It’s now 35 years since Teagle Machinery joined the silage wagon market with a new machine that connected a modified JF silage harvester into a Teagle silage trailer to create the Toucan. This was designed as a one-man silage harvesting outfit.

The Toucan was launched at the Smithfield Show in London in 1981 with the aim of merging the features of an existing precision-chop silage harvester (The JF FC110) with a trailer to give a finer chop than was available with conventional wagons at the time. It had been tested by the company since 1978 when the concept was first developed.

The machine could be used as a conventional trailer by detaching the harvester part and replacing it with a standard drawbar. Teagle claimed this process would take two men less than 20 minutes. It could also be used for side-filling into another trailer where there was a long draw involved.

There were three Toucan models – the Toucan 6, 8 and 10, each based on a trailer size from Teagle’s range. The entry model was based around a 6t capacity single-axle silage trailer, while the larger Toucan 10 was rated at 10t in capacity and with tandem wheels. A Toucan 7 was later added to the range.

Teagle claimed the machine gave low power consumption as well as high output for that time at 1.5 acres/hour. It used components that had already been shown to be reliable. The JF harvester with just two feed rollers was set to run at a slightly slower speed as the chute was nearer to the trailer than with conventional harvesting.

The Toucan was independently tested in 1982 and the report indicated the smaller machines could be operated with tractors in the 70hp to 80hp range. It found that the system was reliable, giving good output from a one-man harvesting system.

The research found the chop length produced was adequate for farming systems but the only user problems included a tendency to block the chute as operators tried to overfill the trailer. There were also issues with larger twin swaths of grass. For Irish conditions, the Teagle Toucan demanded more power due to heavier and wet grass. Some Irish farmers have continued to use the machine some 30 years on with good effect, and Teagle has reported requests for parts even in recent years.

The Toucan won many awards during 1981, including ones from the Royal Show, Royal Welsh Show and the Scottish Highland Show. Teagle Machinery, based in Cornwall, England, replaced the JF harvester in the Toucan in 1990 after JF changed the design and replaced it with the FCT 1100 model. The company produced its own harvester for a short period and ceased production of the Toucan in 1995.

The machine was sold in relatively small numbers in Ireland by JF Farm Machines (RI) based in Drogheda, Co Louth, and by Jayfarm in Northern Ireland. It is estimated that there were close to 10 machines in the North and a similar number in the Republic.

The list price of the entry Teagle Toucan in 1982 was £8,650 (about €10,985). The JF harvester on its own was about £2,000 cheaper, about the price of a 10x6 silage trailer at the time.

I remember attending one of the demonstrations of the Teagle Toucan during 1984 when it was put through its paces. The machine performed well, but blocking of the chute was an issue that required skilful driving. As you can see from the black and white photos of the time, it was strongly branded as much a JF product as Teagle.

JF continues to manufacture a version of the system, called the JF Kongskilde ES right up to today. This machine uses four feed rollers in place of the two-roller original machines used in the Toucan.

Rebuilding a MF135 against the clock

An agricultural engineering lecturer from Wiltshire College, with a close family connection to west Cork, will put his tractor building skills to the test in a 24-hour tractor rebuild challenge at Keelbeg Pier, Union Hall, Co Cork, on Sunday 13 July in an effort to raise funds for a permanent lifeboat in his home town that was struck by tragedy in 2012.

Mike O’Sullivan plans to carry out a complete overhaul of a Massey Ferguson 135 that’s in very poor condition against the clock. He will also be supported by former colleagues and students at the Lackham campus, where he has worked for 32 years.

“Last year I offered to do a tractor rebuild if the RNLI could get one donated and they did,” said Mike. “This is a fantastic opportunity to help many people and a most deserving community and I am looking forward to the challenge.”

Mike’s challenge will see him working against the clock to put more than £5,000 worth of parts together donated by AGCO Corporation, parent company of Massey Ferguson for the challenge. The completed tractor will then be raffled in the hope of raising £20,000.

It is hoped to stream the 24-hour challenge live on the web. For anyone wishing to support this challenge, follow the link below

www.justgiving.com/UnionHallRNLI

Killyon’s first tractor run

James Larrissey (086-386 7432) from Killyon, Hill of Down, Co Meath, is staging the first Killyon Tractor Run on Saturday afternoon, July 16. The run which has been timed to take 1 hour and 20 minutes will begin at 5pm from Moran’s Pub, Killyon and include a drive towards Clonard and back. The run is being staged to support the funding of the recent extension to the local national school.

Crossmahon tractor run

Bandon, Co Cork based Crossmahon Macra club is staging a charity tractor run and barbecue evening Sunday 17 July starting at noon from Crossmahon Bar. The club secretary says that both vintage and modern tractors are welcome and that the day will include a bale wrapping competition. All money raised on the day will go to support Bandon community hospital.

Irish Farmers Journal Vintage Diary

9 July Streete Club Philip Moran Vintage Tractor Run Westmeath 086-259 6656

9/10 July NW Donegal Vintage Club Carrigart Show Donegal 087-220 3331

9 July Braid Valley Vintage Rally, Broughshane Antrim 0044-780 2537124

9 July Sheepbridge Tractor Run Antrim 028/048-302 66428

10 July Slieve Bloom vintage tractor run, Kilcormac, Laois 087-251 0617

10 July Four Counties Vintage Club Field Day, Ballyhoe Meath 087-276 8406

10 July South Eastern Vintage Rally & Hay Day Carlow 087-238 5195

10 July Sixmilebridge Road Run Clare 061-369 999

10 July Ballinrostig Vintage Field Day, Whitegate Cork 087-997 4619

10 July Knockbridge Vintage Road Run Louth 087-976 3355

10 July Shamrock Vintage Club Carrickbyrne Show Wexford 051-428 416

10 July Rainbow Tractor Club Charity Run, Virginia Cavan 086-875 9606

13 July Bushmills Vintage Rally, Ballyness Antrim 0044-798 9383234?

13 July Peninsula Vintage Road Run, Kircubbin Antrim 0044-778 9448668?

14 July Drumbo Vintage, Drumbo Armagh 0044-781 1602788

*Dates are subject to change. The Irish Farmers Journal does not take responsibility for date or venue changes. Please contact each event before you travel.