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This is something I've been wanting to do for awhile, and I finally did it yesterday. I pulled out all my old Briggs Model N's, as well as a Model U, Model I, and a 6s, and ran ran them all at the same time (22 engines). It was fun, although it was a bit more work than I thought it was going to be. When this many engines are running, its difficult to hear the exhaust note of each engine so that I could get the fuel mixture set correctly on the carburetor. In this video, the newest engine is a 1952, and the oldest is a 1940. There was one engine (my lever start) that I flooded, so it wasn't running in the first video, but I did eventually get it fired, and showed it running in the very short second video. Anyway, here are a couple videos and pics. Thanks Matt

Hi all, Got some of the collection out today, as you can tell I like variety Enjoy Tom

Had a nice relaxing day at local show today, there was a good variety of exhibits and a BBQ going all day,usual cups of tea and well supported, here's a few photos

Good mate of mine had this sat in his shed for a while. I done a deal & now its mine

After approximately 40 plus years of captivity, John's Fordson has made a hasty exit from the barn it called home. The front tire was inflated just before the move, but after a few minutes the air inside decided it wanted to escape, and made it's own way out through the tube and sidewall with a loud BANG. What a waste of air. Much to everyone's surprise, all the wheels rotated, the steering was free, and the move from barn to loading was done in about 25 minutes, via a combination of pulling and pushing. It took almost as long strapping it down on the trailer and checking for loose bits that might go awol on the way to it's new home. Thanks Philip and crew. A few photo's which could have been better. The sun is never in the right place.

A tidy red Bolens 1253 non runner with a few bits missing turned up on the usual auction site. A number of people on this site asked me about it (you know who you are ) and I passed on some advice fully expecting them to bid for it. In the end they decided not to so I hit the button and won it. I collected it last night from Suffolk and it turned out to be the same person I bought a Bolens G10 from a few years ago. They promised me that they had no more hiding away. While I was waiting at a level crossing in the middle of Stowmarket for the London to Norwich train to pass I took a picture of it smiling at me. Today I unloaded it from the trailer. I usually use my tri-axle Ifor Williams trailer for tractor collections but this time I thought I would try something different, a Ifor TT85 tipper. I thought I was going to get a nosebleed being up that high. It was not as easy to load and I resisted the easy unload button . This picture was taken as we were about to unload this morning with my assistant already climbing all over the tractor. We pushed it into the workshop, did some work on the electrics, fuel system, fitted a new drive pin in the axle and drove it out. My test driver doing the first run, well actually all the driving This red Bolens jumped ahead of all the others waiting for a bit of workshop time but my lad loves it, which I think is down to the colour. He said it looked a bit like a Wheelhorse, only better The rear tyres on this tractor are nearly completely worn out. I have never seen that before although I did find the diff. lock seized on so that could explain it. Iain

Hi all, Picked another one up today, it was advertised as spares and to my surprise when I arrive it was being towed out of the shed by a wheel horse!! He said it just needed a battery so I stuck one on when I got home and some fresh fuel and off she went and I drove it off of the trailer, always a bonus Tom

You will have to pop round sometime Iain and have a go, the vari-drive system is very cool. You can also have a play with the lathe! Tom Thanks Andrew, I'm certainly pleased with it. I think that's it for me for a while now, I really must stop!! Tom I just can't stop, it's an addiction Tom

Sweet! Yeah, stop buying and leave some for us

It made it to the show and met up with the original. The owner painted the first one but in my opinion, it looked better as a rat. The original was sold to the president of the WH collectors club 2 years ago and he ended up giving it to his neighbor because his kids had so much fun driving it around. I got the chance to meet the owner, his wife and his son. It was very satisfying to hear the stories of how much they enjoy it and to see the smile on that child's face as he climbed around on this new one. The new one was sold to the president again, same guy that bought the first one. I was very reluctant to sell it but I know it went to the right person. A grown man had that same smile as the child did!

It was time to say good by to my Ferrari tractor today. Off to its new home in Telford. Making some mutch needed space & cash. Off to Norfolk next week to buy some Bolens with the profit

Hi Chris, Afraid I didn't. I was shown some of the Aladdin's John's Cave, but I was mIndful of not taking up too much of John and Alan's time. Hi Alan, Well, part of me wishes I had seen it, the other says glad I didn't . I will get one when I'm able, if only to do a full rebuild to see what makes 'em tick. Haven't got a use for one anymore . Would need to make space and dump one of the Red Tractors at least though!. Regards.

Here's our other Standard Fordson. The orange parts (excluding wheels) date from roughly 1939, the green parts 1942 & the engine from 1945. When we first picked it up it was all green but after a good wash the orange reappeared. At present the tank & carburettor are off but the new valves are in & compression is lethal. When the head was off i noticed the pistons were stamped 60 thou oversize. Once i get the manifold & carb back on i'll try & get it running with the water leaks & split block still to do. The wheels are Major ones, put on to make it mobile but I have the originals. Philip

Great line up Tom, it is always good to line them up for a few photos. That John Deere looks good with the others. Just noticed that you have turned the rear wheels around on the JD, much better I am sure Andrew is right about adding a Bolens to the collection but I can't think of anyone that needs to thin out his collection... Iain

OMG, how long did it take to get that lot out , and put them all away again. An impressive show Matt

Brilliant!

That's a great line up but it will dramatically be better a with a Bolens in your collection. There must be someone local to you who got to thin out his herd..... If I can think of someone: I will let his wife know.....

Andrew, it will stay red for the moment as my assistant loves the colour. I did think that a 1253 was only made for one year (1970) and had a Tecumseh engine and a 1254 had a Wisconsin engine, but it is not that easy as I have a 1254-06 which also has a Tecumseh engine. Very confusing, I will need to look at Dr Bolens's article and then do some research. The Tecumseh in the red 1253 does not have a serial number in the easy to identify format so I may not be able to date it from the engine. Really want the other red Bolens at John's as it is a 1054 and I don't have a running 1054. I decided to put the red Bolens to work today but when I went to start it the starter stuck. After a bit of investigation I found that all the bolts were loose on the engine, not just the starter and it had a homemade fuel tank holder. After raiding the parts shed and attacking it with a 1/2" spanner everything was back to how it should have been and ready for use. The PO said he paid a local engineer to go over the wiring. Very interesting as all the additions to the wiring are in household flex. It may be easier to throw a new wiring harness into it. Iain

awesome!

More pictures of the dig site and a few points and scrapers I found, we find lots of points and tools every day. A group of kids from St. Ignatius Catholic School in Cleveland Ohio came out for a couple weeks as part of a exploration class

That's a tidy find Tom and good to see something different too. I think you Norfolk Boys ought to lay off buying anymore GTs so we others can get a look in. It seem anything that moves and in any colour are nailed by you and Iain!

My thoughts too. Heard that he is changing his forum name to I'VE GOT THEM ALL, SO TO ME.

Just as I add another red tractor to my collection everyone is dumping them. I never have been one for following the trends Iain

You need to give them Bolens a chance to settle, they have only just moved this way.

Dump a red tractor! No swearing on the forum please 😂

Looking at Charlie's post the best thing to do with a Ferrari is unload it Chris

Thought that would get your attention Chris. One going spare at John's.

Better picture of the red tractor. Iain

Some of the older Bolens Vers-a-Matics had a 22 or 25 inch front sickle bar that could walk through grass pretty fast, Simplidcit made a model and as you said Oxford-Allen, and Allen Simmons might also be a good choice. Something that has a greater availability of spares,