What is considered to be the most important and complete collection of the Ferguson range of tractors in the world, the Hunday Ferguson Collection, will go for auction on Saturday 14 November at Roudham, near Thetford in Norfolk, England.

Vintage auction specialists Cheffins will be selling this unique Ferguson collection of more than 80 Ferguson tractors that was originally put together by pioneer collector, John Moffitt, who was a very well-known figure in the world of farm machinery preservation.

John began collecting tractors in 1965. He discovered many early and rare machines and he went on to open the Hunday Museum, a national collection of tractors, engines and machinery, in Northumberland in 1979.

The museum closed in 1989 and the majority of the tractors and exhibits were dispersed. However, John retained all the Ferguson exhibits, some of which had been in his possession since 1966.

When John retired in the early 1990s, he devoted his time to building up the largest collection of Ferguson equipment in the world.

The Ferguson exhibits from the former Hunday Museum formed the nucleus of the collection, which became known as the Hunday Ferguson Collection.

John’s ambition was to find an example of every piece of Ferguson equipment produced in the UK and the US.

By 2000, John had amassed what was probably the most complete collection of Ferguson equipment ever assembled. The collection included an example of every type of implement and virtually every variation of tractor, both Ferguson and its early Massey Ferguson successors.

Where no example of a machine existed, such as the Ferguson combine (which never went beyond prototype stage), John had replicas constructed at great expense. The collection also included memorabilia and literature.

In 2004, with his health failing, John decided to sell the collection and it was purchased by Norfolk businessman and collector Paul Rackham. Paul moved the Hunday Ferguson Collection to his premises near Bridgham.

Renovated

During his ownership, several of the tractors have been overhauled or renovated. He has also added to the collection and extended it to include a number of rare and significant examples of Ferguson and Massey Ferguson tractors and vehicles of particular historical interest.

These included Harry Ferguson’s fully restored MK1 long wheelbase Land Rover with original buff logbook. Over the previous five years or so, Paul Rackham has tried to sell the collection as a whole, but for various reasons this has not proved possible and he has now made the reluctant decision to break up the collection.

A sale of such historical importance will create a huge amount of interest, particularly from Ireland, Harry Ferguson’s birthplace.

There is an increasing number of Ferguson enthusiasts who have sought to collect the Ferguson range of equipment, from the UK, Europe and the US.

Vintage photo wins Heritage Week competition

A photograph by Jaana McEntee of a vintage scene event has won the overall prize at the National Heritage Council as part of the annual National Heritage Week photography competition. Jaana McEntee’s photo was a fantastically observed moment that was taken at Fingal Vintage Harvest Festival at Skerries Mills, Co Dublin. Janna wins a €500 Irish Landmark Trust weekend stay voucher.