Fordson tractor conversion - 1940s?
Photograph courtesy of Freida Murray, Buckie, daughter of Robert Allison who was Forester in charge at Speymouth Forest from 1950 to 1973.
This undated photograph has been hand tinted and shows a homemade conversion of a Fordson tractor to incorporate a large cable winch in front. Location and men are unfortunately also not known.
This ingenious conversion has been achieved by bolting two large I beams alongside the main tractor chassis and moving the front wheels and steering linkage forwards by 3-4 feet thus allowing a large drum winch driven by the front engine shaft to be fitted in between on the extended chassis.
Note the starting handle mechanism and also what looks like drop down beams with chamfered ends to act as winch anchors. This means the wire rope must have been led at times under the tractor.
Any details or observations of how this machine was put together and operated would be very welcome. Does anyone recognise the men, the machine or the purpose of the tank or container above the rectangular tool box? How did the starting handle work in this set up?
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Groups: Forestry in Action, Other Vehicles and Machines, Timber harvesters, processors, forwarders and cable cranes
2 Comments
The tank above the tool box is a reservoir for the vacuum assisted trailer brakes. These tractors were popular with small sawmills and estates who would use them for extraction, loading and haulage.
The starting handle has a chain link down to it's "proper" position, in use the handle would be pushed in to engage the drive as usual.
Comment left on 02 September 2021 at 09:05 by jimmy Thain
The company made variations of the Tractor until the early 1960s, the last models were based on the light Blue Fordson Diesel Tractors.
There are a number of survivors still around, an identical one can be found on Google.
Comment left on 23 October 2014 at 22:42 by Jimmy Thain