Raymond McDaid’s love for all things machinery was established right from a very young age as he helped out with his father’s agricultural contracting business. His father Laurence sowed and harvested somewhere in the region of 400-500ac of barley per year from the early 1960s right up until 1985. Raymond can recall driving tractors for his father back when he was just 11 years of age.

Contracting

Raymond’s father ran Fordson Major and Massey Ferguson tractors for his agricultural contracting business. He also ran various different combines over the years. His first combine was an Activ which he ran for two to three years. Raymond recalled standing on the side of the machine bagging grain, at the tender age of eight.

The family then moved onto a Clayson combine harvester in 1966, which they ran for three to four years.

Next up, the McDaid’s purchased a secondhand Massey Ferguson 525 combine which was equipped with a 10ft header. Raymond explained that every day that the sun shone the MF 525 broke down. As a result, the McDaids only kept this machine for one season before making the jump to purchase a brand new Deutz Fahr combine in 1969, a brave move that was a significant investment at the time.

Raymond fondly remembers the new Deutz Fahr combine arriving, explaining that it was the largest combine in Donegal at the time. This monstrous machine was equipped with a 12ft header and according to Raymond it caused very little trouble throughout its years. This combine is still in the family and has been harvesting small acreages right up until last year.

Raymond's MF collection includes a 1954 T20 diesel, two 1957 FE35 Copper Belly’s, three 1964 35Xs, a 1974 135 and a 1974 148.

Collection

Raymond’s collection of vintage tractors extends to include Massey Fergusons, Fords, Fordson Majors and a Leyland. Over the past 20 years he has being buying and selling vintage tractors and implements while building up his own collection. The majority of these tractors were purchased overseas.

When buying vintage machines, Raymond explained that he’s “after a tractor that is in its original condition, something that has not been tampered with”. He noted that it’s becoming harder and harder to locate such machines.

Raymond has three Fordson Super Majors which he feels were the most developed tractor for their time. He has a soft spot for these tractors from the many fond memories driving similar tractors in his youth. These three tractors were all located at different sales and were manufactured from 1963 to 1964 and remain in their original paintwork.

The 1988 Ford 4610 (right) has less than 1,200 hours on the odometer while the 1988 Ford 4110 (left) has just 2,200 hours on the clock.

Ford

Next up in the collection were two absolutely pristine Ford tractors. Raymond recently acquired these prized tractors from a Massey Ferguson collector who sold them at a sale in Edinburgh. The Ford 4610 was built in 1988 and has less than 1,200 hours on the clock. Similarly, the Ford 4110 was also built in 1988 and has just 2,200 hours on the clock. Both of these tractors were one owner machines that ended up at the sale as they were purchased alongside a collection of Massey tractors.

Everything inside these tractors is totally original and functional from the radio to the odometer to the fuel gauge. The condition of these two tractors can only be described as immaculate.

Raymond also has a Ford 3000 and a Ford 4000 in his collection. He purchased the 1966 Ford 3000 Super Dexta at a sale 12 years ago. The Ford 4000 is fitted with a Duncan cab and has just 2,674 clocked up to date.

Massey Ferguson

Similar to the Fordon Super Majors, Raymond built up a love for the Massey Ferguson brand while operating such tractors for his father’s contracting business. He currently has eight Massey Ferguson tractors in his collection.

This MF collection includes a 1954 T20 diesel, two 1957 FE35 Copper Belly’s, three 1964 35Xs, a 1974 135 and a 1974 148.

The pick of these tractors would be the 1964 35Xs, one of which has a petrol engine. This tractor is unique as the 35X models were very rarely sold with petrol engines, they were mainly sold with diesel engines. This particular tractor has only 2,452 hours on the clock. Meanwhile, one of the other 35Xs had just one owner from new before Raymond. This tractor came off an arable farm in the UK and has only 2,664 hours from new and came with its original tax book.

Raymond also has a collection of Massey Ferguson implements including trailers, ploughs, a square baler and a buncher. One such implement was one of the first trailers Harry Ferguson manufactured.

This rare implement was manufactured in 1946. Raymond noted that there was a total of 1,200 of these particular trailers built. He added that they were extremely difficult to attach and detach.

Another unique implement was the Massey Ferguson 710 square baler, which was one of the first square balers on the market.

Leyland

One unusual tractor that sat in the middle of the collection was a Leyland 245. This particular tractor was built in 1972 and was powered from the same engine as a Massey Ferguson 135. Raymond spotted this tractor at a sale seven years ago and was enticed by the tractor’s originality.

The tractor is in pristine condition and has only 2,120 hours on the clock, with all electric functions in the cab working perfectly. Raymond laughed when he informed us that he brings this tractor on road runs over the winter months because it has a heater.

Raymond’s collection of vintage tractors is stored in a purpose-built shed. Aside from the tractor collection, he is currently in the process of restoring a 1970 Austin A60 pick-up. He had been on the lookout for one of these vehicles for many years as it was the same model pick-up his father previously owned. Raymond located this one-owner pick-up in Kerry.

The one that got away

The Irish Farmers Journal posed the question to Raymond asking him what was the one tractor he regretted selling over the years?

He said that there was a sale in the UK 10 years ago in which an arable farmer was selling two Massey Ferguson 135 Multi Power sister tractors. Both of these tractors were manufactured in 1966 and were purchased brand new with one owner up until the sale.

Raymond explained that these tractors were in very original condition and had extremely low hours. One had 1,100 hours from new and the other had just 800 hours from new.

Raymond purchased one of these tractors and another collector in the UK purchased the other tractor. After being approached by a Massey Ferguson collector in Cavan, Raymond decided to sell him the low-houred original machine. Last year, the sister 135 tractor was sold in the UK at a sale where the Cavan MF collector was the buyer.

Raymond noted that if he had his time back he would have kept the low-houred example for his own collection.

Vintage sales

Raymond and some friends are regular attendees of vintage sales throughout the UK, travelling across the water five to six times per year. He said that to him buying and selling vintage tractors and implements is a hobby. He commented: “I enjoy the fun and the chase of buying and selling vintage machines”.

Raymond went on to explain how the vintage scene is like a huge community where everyone knows everyone. He said: “The network of friends we have built up through the vintage scene is amazing. We often stay with these people when we travel across to sales in the UK.”

He added: “Travelling to these vintage sales and events is a huge social outlet for many people. We love to go over to the sales for a few days away and to have the bit of craic.”

Aside from vintage, Raymond runs a successful car dismantling company in St Johnson and he also runs a drystock farm.