Old Pond Publishing - Product Information

Tracks Across the Field

VHS Video or DVD, PAL format

Brian Bell

Released 1999

55 minutes

Video £15.95 inc VAT
DVD £15.95 inc VAT

ISBN 0-9533651-8-2

ISBN 0-905523-38-6

This video looks closely at two stages of farm crawler development, covering some 30 machines in total.
Firstly, the classic period from the 1940s and 50s, with examples from Roadless, County, Caterpillar, IH, Cletrac, Fowler, David Brown and Ransomes, recorded at the 1999 ‘Tracks Across the Field’ working event.
A 1964 Caterpillar D8 mole-draining leads on to today’s rubber-tracked giants of the field: Case IH Quadtrac, John Deere and Claas Challenger from the 1999 ‘Power in Action’ demonstration.
The programme is directed and scripted by Brian Bell, with a full commentary narrated by Chris Opperman. It shows a range of working from traditional cereal harvesting, market-garden work, heavy ploughing, discing and rolling to contemporary minimal cultivations.
Not least, it shows enthusiasts enjoying themselves and includes a memorable crawl-past by a procession of working machines.


		The 43 hp Fowler VFA was the last in the Marshall tradition of single-cylinder engine tractors, outclassed by the more powerful and more comfortable crawlers offered at a competitive price by International and County. This example was built in 1953 and is owned by Steve Cowle of Winkleigh in Devon.

Built in 1945, this ex-army D7 with a cable-operated le tourneau dozer blade weights in at 11 tons. Owned by Matthew Lonsdale of Bognor Regis, the Cat was on its first outing since restoration.

		Dating back to 1950-51, this Fordson Roadless Full Track Model E with a Perkins P6 engine was one of perhaps only 25 ever built. It is owned by Graham Park of Hampshire.