Daryl

My beetle isn't as old as that, its a 69. it was a scrapper that i rebuilt with my dad and its in storage. I've another one in bits, a californian cabrio and we have an 89 german import transporter too. The more i think of my old toys, the more i remember. I have a JCB loadall and a power farm Claas Jaguar somewhere. I really want an old 595 now!

Legend has it, well, a drunken uncle at christmas, that my cousin has a fair old collection from his childhood days in his dad's attic. I know there are a few tractors, boxed up and unused, including MF's and Fords. He mentioned Internationals too but i don't recall Britains doing those. Bearing in mind i'm 30, and my cousin is a good 8-10yrs older than me, I'd love to take a look.

I just wish i'd kep the box! Not that i'd ever part with it. Its my earliest surving model, if i remember rightly, it had metal hydraulics and they didn't have the guts to lift implements clear of the ground. I looked at your link, how did you manage to keep them so nice, i played and played with mine for hours! I've just remembered a couple more. i had a couple of dark cab-less ones, which Britains called 'farm tractors', i think they were based on an old Ford, one had yellow mudguards and red wheels, one had orange wheels and white or cream guards.

I think i'm going to enjoy my time here. Its like some kind of AA meeting, i thought i was the only one, no one understands and all that! I used to take it all very seriously as a kid. I had some spraying to do one spring, i had the giant fold out chafer tow behind one, slightly sun faded, another holiday purchase this time from Ilfracombe, North Devon. My MB trac was weapon of choice for spraying, due to its skinny wheels and ground clearance. A local farmer had a white T reg one which i was trying to emulate. Now, the MB Trac always had squeaky wheels, which i thought added to it's charm, making it sound like a well used rustic relic wheeled out once a year for spraying duties, much like the one i could watch out the window. Anyway, it turned out to be Wimbledon finals day, and my mum was watching in the living room. I soon found that squeaky wheels don't mix with commentary and mothers have no concept of carpet agriculture... I managed to persuade my dad to put some household oil on the axles, which created a separate issue for my mother to try and thwart progress, but this could be dealt with after Stefan Edberg had lifted the wimbledon trophy... i remember this was the season after the Fiat's sad demise. The wounds had been opened up as i'd been playing at a friends house (incidentally a farmers son) and had a fleeting liaison with his 2wd version and i missed my fiat terribly. Still there was work to be done and no one was going to take the MB Trac out the line of duty!!

Thanks guys. My other hobby is old Volkswagens, as the garage is cold and damp in the winter and has no power, i figured this would keep me busy in winter. I'm hoping it won't have a huge effect on my bank account, i just want a few little models like my old ones. Although, you're going to tell me thats what they all say and that before i know it my house will be stuffed with all sorts of stuff aren't you!

Hi I'm new and thought i'd say hello. I'm getting married in a few weeks, and have been talking to me dad about some old stuff i have at my parents place, so I've just started taking an interest in my old tractor toys and decided i'd like to add to my little collection, and replace some of the long lost workhorses from my fleet! I used to live opposite a small farm, which primarily used MF equipment, i remember some 590/795s, a 135, a 2000 series and a 698T. There was an 84 Combine too. The farm later changed to John Deere stuff before the owner sold up. Its a housing estate now. Anyway, this fuelled my 4 year old imagination and i became fascinated with Britains stuff! So here's what i remember from my Tractor collection. Pre 4-5yrs old - 2x MF 595's, these were in my pre combine days and were run into the ground very quickly. Deutz Fahr- Took on the role of the retired MF's MF 760 i remember it came in a nice box with some artists impressions of it at work on the side. Ford (model type? it had the black wrap around grill) New Holland TR85 Fiat DT and Merc MB Trac - These arrived on my 7th birthday along with loads of implements. The Fiat quickly became the stalwart of the fleet, undertaking most duties but being particularly fond of it's corn carting capabilities! As i was getting older, i was becoming less clumsy. Although i have little recollection of the Ford's demise, the Fiat met an untimely end during the morning after a wet day. The combine was abandoned in the 'field' and the Fiat and been bringing in bales and had stopped for a refuel outside the wooden farm my dad built for me. Unfortunately a collision with a vigorously hoovering parent resulted in front and rear axle failure, and in the middle of harvest! However, i managed to salvage the cab, which was shoehorned onto the old MF 760 which had lost its cab a a while ago, and was able to recover some time in my imaginary harvest. Next up was a Corn King, which never got many hours on the clock due to it not being authentic enough for my liking. Next up was a Renault, circa '86, purchased from a toy shop in Ventnor, followed by a Volvo Valmet which came from Cornwall. The Renault became the new stead of choice and took on most duties, with the Volvo providing support. During the twilight of my childhood farming career came the Powerfarm TW35(?) a Twin wheel MF and an MF 362. Surviving, i think is the MB Trac, the Ford TW35 and the MF 362 and the twin wheeler and all the combines. I still have the salvaged remains of the others. I hope to replace my old favourites and maybe add some new ones. Forgive my ramblings, but the memories are flooding back as i type! Daryl