aided turning. Fuel consumption was said to be 2-2½ gallons in 8 hours working. Implements included a plough, hoes and a disc harrow attachment. It could be fitted with pneumatic tyres or heavy case spade-lug wheels. Our machine was bought derelict and rough and was restored in the 1990,s.
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1943 TRUSTY 2-wheeled tractor
Trusty 2-wheeled tractors were produced from 1933 to the late 1950's, with many modifications and improvements during its history. All machines had a centrifugal clutch from the engine, with independent dog clutches on each wheel to disengage drive when turning. Early Trustys were single-speed machines, usually powered by a 5hp JAP engine. Later versions had 2-speed and reverse gearbox and could be powered by either JAP 5hp, Douglas 8hp or Norton 14hp engines. During the war years, it seems a few were fitted with Briggs & Stratton engines, and our machine is an example of this. You could buy almost any attachment you could need for the Trusty, including ploughs, self-lift toolframes, sawbench, rollers, disc harrows, and even a ride-on seat and trailer.
1951 Trusty model 6
This later version of the Trusty 2 wheel tractor is fitted with a JAP model 6 engine of around 8hp and also has a 3 foward speed 1 reverse gearbox. The tractor can be seen with the bogey seat attachment fitted.
1938 RANSOMES MG2 CRAWLER
Ransomes started production of the MG2 crawler in 1936 and continued until 1948, when replaced by a much-improved MG5. In fact, Ransomes made the small crawler tractor until the final version of the MG40 finished production in 1966. The MG2 was powered by a Sturmey Archer 6hp engine, a centrifugal clutch engaged the drive to the single forward/reverse gearbox. Steering is by a pair of levers - pulling left or right will brake that particular track, swinging the tractor around, although unlike most bigger crawlers, track drive is not disengaged. The photo shows the crawler pulling a Ransomes TS30 single-furrow plough, made for the MG series.
BARFORD ATOM 30
The Barford Atom 30 was first produced in 1959, replacing the earlier model 15. The Atom 30 had a Villiers Mark 15 single-cylinder engine producing 3hp. The power was fed to the gearbox via a Vee belt, this being tensioned by hand lever to drive the machine. Ratchets in the hubs aided steering. Our machine is seen ploughing, this being one of many implements that could be bought, including disc harrows, cutter bar, toolbar and fittings, sawbench, trailer and other things.
1950,s BMB CULTMATE
The BMB Cultmate was the mid-range garden tractor produced by British Motor Boats, who were importing American Simplicity garden tractors before the war. Due to short supply of parts during the war years, they started making their own machines. The Cultmate has a BSA 3½ single-cylinder engine, a flat belt drive, with lever-operated tensioner acting as a clutch to the single-speed gearbox. Ratchet hubs made turning easier. As with many of these small horticultural tractors, many implements were made.
AUTO-CULTO GARDEN TRACTORS
Allen & Simmonds, who made the Auto-Culto garden tractors started making machines in the mid-1920's and have made many different models over the years. The two garden tractors shown can both be fitted with various attachments, including ploughs, toolbars and implements. The machine in the top photograph dates from the mid=1930's and is fitted with a 2-stroke Villiers engine and single-speed gearbox. The machine in the lower photograph, dating from 1951, has a 3½ hp Villiers 4-stroke engine with a 2-speed and reverse gearbox. Separate dog clutches disengage drive to each wheel to aid turning. The machine also has spade lug attachments on the wheels for extra grip.
This is our latest restoration project a 1946 Garner 2 wheel tractor. It is in poor condition at present but is restorable, this is our second garner in the collection. The garner is powered by a J.A.P model 5 engine it has a centrifugel clutch and a 3 speed gearbox, linked to this is a diff with drum brakes.Drive is then taken by double chain to the wheels.In the photo it has a toolframe fitted but also came with a single furrow plough.
A recent addition is this Graveley tractor, kindly donated to our collection. It is powered by a 12hp Koeller engine with electric start and comes with a ride on seat, snow plough and a 40inch mower attachment. More info is being collected on this machine as to when they were built etc.
