MDFord Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 I managed to find, and buy 4 of the older type Britains rubber bales this week. I think its the first time I have seen any \ Are they considered rare at all? What years were they produced, and does anyone know what their original packaging was like? Cheers, Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 show us a picture Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerrabbit Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 The 'rubber' bales were a darker colour and had sort of greyish flecks in the moulding of them more like a marbling effect and looked more realistic than the later ones as they had more of a texture to them. I'm not sure when they were first released, I think they came out with the Bamfords BL58 baler in the blue/green and white box with inner stand around 1969. The earliest catalogue I have to refer to is from 1970 which refers to these bales available in a pack of 6, catalogue number 1742. Not seen any in their original packaging but would guess they were in a similar box to the baler. Will have to look out for some in a box, you very often find loads of loose ones in the bottom of boxes of bits and bobs at toy fairs. Also of the period, the corn sacks were rubber as well, lighter grey than the plastic ones, you find these still with the 'ears' on them as being rubber they don't snap off like the plastic ones, they seem to survive pretty well. These came in a pack of 12, catalogue number 1741. The churns were in a pack of 9, funny odd number, catalogue number 1726. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super6 Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 First issued in 1964 in a window box in quantities as given by pr. Don't on any account put/leave these, or the original rubber sacks, in something plastic, ie baler or tipping transport box, as they will react to each other over a period of time. You will end up with a mess similar I suppose to the reaction you get with rear tyres to rims on Britains tractors. Will post some pictures of boxes latter, memory willing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ploughmaster Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 I am not sure how long these were produced for, but they had certainly been replaced by the plastic bales before the baler and multi level elevator moved from the 'sleeve & plinth' into 'straw' boxes in about 1971. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDFord Posted August 9, 2009 Author Share Posted August 9, 2009 Thanks for the info They do look more realistic, as you say Powerrabbit. Thanks for the storage advice super6. So, issued from 1964 - about 69 by the look of it. The early plastic bales were the same colour as these (see photo) with later ones more "orange" coloured it seems. I will try and get hold of some more of them Heres a picture for you bluefan. Thank you ploughmaster, I wonder if the rubber/plastic compatibility issue caused this change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 first time i'd seen these Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ploughmaster Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 Thank you ploughmaster, I wonder if the rubber/plastic compatibility issue caused this change. It's possible that could have been part of the reason, although the reaction probably wouldn't become apparent without contact for a few years. It certainly didn't prompt them to change from using the same material for the tractor tyres, elevator belts and excavator tracks which also reacted similarly with the plastic (polystyrene?) wheels etc with which they were in contact. Only the silver grey plastic wheels as fitted to the MF135 seem to be immune for some reason. It is a reaction that occurs on all most of the tractor wheels up to the transfer of manufacture to the Far East. I am not sure whether any subsequent tractors have shown signs of the same problem. There was certainly an issue with the Bamfords baler where the PVC/rubber bales, because they were not very slippery, would lodge in the bale chamber, and refuse to discharge. The plastic bales don't suffer this problem, and I believe that when researching his combines and balers book, David Pullen was given to understand that this was the principal reason for the change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDFord Posted August 9, 2009 Author Share Posted August 9, 2009 Very interesting ploughmaster, certainly does sound like the reason for the change. r.e. the grey plastic 135 style wheels - I 've gota MF 130 drill with wheel melt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super6 Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 NP majors with plastic wheel centres do not appear to suffer wheel melt where fitted with the early type of rubber tyres as fitted to all earlier majors, spade lugs excepted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Ford Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 I have around 30 of the old bales, there a lot better then the newer ones. Also there not the same size by a bit, wider than they are tall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractorman810 Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 got about the same number to mark, just got them in various lots of ebay, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbear Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 I've got about 25 of the old bales, dating from my own childhood, so mid sixties? They are certainly ,much better looking than the plastic variety, with a nice mottled look to them, but I've had to wash them a couple of times to get rid of 'stickiness' on the bale surface. I'm told it's to do with the plasicizer that was added to the material changing it's properties over time. I certainly wouldn't want to leave them in a vehicle any more, as I don't entirely trust that they'll not leave a plasticky residue. I wish I had a degree in plastics technology! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leakeyvale Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 (edited) I have a few of these oldies along with 50 or so plastic ones. None of which I have any use for! I must say they do look more realistic as they have texture. A dusting with talc stops the stickiness, by the way PS makes them smell nice too! Edited July 29, 2012 by Leakeyvale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbear Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 I never sniff my bales Leakyvale! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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