THE Hamilton Pastoral Museum Rally looks like being a great event on October 7 and 8, with the weekend sure to please those interested in historical farm machinery and associated skills.
Model D tractor
MATTHEW McArthur is planning to have his great grandfather, Alexander McArthur’s John Deere Model D tractor at the rally to celebrate 100 years since the start of production of the Model D.
The tractor was bought new from Rawlings in 1939 for 129 pounds and 13 shillings for use on his property ‘Bundoll’, just west of Dunkeld.
A field day was held on the Cullinane property, ‘Range End’, where it was contract ploughing, for people in the district to see the tractor.
His great grandson, Matthew McArthur, now custodian of the tractor, still has the plough that it towed.
Kevin McArthur, who now runs ‘Bundoll’, remembers as a small child riding (and sleeping) on the platform on top of the gearbox, while his father, Ray, was driving it.
Disaster struck in the 1946 flood when it went under water in Duggan Swamp at ‘Bundoll’, with only the air intake and exhaust peering out above the water.
It was eventually towed out of the swamp and up to a shed by a horse team, where the engine was pulled down and rebuilt by Ray McArthur.
Matthew’s grandfather, Ross McArthur, was last to use it on his property at ‘Clearview’, over the road from ‘Bundoll’, to plough a paddock.
It became badly bogged and had to be pulled out with their Allis Chalmers M crawler.
While stacking hay in the shed where the tractor had eventually been parked up, Matthew’s father, Doug McArthur, decided to turn the engine over.
It backfired like a shotgun and sent the tin off the exhaust into the roofing iron, giving them all a large fright.
The tractor continued to sit in the shed for many more years until Matthew gained an interest in old tractors and decided to get it going; he is in the process of another engine rebuild due to a head gasket failure.
The Model D was a significant milestone in the evolution of Deere Tractors, with production starting in 1923.
Not only was it the first tractor to be built and marketed bearing the makers name, but it was also the longest production run of any one model in the green and yellow history.
The two-cylinder Model D was a rugged and reliable machine and was responsible for putting Deere on the map as world leader in tractor production.
To celebrate this milestone, collectors young and old are dusting off their Model Ds and collectively will be showcasing the many fine examples of this magnificent tractor.
The Museum has been hoping to attract one from each year of the John Deere Model D’s 30-year production run.
Century-old sock knitting machine
DURING World War 1, beehive sock knitting machines and 10 pounds of wool were given out to ‘housewives’ to knit socks for the soldiers to overcome debilitating trench-foot.
Hamilton Pastoral Museum member, John Robertson, Winslow, has restored one of these century-old machines and will be demonstrating it alongside the Hamilton Wool and Craft Guild’s display of the ancient craft of turning wool from the sheep’s back into garments and artwork.
The sock-making machine has 72 needles to knit 72 stitches, known as the Kitchener Stitch after Lord Kitchener, for each turn of the handle.
While these machines were common in the early 1900s, John Robertson said they have become quite rare.
“They could be in people’s sheds, but often they don’t know what they are and end up being thrown out as rubbish,” John said.
“We are lucky that this 1905 example was gifted to the Pastoral Museum for restoration and preservation.”
John said sock knitting machines are still available to buy new and people around the globe have begun knitting socks to again combat trench foot, this time for the soldiers in Ukraine.
The sock knitting demonstration will be in the museum’s meeting room on both days of the rally.
Ancient wool craft demonstrations
IT isn’t all tractors and machinery with Hamilton Wool and Craft Guild members demonstrating the ancient craft of turning wool from the sheep’s back into garments and artwork throughout the weekend.
Fleeces will be spun and plied into yarn in the age-old methods to be knitted into jumpers, gloves, scarves and more, or weaved into cloth.
Beanies made from homespun wool will be offered for sale during the rally with all proceeds going to Legacy.
There will also be other hand-made items for sale over the weekend.
Get a photo with (or win) a Rawling & Co sign
THERE is a bonus for attending the rally – there will be a Rawling & Co sign made up in the style of the 1937 Melbourne Show for John Deere owners to park their tractor under for a photo.
The 3.66 metre sign will be raffled and the winner announced immediately after the Grand Parade on Sunday - it would be a great addition to your man cave, ladies’ lounge, workshop or machinery shed.
Raffle tickets will be available at $10 each throughout the weekend.
Set aside the weekend of October 7 and 8 and join the Hamilton Pastoral Museum Inc in celebrating the 100th birthday of the museum’s Allis Chalmers 20/35 tractor and rediscover the wonders of the past at the museum’s weekend of “History in Action!”
Visitors can also observe working displays of past farming practices and join in the fun with the miniature railway, vintage cars, woodturners and the opportunity to catch the daily Grand Parade at 2pm.
For more information, email hamiltonpastoralmuseum@live.com
