Although companies such as Frank Perkins Limited supplied diesel conversion kits for tractors, such as the Fordson E27N, the only British tractor fitted with a diesel engine designed and built ‘in house’ at that point was the David Brown Cropmaster.

However, in 1951, the diesel Ferguson TEF20 and Fordson Major E1A were launched.

The farming community quickly recognised the cost efficiencies associated with diesel engines, and the new tractors became an instant sales success, dramatically outselling their petrol/paraffin powered counterparts.

The 42hp Fordson Major Diesel was a particularly popular tractor as it represented excellent value for money, had an enviable reputation for reliability, and was fitted with one of the easiest starting diesel engines ever built.

The Fordson Major E1A was superseded by the Power Major in 1958. The Power Major had ‘live-drive’ as standard and was fitted with an updated version of the E1A’s diesel engine that produced 52hp.

The Ferguson TEF20’s four-cylinder diesel engine produced 28hp and the tractor obviously had the advantage of being fitted with the ingenious Ferguson hydraulic system.

Although the Ferguson TEF20 and Fordson Major E1A were similarly priced, the Ferguson was a significantly smaller tractor by comparison, with a much lower power output.

The Ferguson 35 replaced the TE20 in 1956, three years after the merger of Massey-Harris and Harry Ferguson Limited.

The new tractor had a grey/gold livery and was fitted with a 37hp four-cylinder 23C diesel engine manufactured by the Standard Motor Company.

This engine earned a reputation as a difficult starter, not helped by the fact that it was only fitted with a single glow-plug located in the air-intake manifold.

The Ferguson 35 had a number of advantages over its predecessor, its improved hydraulic system and six-speed high/low gearbox being among the most significant.

The model was relaunched as the red/grey Massey Ferguson 35 in December 1957. Fordson responded by introducing the 32hp three-cylinder Dexta tractor that same year.

The 1950s was a busy decade for the David Brown Company as many new models were introduced.

The Cropmaster range was superseded by the new ‘25’ and ‘30 Series’ machines in 1953. The new tractors were effectively stripped down versions of their predecessors with less ornate tinwork, a single metal pan as opposed to a cushioned bench-seat, and a more conventional pedal arrangement whereby the driver was required to straddle the transmission housing to operate the clutch and brake pedals.

The 25D and 30D diesel tractors produced 31hp and 34hp respectively, and were the first David Brown models fitted with the company’s Traction Control Unit (TCU).

The ‘25’ and ‘30 Series’ machines were replaced by the red/blue David Brown 900 in 1956. This ill-fated model was superseded by the Implematic range unveiled two years later.

The six-cylinder diesel David Brown 50D was also unveiled during the 1950s, as was the two-cylinder air-cooled 2D horticultural tractor.

Not to be outdone, the Nuffield company introduced a number of tractors over the course of the decade.

The Nuffield DM4, introduced in 1950, was the first diesel powered Nuffield and was fitted with a four-cylinder Perkins P4 engine.

The merger between the Nuffield organisation and the Austin Motor Company took place in 1952, and the British Motor Company (BMC) was formed.

BMC introduced three diesel engines in 1954 – the 45hp four-cylinder OEA engine which was fitted to the Nuffield DM4, the six-cylinder OEB engine, and the 37hp three-cylinder OEC engine, which found its way into the Nuffield 3DM.

In 1957, the Nuffield DM4’s power output increased to 56hp, and the tractor’s model designation changed from DM4 to 4DM.

*robertkierans@hotmail.com