bluegreen

I must say I hadn't noticed about the wing mirrors before you mentioned them and looking at my archives the only machine which has the telescopics is a 1991 MF3125 model. Now my memory tells me that MF were slow to upgrade the 100hp 3080s to 3005 status, with the 3095 arriving with the 3100 launch and 3605 models in 1990/91...…………..The 3085 arrived a year later or maybe even 18 months in later 92. Point being, if the 3005 machines had the new wingmirror option in 1991 then almost certainly the remaining 3000 series models would have had the option too don't you think. My 3080 is a 1991 J reg so I ordered it with the new telescopic wingmirrors...…………………...failing that you could always get Henri W too provide 3085 bonnet decals which would be much easier too apply than removing and replacing wing mirrors with the holes they would leave on the cab frame.

The 7610 2wd belonged to Palmers the carrot people from Lakenheath, back in 1987 that was a new tractor and they must of had 5 or 6 of them, all their competitors had moved onto 4wd. And so did they in 89/90 with a fleet of 7810s before they packed up for good soon after. I recall the other half of the Palmer family also in Lakenheath had a fleet of 4wd MF2640s, so quite a different attitude on the right tractor to haul carrots with.

Ive been bringing my new MF 3080 upto scratch today, firstly some matt black paint under the rear fenders which helps draw attention away from the cab screw...……………….and besides the real things are also blacked out in the same place. Ive stuck on a "J" Reg 1991 numberplate as the 3080 didn't get upgraded by the 3085 until 1992 as I recall...…………….for some reason the 3090 got changed to 3095 a year earlier, maybe to do with the 3100 series launch in late 1990. I sprayed the first coat of MF sapphire grey metallic onto the silver wheels and as usual "what a difference"!! I think I will keep these rears on the model but change those unimpressive bald looking tyres with something that has treads As for the fronts I don't really like the style of rims with a weighted hub...………..im hoping to swap it over with another models similar to the 6170s which are far nicer and were hugely popular on the 3000 series to, looking at my archive pictures.

What I meant was that 3000 series MFs always looked nicer pulling blue marston trailers, im sure the 3125 could have pulled something bigger but until recently the UK has had draconian laws on the amount of laden weight tractors are allowed to pull. An MF3125 pulling any make of 14 ton trailer fully laden would have been at the upper limits of legality. I think it was 24 ton combined, so that's 10 ton for the tractor and trailer and 14 tons of produce...………………..you see the farmers dilemma. In my limited tractor driving experience I recall that a Ford 7610 4wd could pull a fully loaded 12 ton trailer of sugar beet but when I tipped at the clamp the emptying load tended to catapult the rig forward unnervingly...………………………….that never happened when I drove 6 cylinder machines like MF699 /3080 or Ford 7810 as they were boss of the job, so I wouldn't be keen driving that 7610 2wd with a full load, not too mention its tendancy to swerve all over the road like a wayward supermarket trolley

Heres one of my favourite pictures, it was taken in May 1991 at Thurlow Nunn Standens Kennett branch and at the time was a complete surprise! The three tractors were the first arrivals of a 22 tractor fleet that had been bought by the Vesty family near Haverhill on the Suffolk/ Essex border. They were to be distributed between 4 farms that pretty much all backed onto one another. Something along the lines of one 1500 acre unit, two at 2500 acres and the largest at 3000 acres. The tractors replaced most of a mixed fleet across the four farms which included all the usual suspects...………….Ford , JD, CASE, MB Trac and MFs As I recall the models chosen were 3690 x 6, 3655 x 4, 3125 x 8, 3115 x 3, 3095 x 1 or something similar...………….I have a memory like an elephant In subsequent years the farms used MF dealer Mark Weatherheads Ltd who were positioned only a few miles from the farms, that's why I was surprised they dealt with Nunns initially. I used to love heading over to their farms when the harvesting was due to start and checking out all the lovely new MFs they got delivered every year or two years depending on how much profit they had made. The 3125 was a firm favourite of mine it looked just right and was a perfect fit for their 12 -14 ton Marston grain trailers. (UH please make a 3125)

Unfortunately much of the prime farm land around my old stomping ground of Newmarket has been bought up by rich Arabs and turned into pointless stud farms! Grrrrr

Robert Claydons farm at Silverley , just outside Newmarket was a regular haunt of mine during the late 80s early nineties...…...initially because of the impressive Ford fleet they owned which I showcased earlier in the blue section of the archives...…….and then when the son started to take over the business from his father and clearly didn't rate the Ford offerings in the late 80s. Firstly an JD4650 booted out a TW35 in 1988 and then in 1989 an MF3680 and 3630 replaced the remaining TW35 and the smaller TW15.........….By spring 1991 a new 145hp MF3645 took out the Mk2 8210...…………………..This was followed by the exit of the remaining 7610s for MF399 and a 145 Fastrac. Goodbye Ford, was later followed by Goodbye MF & JD as CASE 270s &170s arrived and then at the turn of the millennium it was Goodbye Mr Claydon as he eloped to Canada or somewhere after selling up to the Arabs..…………….now at Silverley HQ we are left with 300+ acres of prime farmland that has been fenced off and is now the home to a few racehorses

Thanks Hoss, You are quite right of course and although Im still impressed and occasionally awe struck by the design of modern machines I have to say that going through my archives has made me realise just how special a time the 80s and 90s were in the tractor world. If I won a million quid on the lotto I would buy a nice little plot of land and get myself a Ford 7810, MF 3080 & JD3650 or as near to those models as I could find in decent order...…………..for now I will have too settle for the 1 32 versions

In the autumn of 1990 Stetchworth estates finally decided too buy their first MF 3000 series tractor a 3655 model...…………………….I remember walking into the farm yard one Saturday morning in September and there she sat having been delivered by TNS the previous day...……….the 3655 had replaced the 2725E and I was informed they also had ordered new 3100 series machines 3115 and 3125 too replace their two Ford 8210s and scheduled delivery for the spring of 1991. I was a huge fan of these new MF tractors and being a fickle young man I had swapped my loyalty from blue too red and was well chuffed with the new arrivals. As I recall the estate were very busy changing machines around 1990/91 and also bought ex demo Ford 7810 and MF3080 too replace Ford 7610s and MF699 after the 3655 had arrived. In retrospect the 3655 wasn't really big enough but the estate had a bug bear about compaction and wanted lighter tractors to do more work so they put the Massey to work on a new Kverneland push plough which lasted all of one season! In 1992 they bought a Challenger 65 and a 10 furrow plough and put the 3655 back on 5 furrows too assist the bigger rig. The two new MFs delivered in March 91 went straight on drilling rigs with the 3125 coupled to a new front mtd harrow whilst the 3115 had a smaller front mounted packer and 4m vicon drill on its rear end. And then both tractors went on grain carting duties during summer with the 7810 and 3080. I must say I didn't like the clumsy looking front linkages of the day as they blocked out the front lights and required spots to be fitted higher up which looked a bit naff imo.

Two years ago I sold off my MF brochure collection and had intended to sell off all the rest of my modest collection on a brand by brand basis. Needless to say this hasn't come to pass and I found myself missing my favourite MF brochure, the 3000/ 3100 series and so have bought a new copy. I love the pictures in it of MFs best range of tractors produced imo and also got the unexpected bonus of a pricelist...……..Wowser!!! And to think our politicians would have us believe that inflation has been all but non existent for the past 30 years

During a visit over to Cowies /Mark Weatherheads in 1989 I spyed this very nice brand new 150hp MF 3650 on the forecourt...……………...I never did get any good working shots of this model which is still my favourite ever Massey, just loved those PAVT wheels...……………………..Although I did get quite a lot of pics of its replacement the 3655, but that didn't have the nice big fat exhaust on its bonnet.

Not sure what to make of this refurbishment https://youtu.be/xZgpxy1DnQw

Two more pictures of the new 3080 in action, this time on spuds...…………………………..These smart little MFs always looked so good on those Marston trailers, I used to love going over to Lakenheath and watch all three of the 3080s zipping back and forth through the village with their blue trailers full of grain ….And the same farm still has the Marstons today albeit with rather bigger red tractors pulling them now. Last year they bought a new 7722 to go with two 6499s, a 6490 and a 7618 plus a new Centora combine...……….mind you they also still have an old 3000 series as a yard tractor to do the odd jobs during the summer. Although I like the current MFs I have too say it remains the 3000/31/3600 series that are still my favourite red tractors and always will be.

The first new MF I got my camera on was this nearly new 3070 planting sugar beet in early 1988. In summer 1988 I got word that a farmer from Lakenheath had bought a new MF3650 and 3080 from TNS so I went out to find them with my camera. Sadly I never did manage to catch up with the 3650 but the lovely 3 month old 3080 was on carting duties, along with a loaned 3090 due to their 699 breaking down as I recall. By spring 89 they had three 3080s and had replaced the 3650 with one of the first 3680s.

The writing was on the wall for the blue side of Stetchworth estates tractor fleet as soon as they got a first demo of a Massey 3630 ploughing in the sugar beet tops in October 88. I was a big fan of these new 3600s, loved the look of them Funnily enough on the very day I dug this picture out of my archives I then overtook an identical 3630 machine on the way to the shops...……………………..spooky indeed as I hadn't seen one out working for many many years!

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the tractor holding up the traffic on the A10 on Saturday was a classic MF3630 complete with a 3 metre power harrow loaded onto a flatbed trailer. I hadn't seen one out working for more years than I care to remember!! It was a late model on a 1990 H plate and in decent condition too.

I finished the chassis paint job on the marston trailer, also painted rivets blue and wheels silver...……...tyres scuffed.

Actually Hitlers cryogenic daughter is the Chancellor, so the granddaughters comment wasn't entirely incorrect

What amazes me is how UH haven't capitalized on this model, how many re runs of the Ford 7810 have there been? At least three, with several different variants as well. UH could have rebadged as 3090 (without snow) or 3115, And then simply stuck a curved exhaust on it and had the option of the 3085, 95, 120 versions...………..and all would have sold out!! A missed opportunity in my book.

Yes that's right and I remember SEF exchanged one of their 7610s for one before they bought a Massey fleet.

There were a few 2000 series tractors working locally back in 1987, the 2725E on the plough below was on a D plate and was one of the last 2000s TNS sold, the other 2725E with the smart wheel weights was on a 600 acre heavy clay farm near Newmarket. The 2680 was on the next farm up the road and was changed soon after I took that picture for a JD4450 which became a bit of a trend in my area.

Well im going to leave the Ford archives there as they were quickly switching to New Holland by the late 90s anyway, next up its Massey Ferguson. Theres no question that in hindsight Ford are my favourite tractors of the mid 80s, early 90s but back in the day that wasn't the case! Although I was a Ford boy back in 86/87 I can still remember being gobsmacked when I first saw the new Massey 3000/ 3600s, they looked futuristic compared to Ford and JD and I was keen to see them sell well on my locality which was predominately Ford. I was a regular visitor to a large farm just outside Newmarket in Suffolk called Stetchworth estates (SEF) and in 1987 they had merged with an adjacent estate (Ley farm) to give them 3500 acres. They also decided to keep all the tractors and machinery for one or two seasons before fine tuning what could go and what would stay. The SEF side of the business was Ford with two FW60s, 2 x 8210 and 3 x 7610s and all were either 1985 or 86 purchases (some featured in my Ford archives) but the Ley farm additions were all MFs, 2x MF699 (1986) 1 x 2725E (86) and 1 x 2680 (82). I got the opportunity too drive several tractors over a few years for them on occasional weekends, the 7610s or 699s on the sugarbeet haul and the 2680 and 2725E on ploughing duties. As I recall the 7610 was a nicer tractor to operate from a gearchange perspective but never felt boss of the job on a 12 ton trailer full of beet in the way the 6 cylinder 699s did. However the 699s had a horrible between the legs gearchange that spoiled the fun of driving them imo. I got on well with the ploughman and he had an old 2680 with the original style MF 2000 series decals on its bonnet and he had switched the PAVT wheels off the newish 2725 and onto the 2680 for extra weight and traction. This was OK because the 2725 had been bought to go on a large fertilizer spreader and had spent most of its first year on terra tyres or parked up in a shed!! Unfortunately I never got any pictures of the 2680 which was used for the 87 ploughing campaign and then sold in 88 when the 2725E took over from it, and I loved driving that tractor on the heavy 5 furrow Kverneland pictured below with their two 699s.

I passed a new New Holland T7 short wheelbase near the CNH test centre earlier today, at a glance something looked different about it...……………….I did watch a video recently where a NH salesman said the 2019 machines would be slightly modified to incorporate more safety features, so maybe I noticed some of those...…………………...And in the rear view mirror I could have sworn it had T7HD rear black mudflaps incorporated into the fenders...…………………...and not the cheapo versions on the T7.165S I might add.

In 1998 I was frequently out around the Littleport area in the Cambs fens which is home to A.L.Lee and sons, They've always had loads of blue tractors due to Ernest DOEs dealership being less than a mile away! Potato harvest was always excellent because they would have 6 or more trailed harvesters at work with all their tractors on trailers, plus a whole host of hired in or demo or used machines from DOEs, plus fleets of Marston and Richard Western trailers...………………...I remember one day I went out spotting and discovered 12 trailed harvesters with either a New Holland 8360 or 8240 on the front of it and all working for the Lee family. In the picture below I got a new 8360 plus a hired in NH 8770 hard at work...………………...it was in the same field where I saw a Ford 8730 on a 6 furrow plough being chain led by a TW25 in the early 90s in very wet conditions, I regretted not getting pictures of that rig I can tell you. Back in the 90s the farm had over 5000 acres, now it must be heading past 12000acres!! They currently use big John Deere 9RX/8RT/Rs for all the heavy work, but still have at least 20+ New Hollands almost all new shape T7.210s now. Potato harvesters number at least 6 Dewulf and Grimme self propelled bunker machines...…..yawn! Give me the set up below everytime thanks

It sure is, yayyy I did manage to photograph one after all