The boys from the New England Antique Machinery Club have been busy preparing for their annual rally, dusting off classic machinery from yesteryear and fine tuning old relics that are lovingly brought back to life for us all to enjoy.
The club, which boosts an enviable collection of antique machinery has, in recent months, paid particular attention to Ian McLennon’s German built 1945 Lanz Bulldog 25hp tractor which has finally sputtered and splattered to life through some hard yakka from the boys.
The Lanz Bulldog tractor belonged to the Tobin family from Guyra, who took delivery of the tractor at Guyra train station in 1949, costing 1049 pounds. Ian McLennon is the second owner and has had it for about 20 years.
“It is only in the last few years that I have got round to doing some restoration work on it,” said Ian.
“It was a general farming tractor on the Tobin property east of Guyra.
“We have had to replace the oiling system in it because, unfortunately, some water got under the fuel tanks on top of the transmission housing and rusted the pipes out. The engine has been stripped right down and we have been through all of the moving parts. We have had it running and, like all Lanz tractors, it has a wish to run backwards but you can correct that by changing the throttle setting.”
Lanz tractors were just one step off being built in a blacksmith’s workshop, according to Ian.
“If you can visualise a blacksmith’s workshop, these tractors were the next stage after that. The tractor came to Australia after the second world war when there was a shortage of agricultural tractors.”
Lanz tractors are particularly rare and the club is not aware of another of this model in the region. There are another five Lanz tractors in the club which are different models.
The New England Antique Machinery & Heavy Horse Rally is being held in association with the New England Outdoor Recreation Expo from this Friday to Sunday, November 9 to 11 at the Armidale Exhibition Centre, with gates opening at 9am and closing at 4pm on Friday and Saturday and on Sunday from 9am to 3pm.
There will be a huge selection of vintage working machinery, stationary engines, tractors, steam engines, horse-drawn machinery, working draught horses, military vehicles and vintage vehicles, with demonstrations running throughout the three days. Admission: Adults $8; concession $6 and Family $18.
