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THE 1920 TRACTOR TRIALS.

27th April 1920, Page 18
27th April 1920
Page 18
Page 18, 27th April 1920 — THE 1920 TRACTOR TRIALS.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Group Theory, Plou, G

. The Entries Examined and the Scheme Criticised. By " Agrimot."

NOTHING IN the agricultural •machinery line is so full of interest for farmers at the present time than trials in connection -with farm tractors. The demonstration at Lincoln last September was a great event, well managed by the S.M.M. ;and T., and much appreciated by the agricultural Though the trials this year will not he run on exactly the same lines----being a joint affair 'between the R.A.S.E. and the .S.M.M. and T., with the former society carrying the major share of responsibility—they ought to prove equally attractive and, given decent weather, the attendance will undoubtedly be good. Prizes will be awarded to successful competitors according to class, following the usual methods of R.A.S.E. practice. That these awards will interest or influence the agriculturist to any great extent is extremely doubtful. The prize will be valued by the firm winning it, but personally,

• I fail to see much value in it. However, will not discuss the point now, as there are one or two other matters that call for consideration.

Although a -staunch supporter of the R.A.S.E. and an admirer of the benefits it has conferred upon agriculture over a very long period, I certainly feel that there is sufficient ground for strong criticism in one respect regarding its conducting of the 1920 tractor trials, or rather re.garding the rules governing the entries. The entries are now closed, and it affords more than a little relief to find that 'quite a satisfactory number of firms have 'entered machines for the event. When the entry forms were sent out, I felt like prophesying That only a small number of entries would he made, and I am certain the event is not, being organized as well as it might be. The offending rule governing the entries sent out with the entry forms is that reading as follows :—" In classes 1, 2, 3, and 4, in order to ensure equal conditions, the Society is arranging to provide the ploughs. Implements of the same type will be used for all competitors in the same class." This at once stops all freedom. of choice in the matter of ploughs,

and will mean that a tractor in any particular class will have to use one particular type of plough whether-suitable or unsuitable, and, if the latter should happen to be the case, the tractor may be condemned, not through any intrinsic fault; but because of ita having to work with a plough .unsuiteld to it. The fact is well known that certain ploughs are much more suited than others to a particrilar make of tractor. But, if it is compulsory that tractor must use ,an unsuitable type of plough, what an injustice will be inflicted upon the tractor entrant! The same is true of plough entrants, only perhaps the case is wane. The trials were originally announced. for tractors • and ploughs, and that announcement still helds geiod. But, according to the rule quoted above, the. competing ploughs will be selected by the promoters of the Trials. In the ac,complishment of goad work, the plough is as important as the tractor, and yet only a limited number will be allowed to compete, which is very unfair, and can be of no value either to implement makers or farmers. The decision has caused a very great amount of dissatis faction in several quarters, and I am surprised at an experienced organization like the R.A.S.E. making such unpractical and repressive conditions. If the trials had been for tractors only, the restriction would not be so harmful, although, even then, it would be difficult to understand any reason for its imposition.

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Considering -the influence which this restrictive clause must have had, it is gratifying to find that good number of entries have been made in spite of it. In Class 1, for tractors under 24 h.p. for ploughing with two furrows, there are nine -entries :—Ford, Garner, Davesi (Italian), International Harvester Co. Austirts, Ancona Motor Co., Mayerofts, Ltd., Saunderson, and H. G. Burford.

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Class 2, sae as Class 1, but ploughing three furrows, comprises 17 entries :—Lawson (American), Garner, Martin, Fiat C34 Motors (Italian), International Harvester, Noyes, Stockwell . and Co., Melchior, Armstrong, Deseau, Ltd., Emerson, Austin, Wallace Farm Implements Co. (Glasgow), Peter Brotherhood : (American), Ancona Motor Co. (American), Mayerofts, Over, time, Saunderson, Fairbanks,, Morse and Co., Ltd., H. G. Burford, and W. Weeks and Son. Above classes ploughing to be 10 ins, wide by 6 ins. deep. Class 3, Berne, Motor Lorries, Ltd., Fiat Motors, Ltd., and Onmitractor Syndicate, Ltd. Three entries only for tractora over 30 h.p., drawing a four-furrow, ploughing 10 ins. wide by 8 ins. deep. In Class 4, direct steam traction, only Manns, of Leeds, have entered. Ploughing to be 10 ins, wide and 8 ins, deep, with, four furrows. • Class 5 is for internal-combustion doable-engine sets, for cable ploughing, three Or four furrows, 10 ins, wide, and 8 ins. deeps. There are three entries for this :—Henry Garner, Ltd., Birmingham, John Fowler, Ltd., Leeds; J. and H. Mac haven, Ltd., Leeds. • In Cla:ss 6, for light steam double-engine sets, for cable ploughing only, John. Fowler, of Leeds, have entered. In this classtoo, three or four furrows may be attached to the ploughs, and the ploughing is to be 10 ins. by 8 ins. . , Class 7, for eelf-contaiued. motor ploughs, there are seven -entries :.—The Timesaver Co., Martin, Ra.nsomes, Sims and Jefferies, John bowler (Leeds), Motrao Engineers, Ltd., Crawley, and Sander. There are also Brame unclassified entries, which include a-Simper]. Moseley, Pick, Agricultural and General Engineers, Ltd., Chase Tractor Corporation, and British Commercial Lorry and Engineering Co., Ltd. Last year, at the S.M.M. and T. ..31 firms entered with 55 tractors, three net -putting in an appearance. This year, the R.A.S.E. have received 34 entries. Several of the firms competing at Lincoln, are not found in this year's list; Alldays, Ave,' Blackstone, Clayton and Shuttleworth, Case, Morris Russell (Eros Unit), Gray, Mask ell, Suinmerscales and Whiting. Perhaps the firms do not like the conditions, while some may not approve of a competition. Case, Santler, and Summerscales wets the three that did not turn up last year. Several iresh firms are noticed :—Davesi, Mayerofts, John Lawson Manufacturing Co., Noyes, Stockwell and Co., ltd., Peter Brotherhood, Ltd.-, Fairbanks, Morse and Co., Ltd., Berna Motor Lorries, Ltd.; John Fowler (Leeds), Ltd., J. and H. Maclaren, The Timesaver Co., Raarsornes, Sillas and Jeffaries, General Motors, Ltd., Agricultural and General Engineers, Ltd., Chase Tractor Corporation, Ltd., and the British Commercial Lorry and Engineering Co.,Ltd. • There is about -the same number of firms entered for trimtors as last year, but it has not been made public how many makes, types, and models have been entered by each firm. Five firms are concerned with direct-steam traction, steam double-engine cable Set, or with internaleoralmstion, doubleengine set, cable ploughing. These entries are very welcome for purposes of comparison, but they are not motor tractors. I notice Henry Garner is competing in the cla.ss for internalcombustion double-engine set for cable pleughina. Nearly all the tractor firms Competing in Class. 1 have also entered in -. Class 2. Ford and Davesi have iiot, done so.. I sin glad to see that at least one small motor. plough (Fowler) has been entered. Altogether the number of entries is highly satisfactory, and should result in a very big show. The better-known • machines are well represented,while snakes that were not at, Lincoln will be in evidence this year. Some more recent introductions are entered, and a few makes that are practically tinknown to the agricultural public. The Brotherhood entry is interesting, being suggestive of something good. Apart from the criticisms indulged in above, the affair should equal expectations. I would, however, like to have seen a separate class for caterpillar tractors, one-way machines, and for machines introducing new methods of cultivation.


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