.jpg)
The steady 'chuff chuff” of a 1916 Mogul tractor, the clunk of a nearby stationery engine and the roar of a 1958 D9E Caterpillar bulldozer were among the sounds on a Katikati property this morning as dozens of vintage tractors and engines 'cranked-up” for the delight of the public.
Larry Williams forks hay into the Booth & MacDonald stationery hay baler in action at the Tauranga Vintage Machinery Club 'Crank Up Festival” today. Photos: Elaine Fisher.
The Tauranga Vintage Machinery Club 'Crank Up Festival” continues this afternoon but even before the official start time of 10.30am, people were arriving to see the machinery in action.
A Mogul tractor, owned by Larry Williams, provided the power to drive Colston Landon's Booth & MacDonald stationery hay baler which baled hay for the first time in at least 60 years.
After a few minor adjustments and a couple of reject bales, the machine, and the men feeding it, produced very acceptable conventional hay bales.
A number of restored stationery engines, one driving a water pump, were on display, along with a range of tractors, vintage cars and military vehicles.
Children enjoyed rides in a buggy, pulled not by horses, but by a 35 horse power tractor.
Club president Eric Green was among those to attempt to balance his Farmall on the tractor sew-saw – a feat not as easy as it first appeared – given the uneven weight distribution of the machine.
Michael Cooper, on whose property the event is held, gave a demonstration of the power of his massive 1958 D9E Caterpillar bulldozer and its ability to rip up the ground.
It wasn't all machine power though. Bruce Polly and his two Clydesdale horses also took part.
Members of other vintage machinery clubs, including from the Waikato and Hauraki Plains are also at the event which runs from to around 3pm will be signposted from SH2 and admission is by donation.
.jpg)
Michael Cooper's massive 1958 D9E Caterpillar bulldozer gives a demonstration of its power.
.jpg)
Forget the ponies – these youngsters enjoy a buggy ride behind a 35 horse power tractors.
1 comment
THIS IS AWESOME
Posted on 13-04-2016 19:31 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
REMEMBER THESE days well,we had wire around our bales,and a lot of hay was done with a sythe,GOSH these were the best days of me life,worked hard ,all neighbours helped each other it was awesome,and all those big thick scones in a flax basket bought to us from all concerned, never saw any obesity then at all,maybe we should go back in time and start again,and weed them out as we went along,all done with horses and traction engines, by the way i use to work with Larry,my 13pennies worth 10-4,calling it a day, me log is calling ,maybe me wahine will pop over for a tipple and stay over at 92 she is a bit alright,over and out.Sunlive NO1 in the bay ,Thankyou.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.