The Rumely lightweight 15-25 HP oil pull tractor pictured is owned by Alfred Henry Risby, and was believed to have been the first used in the Glen Innes district.
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It was oil-cooled, had leather clutch plates and a petrol start with kerosene running.
Thanks to generous donations from the Royal Bank of Canada (instigated by former local Tracey Dawes Lucas now associate director marketing at RBC), Richard Cordwell and Archie Cameron, the Harold Parsons Machinery shed is soon to be professionally renovated with a cement floor, lighting and window treatment ready for a refurbished visitor accessible exhibition.
However, the shed first must be cleared and we are hoping that people interested in machinery and tools can help us with this project, including sorting, identifying and labelling. (Morning and afternoon teas supplied to all approved volunteers.)
Other items in the collection include the Blackstone Crawler tractor, the only one in going order in the world.
The UK Lincolnshire Blackstone company sold only eight of these in Australia in the 1920s and ours has number 6 cast into the axle housing.
He was part of a valuable section of keen workers dubbed 'Dad’s Army'...
“Typical of many British engines of the day, it was technically very advanced and completely different in concept to the much more numerous American tractors then available...” – Malcolm Kitcher, 1998.
It was imported by Noyes Brothers of Sydney and used by George Lowther Crofton at “Glencairn” as late as 1926 and said to have been replaced by a 12-horse team.
“Glencairn” is part of the original “Furracabad Station”.
In 1994, Greg Wass meticulously started restoring the Blackstone – carefully researching, modifying and fabricating, and was able to drive it around the ring at the 1997 Glen Innes show.
He was part of a valuable section of keen workers dubbed “Dad’s Army” which included Clive Pevy, Malcolm Kitcher, Gordon Bouveret, Rick Brown and Eb Reddan.
Other vintage treasures in this shed include the McCormick Deering and Ferguson tractors, blacksmithing bellows and equipment, portable shearing plants, a Ruston Hornby 5 ½ horse power engine; numerous tools and early farm necessities.
The machinery shed on the eastern side of the grounds contains large machinery.
Read more Glen Innes history: