A Special-purpose Tractor Demonstrated
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A DEMONSTRATION of the Pettis...L-1 son tractor-truck, operating a Ransorues triple-cutter and a moledrainer, was recently arranged by the manufacturer. H. Pattisson and Co., Hill Works, Stanmore, Middlesex, and took place near Repton, Derbyshire.
The tractor-truck has the old-type Ford engine and controls. Special gearing is manufactured by the company, so as to enable the vehicle to travel at low speeds when engaged on grassmowing.
A lorry body is fitted, which can readily be tipped or detached, and it has a capacity of some 20 cubic ft.
A demonstration of mowing was first given on a level sports ground. The triple-cutter has a 7-ft. track, whilst as many as seven cutters can be hauled, cutting a track ap to 15 it. wide. Recently the tractor .a.nd cuttera.completed a job in three-quarters of an hour Which, by horse, took 4 hours.
The great advantage of this type of machine for golf-course mowing was shown later, when it easily surmounted a steep bank up which no horse could work. For this work spiked iron rear wheels Are used, although ordinary tyred wheels are easily fitted for employment on the road.
When mole-draining is to be undertaken the rear axle is jacked up on a firm framework and a pulley is fixed in place of one of-the-wheels, This hauls in a wire hawser, which. -runs, around a pulley anchored in the ground by • means of 'large. -ptts and is attached to the drainer.
The last-named runs on three small rollers, and it consists of a torpedoshaped digger about 18 ins, underground, a track for which is made by a vertical circular cutter mid which is fixed to the framework by a narrow vertical bar.
The advantage of the anchor pulley system lies in the fact that the whole ground can be drained without moving the tractor, the line of the mole-drainer being changed from time to time as desired.
The light tractor can also be used for ordinary farm purposes, and it sells at £135.