neil 524 #1 Posted September 21, 2014 I was flicking through this months tractor & Machinery mag and though how disappointing it was . Out of 180 pages there was over 80 full pages of advertisements trying to sell you something , there seems to be very little content on vintage equipment & to me is seems like they are pointing it towards more modern tractors. Now that the horticultural section has now been removed the magazine has taken a real nose dive in my opinion . Would be interested in what other think . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #2 Posted September 21, 2014 Not great is it Neil, I was going to send some bits to the editor but I am having a bad dose of CBA (Can't Be A***d)... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wristpin 400 #3 Posted September 21, 2014 I think that there are just too many tractor mags ; all competing for contributors,advertisers and readers. The market place is not big enough to make them all commercially viable without lots of advertising revenue, and that will only last so long until the advertisers do their sums. In my opinion, one of the best was Old Tractor when edited by Stuart Gibbard's but that went down hill when he left. He took over the editor's chair at Vintage Tractor & Countryside Heritage and turned it into a very good mag, but here again, the figures didn't stack up. Dependant on your point of view, for better or worse, Kelsey seem to have a viable commercial formula for their dummed down offering of tractor and plant machinery magazines . For my money the best tractor mag at present is Classic Tractor from Sundial Magazines, but its content is possibly too modern for some tastes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #4 Posted September 21, 2014 I agree there are far too many tractor magazines on the market which all seem to overlap, there seems little room for horticultural machinery though which is a shame... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neil 524 #5 Posted September 21, 2014 I was wondering if tractor enthusiasts were using forums like this as a way to discuss their projects as it is more of an immediate response that some of the mags & that more & more people are turning to the internet for information . I just found that with this months edition it felt like that all I bought was an advertising brochure for something that I really didn't need or could afford. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #6 Posted September 21, 2014 T&M does seem to have lost the plot I think, but forums like this give a quicker answer or correspondence... I still like a read of a magazine though... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel 1,877 #7 Posted September 21, 2014 i canceled my subscription to them it does not float my boat at all now Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #8 Posted September 21, 2014 I don't bother looking at it anymore, and would only buy it if it covered an event that we were at Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meadowfield 1,900 #9 Posted September 21, 2014 I guess I'm slightly in the minority I don't subscribe, but do buy occasionally because it has big tractors in Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Smith 192 #10 Posted September 21, 2014 I used to have the local newsagents keep a copy of this magazine behind the counter for me every month, however I only brought it for one main reason.... 'Horticultural section' ki used to like the hedgerow finds and the for sale section also... I used to just flick through the rest, restorations etc.. Have a quick read, however I thought it's gone downhill now, and don't purchase it anymore... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ian 2,417 #11 Posted September 22, 2014 I've never subscribed to the mag, more of "bought a copy if I remembered while in a shop that sells it" Your all right, it's not anywhere near as good as it used to be.. I don't mind reading about big tractors if they are "interesting/something different", but these days they all seam to be the same makes and models.. To much newer stuff as well Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #12 Posted September 22, 2014 The Land Rover mag's went/have gone the same way. I used to get two, but don't bother any more. 1 diggerjames reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meadowfield 1,900 #13 Posted September 22, 2014 The Land Rover mag's went/have gone the same way. I used to get two, but don't bother any more. Same here... Just recycled 6-7 years of LRO and LRW Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #14 Posted September 27, 2014 Sounds like however you dress it up Kelsey Publishing have got this decision a bit wrong then... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #15 Posted September 27, 2014 Slightly off topic but from the same stable as Kelsey Publication, I subscribe to Classic Van and Pickup every month. It's a great read and amusingly written. I have bought the odd tractor magazine when it appeals to me. The last copy of Tractor and Machinery didn't float my boat at all. I will be buying the American Garden Tractors Magazine shortly. 1 diggerjames reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meadowfield 1,900 #16 Posted October 2, 2014 Looks like the horticulture section is back 1 Ian reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #17 Posted October 2, 2014 Good, need to see the November issue, not here yet... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paul 64 #18 Posted October 2, 2014 should get my copy tomorrow so would be great to see the section back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ian 2,417 #19 Posted October 3, 2014 Looks like the horticulture section is back That's good news .. Let hope it's more than a couple of pages. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diggerjames 543 #20 Posted October 3, 2014 I've got mine It's only one page but it's a start and it has Wheelhorse , John Deeres and Cub Cadets let's send some stories and builds lads ! 3 Joe the small engine man, Ian and meadowfield reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Smith 192 #21 Posted October 3, 2014 Is the horticulture section back???? Also can anyone tell me do they still have there sections like 'hedgerow finds' etc, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meadowfield 1,900 #22 Posted October 3, 2014 Yes its back, hedgerow is still there. Its got a few articles on big equal wheeled tractors So I'm happy... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #23 Posted October 3, 2014 Its a page from Peter Love about what he saw on one of his tours... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ian 2,417 #24 Posted October 4, 2014 I've got mine It's only one page but it's a start and it has Wheelhorse , John Deeres and Cub Cadets let's send some stories and builds lads ! I like your thinking James Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danarmdave 14 #25 Posted October 14, 2014 tractor and machinery has turned into a workshop manual for people that dont know how to look after their tractors and machinery farming heritage mag is good as it covers restorations and old stuff but like all mags you send in an event to be placed in whats on and get it totally wrong even though you entered it on line dave k Share this post Link to post Share on other sites