Best known for his ownership of Aston Martin from 1947 to 1972, David Brown became managing director of the family firm, David Brown Gear Company Limited, in 1931.
He first turned to the manufacture of tractors in 1936 in collaboration with inventor Harry Ferguson, building the Ferguson-Brown tractor at a plant in Meltham Mills, West Yorkshire.
In the post-war era David Brown Ltd was one of the UK’s largest tractor manufacturers but its owner’s subsidisation of his beloved Aston Martin could not be sustained forever; when the sports car maker was sold in 1972 the tractor division was bought by Tenneco International, which re-badged its products as ‘Case’.
And there you go, Aston Martin, Ferguson, and Case and what they have in common, take that James Burke!
https://images1.bonhams.com/original?src=Images/live/2015-04/20/S-22721-0-1.pdf
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22721/lot/171/?category=list
I will repeat my previous compliment of what a great blog you pull together every day and I've enjoyed following it for many years and donating as funds permitted. Please pay no attention to the occasional negative feedback as there are many of us who really enjoy the blog but don't comment positively too often so as not to become tedious.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, yes, David Brown sold tractors in Australia, I can remember we had one on our small farm in northern Tasmania in the mid-1980's. It was probably red once but had now faded to a pink colour which, as a teenager, I attempted to cut and polish back to its former glory.
According to the David Brown Tractor Club of Australia website most models were made in the 1950's and early 1960's which I recognise as being sold in Australia. The pink/red model we owned was certainly that vintage but still ran well.
Years later I had an uncle who was very skilled with metal work who bought a 1940's model which he restored, often manufacturing replacement parts himself. Most models of that period were painted "battleship grey", allegedly as that is the only colour paint available to David Brown during and soon after WWII.
Further to my previous comment it appears our David Brown was an 880, a picture search showing they came in red from the factory and look just like the one we owned. Manufactured from 1965-1971 apparently. Thanks for the memories!
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