Turn the clock back to the late 1960s and early 1970s and the Callan/Mullinahone area was heavily populated with David Brown tractors. Here we feature a group of fanatics for the brand, with five out of the seven tractors pictured having been father-grandfather owned from new and having been passed down through the generations.
John Lennon hails from Callan, Co Kilkenny. John’s father, Pat, purchased his 995 new in 1972. This 72hp tractor was purchased from Barlo’s Garage in Clonmel. It was a part of Pat’s large agricultural contracting business. At the time, Pat was running 12 David Brown tractors. According to John, this particular 995 was used for everything. It was bought as a cab-less tractor, as its main purpose was in the winter months, when Willie McCormack and other workers spent the week scraping yards for local farmers. In the spring months it was on an agitator while during the summer months it was mainly used for square baling and drawing silage.
John explained that the day this tractor arrived it blew the engine on its way to its first job. He noted that one week later they received a letter from the dealership stating that there was a recall on this particular model. However, 46 years later and this tractor has never given an ounce of engine trouble since that first day.
Over the years, it acquired a front-end loader, which complemented it when on yard scraping duties. This tractor worked hard until 2006 and in 2008 it received a cosmetic makeover.
Willie McCormick, from Callan, Co Kilkenny, bought his 12-speed David Brown 770 Selectamatic five years ago before restoring it soon after. This 1969 machine was originally purchased new in the local area and has had a few local owners since.
Willie is not from a farm, but his love for David Browns sparked from driving the 995 model we looked at above for Pat Lennon for many years. This 770 was purchased by Pat Lennon to take over the yard scraping as the steering was too heavy on the 995.
In 1967, Jim Dunne’s father gave £700 for a brand new David Brown 880 Selectamatic. The tractor was purchased from Houlihans in Thurles. It was used for general farm work, but Jim’s father was a market gardener so this is what the tractor worked at mostly. In the following years, Jim can recall his father purchasing a new Pierce three-furrow plough for £70 and a new 4ft finger-bar mower for £300.
Jim told us that since the day his father purchased this tractor, it has been housed in a shed every night. The clock is still fully intact and working and now shows 9,478 hours. Since this 47hp tractor was purchased, Jim noted that the only thing that was ever changed was the starter and the tyres. In 2002, Jim gave the tractor a facelift. Nowadays, the tractor brings in bales and is used for light work.
Jim and Ciaran Rowan hail from just outside Mullinahone, Co Tipperary. They purchased their David Brown 996 in 1980 from Barlo’s Garage in Clonmel. They gave £3,800 for the tractor, which was three years old at the time. Since then, the brothers have put over 15,000 hours on the clock. The 64hp tractor was used for all sorts of farm work, including hauling slurry and hedge-cutting.
Jim said this was a brilliant tractor that has given great service and caused minimal trouble. He said: “I have spent far more in the upkeep of a modern 10-year-old tractor than I have in the David Brown over the last 38 years.
“We serviced the tractor after every 250 hours and it never let us down. Its fuel economy is second to none. It still has its original hydraulic pump, engine and axles even after carrying a front-end loader and after all the hard work over the years.”
A number of years ago, the brothers were afraid that David Brown parts may become scarce as the brand ceased production. As a result, they purchased a 996 for breaking for spares. They began to sell parts to neighbours before they noticed there was a niche in the market for David Brown parts. The brothers now sell parts all over Ireland and overseas under the abbreviation MTP (Mullinahone Tractor Parts). Vintage enthusiasts and David Brown fans will be familiar with the Rohan brothers, with many a customer finding their way to the yard. Jim told us his most unique customer over the years was an Irish priest based in Nigeria.
In the village in which he was situated, there were 12 David Brown 996s, mainly used for irrigation purposes. However, the villagers were unable to source parts. Jim explained that this priest called around twice per year for different bits and pieces before bringing the parts back to Nigeria in his suitcase.
A single 'plough' lamp was fitted as standard to the David Brown tractors.
Sean Dermody is the third-generation owner of his David Brown 880. Sean’s granduncle originally purchased the tractor brand new in June 1969 from Mahon McPhilips in Co Kilkenny. Sean has very fond memories of the tractor. His first experience of driving was on this tractor and he recalls driving to underage hurling training on it.
The 880 was relieved of its duties on Sean’s brother’s dairy farm in 2010 before undergoing a full restoration. This started with the removal of a Victor cab and an odd-sized back wheel which had replaced the original after years of yard scraping.
Nowadays, Sean often brings the tractor to local vintage shows and he informed us that the one thing that always captures people’s attention is his unique number plate, “RIP 989”. The first letter of the number plate changed quarterly throughout the year, while “IP” were the letters used for vehicles registered in Kilkenny.
Bunny Lynch was sent into Mahon McPhillips on 18 July 1968 to get a troublesome International 275 tractor fixed.
However, after a chat with the mechanics, and a call home to his father Philip, the decision was left to Bunny to either refurbish the engine on the International or purchase a new tractor. An hour later, he had bought a new David Brown 880. The only extra added at the time was a three-way valve which was to facilitate a tipper trailer and also a front-end loader. Bunny recalls giving £970 for the tractor. He also informed us that 12 months later he purchased a David Brown front-end loader for £160 and bullbar to protect the front grill which cost £30.
The wear is very evident on the clutch pedal in Bunny Lynch's 880 after 20,000 hours.
Bunny recalls the clock stopping in 1974 with 3,860 hours, and he is adamant that there has to be well over 20,000 hours on the tractor. The 880 was the sole tractor on the farm up to 1994, when it went into semi-retirement. The tractor was restored in 2011, but all major parts including the engine, axles and hydraulic pump are original.
Bunny explained that the only significant repair over the years was to replace the seals between the gearbox and the back axle, which needed a few bolt holes rethreaded. After 42 years as the only workhorse on the farm, the regular servicing and greasing has paid dividends. The front axle was left original and didn’t need rebushing after years of loader work (partly due to no power steering). Since the restoration seven years ago, the tractor has clocked up 340 hours doing light work around the farm such as spraying and log splitting.
Pat Maher’s grandfather, Paddy, purchased a new David Brown 880 Selectamatic fitted with a trip loader and a Lambourn canvas cab from Barlo’s Garage in Clonmel in March 1969. In the same deal, Paddy purchased a new Jones square baler.
This collection of machinery totalled £1,900 which was a significant investment at the time. To date, the tractor has clocked up over 10,000 hours.
Baling is evident on the clevis hitch as the top latch is almost worn away from the constant movement of the baler back and forth.
David Brown tractors had a unique hub on the rear axle. If the hub was rotated it has the ability to rise the tractor a foot which was very useful for jobs such as spraying.
Pat restored the sentimental tractor back in 2011. As we walked around the tractor, Pat told us that at the time of purchase the foot throttle was an extra which cost £10. A three-way valve chest was also an extra costing £30 at the time.
Without the three-way valve, operators would only have hydraulics to power the lift arms.
Turn the clock back to the late 1960s and early 1970s and the Callan/Mullinahone area was heavily populated with David Brown tractors. Here we feature a group of fanatics for the brand, with five out of the seven tractors pictured having been father-grandfather owned from new and having been passed down through the generations.
John Lennon hails from Callan, Co Kilkenny. John’s father, Pat, purchased his 995 new in 1972. This 72hp tractor was purchased from Barlo’s Garage in Clonmel. It was a part of Pat’s large agricultural contracting business. At the time, Pat was running 12 David Brown tractors. According to John, this particular 995 was used for everything. It was bought as a cab-less tractor, as its main purpose was in the winter months, when Willie McCormack and other workers spent the week scraping yards for local farmers. In the spring months it was on an agitator while during the summer months it was mainly used for square baling and drawing silage.
John explained that the day this tractor arrived it blew the engine on its way to its first job. He noted that one week later they received a letter from the dealership stating that there was a recall on this particular model. However, 46 years later and this tractor has never given an ounce of engine trouble since that first day.
Over the years, it acquired a front-end loader, which complemented it when on yard scraping duties. This tractor worked hard until 2006 and in 2008 it received a cosmetic makeover.
Willie McCormick, from Callan, Co Kilkenny, bought his 12-speed David Brown 770 Selectamatic five years ago before restoring it soon after. This 1969 machine was originally purchased new in the local area and has had a few local owners since.
Willie is not from a farm, but his love for David Browns sparked from driving the 995 model we looked at above for Pat Lennon for many years. This 770 was purchased by Pat Lennon to take over the yard scraping as the steering was too heavy on the 995.
In 1967, Jim Dunne’s father gave £700 for a brand new David Brown 880 Selectamatic. The tractor was purchased from Houlihans in Thurles. It was used for general farm work, but Jim’s father was a market gardener so this is what the tractor worked at mostly. In the following years, Jim can recall his father purchasing a new Pierce three-furrow plough for £70 and a new 4ft finger-bar mower for £300.
Jim told us that since the day his father purchased this tractor, it has been housed in a shed every night. The clock is still fully intact and working and now shows 9,478 hours. Since this 47hp tractor was purchased, Jim noted that the only thing that was ever changed was the starter and the tyres. In 2002, Jim gave the tractor a facelift. Nowadays, the tractor brings in bales and is used for light work.
Jim and Ciaran Rowan hail from just outside Mullinahone, Co Tipperary. They purchased their David Brown 996 in 1980 from Barlo’s Garage in Clonmel. They gave £3,800 for the tractor, which was three years old at the time. Since then, the brothers have put over 15,000 hours on the clock. The 64hp tractor was used for all sorts of farm work, including hauling slurry and hedge-cutting.
Jim said this was a brilliant tractor that has given great service and caused minimal trouble. He said: “I have spent far more in the upkeep of a modern 10-year-old tractor than I have in the David Brown over the last 38 years.
“We serviced the tractor after every 250 hours and it never let us down. Its fuel economy is second to none. It still has its original hydraulic pump, engine and axles even after carrying a front-end loader and after all the hard work over the years.”
A number of years ago, the brothers were afraid that David Brown parts may become scarce as the brand ceased production. As a result, they purchased a 996 for breaking for spares. They began to sell parts to neighbours before they noticed there was a niche in the market for David Brown parts. The brothers now sell parts all over Ireland and overseas under the abbreviation MTP (Mullinahone Tractor Parts). Vintage enthusiasts and David Brown fans will be familiar with the Rohan brothers, with many a customer finding their way to the yard. Jim told us his most unique customer over the years was an Irish priest based in Nigeria.
In the village in which he was situated, there were 12 David Brown 996s, mainly used for irrigation purposes. However, the villagers were unable to source parts. Jim explained that this priest called around twice per year for different bits and pieces before bringing the parts back to Nigeria in his suitcase.
A single 'plough' lamp was fitted as standard to the David Brown tractors.
Sean Dermody is the third-generation owner of his David Brown 880. Sean’s granduncle originally purchased the tractor brand new in June 1969 from Mahon McPhilips in Co Kilkenny. Sean has very fond memories of the tractor. His first experience of driving was on this tractor and he recalls driving to underage hurling training on it.
The 880 was relieved of its duties on Sean’s brother’s dairy farm in 2010 before undergoing a full restoration. This started with the removal of a Victor cab and an odd-sized back wheel which had replaced the original after years of yard scraping.
Nowadays, Sean often brings the tractor to local vintage shows and he informed us that the one thing that always captures people’s attention is his unique number plate, “RIP 989”. The first letter of the number plate changed quarterly throughout the year, while “IP” were the letters used for vehicles registered in Kilkenny.
Bunny Lynch was sent into Mahon McPhillips on 18 July 1968 to get a troublesome International 275 tractor fixed.
However, after a chat with the mechanics, and a call home to his father Philip, the decision was left to Bunny to either refurbish the engine on the International or purchase a new tractor. An hour later, he had bought a new David Brown 880. The only extra added at the time was a three-way valve which was to facilitate a tipper trailer and also a front-end loader. Bunny recalls giving £970 for the tractor. He also informed us that 12 months later he purchased a David Brown front-end loader for £160 and bullbar to protect the front grill which cost £30.
The wear is very evident on the clutch pedal in Bunny Lynch's 880 after 20,000 hours.
Bunny recalls the clock stopping in 1974 with 3,860 hours, and he is adamant that there has to be well over 20,000 hours on the tractor. The 880 was the sole tractor on the farm up to 1994, when it went into semi-retirement. The tractor was restored in 2011, but all major parts including the engine, axles and hydraulic pump are original.
Bunny explained that the only significant repair over the years was to replace the seals between the gearbox and the back axle, which needed a few bolt holes rethreaded. After 42 years as the only workhorse on the farm, the regular servicing and greasing has paid dividends. The front axle was left original and didn’t need rebushing after years of loader work (partly due to no power steering). Since the restoration seven years ago, the tractor has clocked up 340 hours doing light work around the farm such as spraying and log splitting.
Pat Maher’s grandfather, Paddy, purchased a new David Brown 880 Selectamatic fitted with a trip loader and a Lambourn canvas cab from Barlo’s Garage in Clonmel in March 1969. In the same deal, Paddy purchased a new Jones square baler.
This collection of machinery totalled £1,900 which was a significant investment at the time. To date, the tractor has clocked up over 10,000 hours.
Baling is evident on the clevis hitch as the top latch is almost worn away from the constant movement of the baler back and forth.
David Brown tractors had a unique hub on the rear axle. If the hub was rotated it has the ability to rise the tractor a foot which was very useful for jobs such as spraying.
Pat restored the sentimental tractor back in 2011. As we walked around the tractor, Pat told us that at the time of purchase the foot throttle was an extra which cost £10. A three-way valve chest was also an extra costing £30 at the time.
Without the three-way valve, operators would only have hydraulics to power the lift arms.
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