The Farmers Mart Feb/Mar 2014 - Issue 32 | Page 72

BARLOWS HENBURY

A BRIGHT FUTURE BUILT
ON A STRONG PAST
James Barlow is the latest member
of the family to take the helm of
this highly successful agricultural
machinery businesswhich has both a
fascinating past and a bright future.
Ian Wilkinson headed to Macclesfield
to meet him and find out more.
The business began in
1890, when Joseph Barlow
set up as ‘threshing
machine proprietor’.
Increasing demand led
to a gradual growth and
Barlow’s moved with the
times, using tractors for
threshing rather than the
traditional steam engines
of the Victorian era.
Tractors were and still are,
required to work hard. One
of the tractors used by the
business was an American
1939 Allis-Chalmers model
A - which worked right up
to 1966 and is still in the
family today and, thanks to
the dedication of James’s
father,Alan, is in fully restored
condition.

One of the interesting facts
about thisremarkableAllis
is that records show it has
worked in the region of
between 32,000 and 35,000
hours and still has its original
clutch, piston and liners!
Only 1,200 were made, and
Barlow’s was one of the
few businesses to stock this
American tractor because
sadly, the main consignment
was bombed on its way across
the Atlantic to the UK in
WW2.
A FIRST WITH ZETOR
In 1954 the business moved a
short way to Pump House Works
in Henbury and began to reflect
the post-war changes taking
place in UK agriculture. >

Arctic Cat would like
to wish Alan, James,
Family and Staff
continued success
for the future.

ARCTIC CAT GMBH

Makers of “The” Diesel ATV

Tel: [phone]

72

Feb/Mar 2014 FarmersMart

*Picture for illustration purposes only*

To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk