Cropmaster, icon and workhorse of the fields, marks 70 years since its launch

Machinery: David Brown’s much-loved tractor was designed to carry out all farming tasks

One of the most iconic tractors ever built, the David Brown Cropmaster, turns 70 this month after being launched in April 1947 at David Brown’s tractor factory at Meltham near Huddersfield in the heart of the Pennines.

The first tractor off the production line was numbered P10001 and was presented to the National Farmers Union Disaster Fund which was set up in the wake of the devastating floods caused by the heavy snowfall that year.

Although the tractor was not unlike its predecessors, the 1939 launched VAK 1 and the 1945 upgrade the VAK 1A, it had a great many improvements and was indeed a brand new tractor.

Released at a time of great demand for agricultural machinery, the tractor was well received by potential customers and farming press alike.

David Brown (DB) were aiming to make a big mark in tractor manufacturing after 10 years in tractors, after firstly constructing Ferguson’s Type A and following Harry Ferguson’s departure to the USA, their own machines for agriculture and military use.

It was designed for all farming tasks hence the name, which was in response to competitors using model names such as Farmall, Major, Universal, etc.

The Cropmaster was a much newer design under the familiar tinwork of its forebears. It had an extended wheelbase cast in four parts and larger wheels.

It had an integral hydraulic lift in the new back end and the gearbox offered six speeds, although the four speed option remained until 1949.

With some of Fergusons patents running out it was able to be fitted with converging linkage although draught control was still unavailable.

One of the great features of these early DB tractors was the coal scuttle windshield and wide wings which gave the driver more protection.

Cabs were also available for DB tractors with their own, Portland and Scottish Aviation versions available over the years.

The Cropmaster was also blessed with a bench seat and as the tractor was slightly offset to give more weight on the land side for ploughing the driver sat on one side of the transmission tunnel.

Priced at £471 for the six-speed version, the tractor proved to be a strong seller and it is reported that in its first two years of production Fife dealer JBW Smith of Cupar sold 100 a year until Ferguson appointed a dealer in the area and the benefits of the Ferguson system took off.

In 1949 DB, who had designed their engine to be thus converted, became the first British tractor builder to offer a factory-fitted diesel version of the machine.

By 1953, with a line-up of wheeled and tracked tractors and matching implements, DB was one of the big boys.

With essential large export orders outstripping home sales, the Cropmaster was replaced by the two cheaper 25 and 30 models after 60,000 had been produced.

Not only at home on the farm – a Cropmaster at work on the Old Course in St Andrews.