The Friends of Ferguson Heritage Ltd.- Magazine Issue 28

Every member of FoFH receives three issues of the high quality, glossy magazine each year.

The content always inspiring and interesting: the magazine alone is worth the membership subscription. Here are some of the main items in issue 28, June 2003:-

Front Cover:
"Tractor Mate" was the name given to machines developed in the US for side-mounting on Ferguson Tractors. Though short-lived, their story is fascinating and somewhat veiled in secrecy. We attempt to lift the veil on page 10.

Back Cover:
another baler and also a bit of a mystery. Our FoFH archives have failed to provide any information on the MF8 working behind the MF 135 tractor. Obviously not a straight-forward conventional baler, but can anyone help in providing some details of what looks to be an interesting machine?

Pages 16 to 19... "Technical Talk", by David Brooks, is an in-depth four page look at speed reduction boxes for the TE20, FE35, MF35 and MF65 tractors.

"Banner Lane farewell" Pages 26 and 27, the centre spread, has a description and photographs taken at the Final Open Day at Ferguson's original factory at Banner Lane, Coventry, UK. [Right] FoFH guru and nervous singer George McAleer sings "Banner Lane Farewell", comforted by Jim Nesbitt (you can see the real caption in the magazine!)

Pages 28, 29, 30, and 48 describe how the curtain came down on MF's Coventry plant, in "Last of the Line" It would be nice to give credit to the writer of this nice little piece, but I don't know the writer's name. [Right] The last tractor built at Banner Lane is, amazingly, the 3,307,996th! Does anyone have that as a telephone number? Take courage, Friends, the first factory closes but Ferguson lives on.

Postbag Pages 32 to 33... Always an interesting section, with information, queries and photographs from members. Amongst the letters, the three South Pole TE20's are pictured, and there's a good picture of a Ferguson Brown (I can't copy the whole magazine for you, see the membership page, and get your own copy).

Pages 36 to 37 show a report from New Zealand Co-ordinator Peter Cameron, on meetings in NZ. They're really keen in NZ. Did you know whether the petrol tank transfer should be on the front, or the back of the tank? Do the TE steering wheels vary? And what about the bonnet length? How about the meaning of a Union Flag, or a blue stripe, on the bonnet? Answers on page 36.

Pages 38 and 39 are the "Junior Ferguson" pages: this illustration of a MF165 is by Jonathan Smith. There's always something of interest here (what do you mean, I'm too old?), and the organizer has just put in a plea for kid's tractor jokes. I can hardly wait for the next magazine...it'll be a cracker.

Member's Market Stall

is on pages 40 and 41. Oh, we don't need that, I hear you say, we already have the FoFH Market Place. True, but it doesn't have adverts from people without internet connections...

Pages 42,43 have a report by John Farnworth on a Massey-Harris Event in Forfar. The item is illustrated with nine pictures, one of which was this MH721 seed drill working behind a MH203 tractor.

John Farnworth writes again on Pages 44 to 46, describing the Massey Expo USA. Ten illustrations this time, including this MH Orchard Pacemaker.

You want more? OK, there's more:-

• John Caldwell's trip to America;
• "Farming Yesteryear" at Scone Palace, Perth, Scotland;
• FoFH's Scottish Region Working Day Rally;
• A Little Grey Fergie found blocking a hole in a hedge;
• FoFH at The Ardingley Vintage Vehicle Show;
• Club News;
• an item from the FoFH Archives;
• The British National Ploughing Championships 2002;
• Tractor World 2003 Malvern;
• Aerial photographs of the Hampshire Group's 2002 Vintage Harvest Gathering and of a ploughing match;
• Advertisements from the suppliers you are looking for;
• etc, etc...

Three issues a year, all free if you're a member... Take a look at the membership page.

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