David Brown: Tractors
Note: This is a sub-section of David Brown and Sons
1934 The company built a new factory on a site at Meltham Mills, on the south side of Huddersfield.
1936 David Brown joined with Harry Ferguson to produce the Ferguson-Brown Tractor. The tractor was built at Park Gear Works, Huddersfield initially and later at the Meltham Mills factory.
The tractor was powered by a four-cylinder engine with the first 500 having a Coventry Climax Type E engine and the other 1,350 having a 2010 cc David Brown engine.
The Ferguson-Brown tractor sold well but the partnership between David Brown and Harry Ferguson came under pressure as Brown felt that some small alterations could improve the tractor.
The Ferguson-Brown tractor was improved to become the world's first production tractor featuring a hydraulic lift and converging three-point linkage.
1939 September. Following the production of 1,350 of these updated models David Brown and Harry Ferguson parted and David Brown went on to produce a new model. This model was the VAK1 and was an immediate success with over 7,700 units eventually sold
The VAK1 was elegant in its style and used a four-cylinder engine with four forward and one reverse gear. It had a patented depth wheel system.
As well as being used as farm machinery many of the VAK1s were used in World War II as aircraft tugs and crawlers.
Production of the tractors ceased for a while during the war and it wasn't until 1945 that the VAC1A was produced. This updated version featured an improved engine lubrication system and a more precise governor.
1947 David Brown Tractors Ltd was formed
The David Brown Co. went on to produce the Cropmaster in 1947. This started a long run of production of Cropmaster tractors which finished in 1953.
The Cropmaster was known for its reliability and quality and included many extras as standard features, such as hydraulic lift and electric lighting.
The 50D model tractor was produced from 1953 to 1958. It featured a six-cylinder, 50 HP power unit and was a heavy tractor ideal for towing operations.
Further models were introduced over the next few years, the 30C and 30D, the 25C and 25D and in 1956 the 2D was made.
The 2D was designed for precision market garden work and for use on larger farms as a specialist row-crop machine. It was powered by a lightweight two-cylinder diesel engine.
1956 The model 900 was introduced and was available with a choice of engines: diesel 40 HP; TVO 37 HP; gas 40 HP; and high-compression gas 45 HP.
1957 The 900 Livedrive was produced with a dual clutch which could give live hydraulics.
1959 The 950 Implematic was marketed, featuring the depth wheel system or draught control with equal facility.
Further models were produced in the 1960s with enhanced features such as multi-speed PTO and improved front axle clearance. Height control was added to the hydraulic system and in the 880 Implemantic a new engine provided far greater power.
The 770 model featured a patented two-lever twelve-speed gearbox as standard equipment and the Selectamatic hydraulic system. This was introduced to all David Brown tractors in October 1965.
1967 The 1200 Selectamatic tractor, had a separate hand clutch and the hydraulic pump was mounted at the front of the engine. A standard feature was the luxury suspension seat.
1968 Queen's Award to Industry for Export Achievement for David Brown Tractors
1971 The Synchromesh twelve forward and four reverse gear-box was fitted as standard on all David Brown tractors. Also in 1971 the David Brown safety feature, the Weatherframe was introduced.
In 1972 the David Brown tractor interests were bought by J. I. Case, via Tenneco International.[1]
In 1988 the Meltham factory closed
There is a webpage dedicated to the history of David Brown.
List of Models
- VAK 1 (1939-45)
- VIG1 (1941-49)
- DB4 (1942-49) only 110 built[2]
- VAC1A (1945-47)
- Taskmaster (1948-65)
- 50TD Trackmaster (1950-63)
- 30TD Trackmaster (1953- ?)
- 25D
- DB25 & DB30 (1953-58)
- VAD 50D (1953-59)
- Cropmaster (1947-54)
- 900 series (1956-58)
- David Brown: 2D (1955-1961). 2,000 made
- 950 implematic series (1958-61)
- 850 implematic series (1961-65)
- 750 farmatic series
- 880 implematic series (1961-65)
- 990 implematic series (1961-65)
- 770 selectamatic series (1965-70)
- 880 selectamatic series (1965-71)
- 990 selectamatic series (1965-71)
- 1200 selectamatic series (1967-71)
- 780 selectamatic series (1965-71)
- 1210 Manual Gearbox (1971-1979)
- 1212 Hydra-Shift (1971-1979)
- 885 Synchromesh (1971-1979)
- 990,995,996 Synchromesh (1971-1979)
- 1410 Manual Gearbox first turbo charged david brown (1974-1979)
- 1412 Hydra-Shift first turbo charged david brown (1974-1979)
- 1190 series (1979-83)
- 1290 series (1979-83)
- 1390 series (1979-83)
- 1490 series (1979-83)
- 1690 series (1979-83)
- 1690 Turbo series (1979-83)
- 1194 series (1983-88)
- 1294 series (1983-88)
- 1394 series (1983-88)
- 1494 series (1983-88)
- 1594 series (1983-88)
- 1694 series (1983-88)
- 775 selectamatic (Export to Germany)
- 3800 (780 petrol) (Export to America)
- 4600 (880 petrol) (Export to America)
- Oliver 500-600 rebadged 850 and 950 for American export
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Wikipedia
- The Complete Encyclopedia of Tractors by Mirco de Cet published in 2006 by Rebo International ISBN 978-90-366-1893-9