Before Christmas we published a special vintage quiz to test your knowledge of all of the many articles that we had in 2013 covering a wide range of tractor models and topics. We had a good response but only six replies had all the questions answered correctly.

The winner is Stanley Edwards from Drumgowan, Burt, Lifford, Co Donegal. Stanley has a beef, dairy and tillage enterprise and is an enthusiastic vintage machinery collector. His collection includes a rare Claas Garnet trailed combine harvester and a number of Ford tractors, including a 5000, 7600 and a 1900 model. The Edwards farm has worked Ford and Fordson tractors since 1919, so there is an obvious vintage interest on the farm.

The prize of three vintage machinery DVDs produced by Second Sight Productions (Massey Ferguson 300 – Workhorse for the World, Ford and Fordson Volume 16 – Less Stop - More Go and Construction Collection Part 5 - International Harvester) is on its way to him.

Thank you to all who took part in the quiz. I’m sure it provided some across-the-table questions that were more technical than those in the usual Christmas cracker. The answers are as follows:

Question 1

In what year did production of the Ferguson TE20 tractor end?

Answer: 1956

Question 2:

The Massey Ferguson 65 Mark I, launched in 1957, was powered by which of the following engines?

Answer: A four-cylinder indirect injection Perkins diesel engine

Question 3:

The Fordson E27N, introduced in 1945, was also known as the?

Answer: Fordson Major

Question 4:

Early Doe machines were based on two of which of the following tractors joined together using a central turntable?

Answer: Fordson Major E1A

Question 5:

Which of the following David Brown tractor ranges was launched 60 years ago?

Answer: The ‘25 and 30 Series’ range

Question 6:

The David Brown 50D was fitted with rear hydraulics as standard – true of false?

Answer: False

Question 7:

What was the colour scheme of the ill-fated six-cylinder Marshall MP6, of which only 197 were made?

Answer: Orange and green

Question 8:

The Nuffield 4/60 was superseded by which of the following models?

Answer: Nuffield 10/60

Question 9:

The Oliver Farm Equipment Company was founded in which of the following countries in 1929?

Answer: America

Question 10:

County only manufactured four-wheel drive conversion kits for Ford and Fordson tractors – true or false?

Answer: False

Question 11:

Which of the following was the first Roadless tractor fitted with four equal-sized wheels?

Answer: Roadless 115

Question 12:

In what year was the 40hp International B-414 introduced?

Answer: 1961

Question 13:

What was the power output of the four-wheel-drive articulated Massey Ferguson 1200 tractor unveiled in 1972?

Answer: 105hp

Question 14:

Massey Ferguson’s early ‘Multi-Power’ transmission ? the number of available gears?

Answer: Doubled

Question 15:

The front-mounted Ferguson implement designed to scare livestock out of long grass before rear-mounted implements such as the finger-bar mower passed through was known as the what?

Answer: Game Flusher

Question 16:

Which of the following was a feature of Allgaier Porsche tractors?

Answer: An air-cooled diesel engine

Question 17:

When did International Harvester launch their ‘74 Series’ tractors?

Answer: 1970

Question 18:

The David Brown VAK1A was superseded by which of the following models?

Answer: David Brown VAK1C (Cropmaster)

Question 19:

Which of the following David Brown tractors was marketed in America as the green and white Oliver 500?

Answer: David Brown 850

Question 20:

What was the power output of the Field Marshall Series I tractor, introduced in 1945?

Answer: 38hp

IVETA to host safety days

Jimmy Fogarty, chairman of the Irish Vintage and Tractor Engine Association (IVETA), tells us the association will host its first safety night seminar at the Swallows Quarters, Donaghmore, Co Laois, on Friday, 14 March.

There will be a second opportunity to get a safety update on Sunday, 6 April, as the event will be re-run at Donaghmore.

The IVETA is urging all event organisers to take part in one of these events in order to familiarise themselves with the latest strategies for the safety management of vintage events. Jimmy can be contacted at 086-8672664.