First to have cab

George Thomson, of Anstruther, carries on with his memories of days on Angus and Perthshire estates.

“We went to Airlie where the tractor was a green standard Fordson,” he says. “I can remember it being hard to start, even when warm. It came to a sticky end driving the crosscut saw when it put a con rod through the cylinder block.

“The replacement was a petrol/ paraffin Fergie, later supplemented by a Fordson Dexta. I don’t remember Dad ever complaining that it had broken down or misbehaved.

“The last stop was Keithick, Coupar Angus. The tractor there was a Fordson Power Major which was the first one to have a cab, made by the foresters themselves. The farm tractor men always called it ‘Harry’s henhoose’. Of all the tractors he drove, this one was Dad’s favourite. He was sad to see it replaced by a Fordson Super Major.

“The final addition to the list was a series one David Brown 30D which came from a smaller place that the estate had bought. This tractor still had the appearance of the earlier Cropmaster with wide wings, a fairing and two seats.

“Dad seldom drove it as it was more of the ‘orra yoke’ and, in any case, he didn’t like sitting what he called ‘side saddle’. However, I drove it a lot over school holidays and at weekends and I thought it was great, especially sitting looking forward at the magnificent brass radiator cap. They were very happy days which came to an end in 1968 when we joined the drift off the land.”