The Farmers Mart Apr-May 2020 - Issue 68 | Page 25

RICKERBY OPEN EVENT 25
• APR/MAY 2020
Above: This cart was kindly loaned by Mr. Willis Wharton - In
the early 1900s the turnip cutter was patented by Rickerby
Ltd. This was done when Rickerby Ltd had its own foundry.
Upper Right: International 4848 Gold Edition - This was won by
Mr Rankin (Dumfries) in 1980. The competition was celebrating 100
years of Rickerby Ltd. It was built at the Doncaster plant. The family
has had it for two generations and kindly loaned it to Rickerby
for the show. Still in working order and used on their farm.
Lower right: Potato Hand Riddle & Small Thresher - Build up
Rickerby Ltd in the early 1900s. Kindly loaned by Mr Willis Wharton.
To celebrate the 140 years, there were
screens showing vintage pictures of the
old Rickerby depots as well as vintage
footage of early farm machinery. Then
just to top that, which is what you would
expect from Martyn, they had on display
early machinery from the 1900’s made
by Rickerby. The turnip cutter and
potato hand riddle and small thresher
were restored and lent for the show
by long-standing customer, Mr Willis
Wharton.
In addition, and the highlight of the his-
toric pieces, supplied by Mr Rankin from
Dumfries, was the International 484 Gold
Edition made by International Harvesters
in Doncaster to commemorate 100 years
of Rickerby, won by his family in 1980
and would you believe handed over by
Sir William Whitelaw! Although the years
haven’t been particularly kind to it, the IH
is still used every day on the farm.
This year’s show was well attended
with about 1900 people on the
Wednesday and a similar number on
Thursday. The acid test of a good show,
as always, is how many orders? Well,
across the board there was brisk business
done, but then farmers know there are
always good genuine “On the day deals”
to be had. Even though the break in the
weather meant quite a lot of farmers
were in the fields during the day, as ever
at night-time they came. One exhibitor
said to me “At one point it was as busy as
a rock concert”.
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