36 RUSSELLS OCT / NOV 2021 • farmers-mart . co . uk
100 YEARS OF PROGRESS
New Holland dealer Russells are celebrating reaching a significant milestone in their long and distinguished history . It ’ s 100 years since the family run firm became a limited company , and during this time they ’ ve not only supplied and sold a host of well-known brands but also developed and manufactured their own extensive range of machinery up until the late 80s . David Laley delves into their archives and traces their history .
FOR many when it comes to agricultural machinery the name Russells is synonymous with two brands , Ford and New Holland . The family run company currently headed by Paul Russell first began selling Ford tractors and New Holland machinery in 1983 after being a David Brown main dealer for more than thirty years . This chapter came to an end following the Tenneco take over and subsequent merging of the Case and International brands .
However long before they began selling Ford and New Holland machinery Russells were a prominent British manufacturer of agricultural equipment in their own right . Between the mid-1800s and the early 1980s they would develop , manufacture and market a huge array of award-winning machinery from ploughs , cultivators , seed drills , and bale handling kit , plus many other products including their own tractor .
Their products became well known and highly regarded not only on the home market , but also abroad in Scandinavia , Africa , and South America . Whilst developing and manufacturing their own machinery Russells also forged excellent working relationships with many other well-known brands . These included Ferguson , Nuffield , Allis Chalmers , Massey Harris , Catchpole , Grays , and Kverneland whose tractors and equipment were sold alongside their own implements and accessories .
Although they ceased manufacturing machinery in 1987 nowadays Russells represents and sells equipment from an impressive array of British and multi-national brands . These include , New Holland , Manitou , Vaderstad , Pottinger , McHale , McConnel , Stewart Trailers , as well as Shelbourne Reynolds , Mzuri , Dal-Bo , Nugent , Hi-Spec , Hardi , MacDon , Degenhart , Sulky , Sumo , LWC , Lynx , NRH , HONDA , Quicke , Shaeffer , and Walter Watson .
The Russells success story begins all the way back in 1849 when three brothers who grew up on farms surrounding Kirkbymoorside in North Yorkshire , set up a Blacksmith Shop in the village of Great Edstone .
Russells became a limited company 100 years ago back in 1921 specialising in manufacturing ploughs , cultivators and seed drills . The company launched this award horse drawn root crop thinner in 1926 .
To begin with they focused their efforts on designing and manufacturing simple ploughs and harrows for horses prior to the introduction of the tractor . Always looking for ways at making tasks easier , they soon expanded into building seed drills to suit different types of crops from cereals , to beet and turnips .
The driving force behind this innovation was talented and forward-thinking engineer , black smith , and farmer George Russell . His improved 11 coulter corn drill went onto scoop a major award at the first Ryedale Show in 1855 .
This success inspired him to refine his drill designs further and in 1867 at the Yorkshire Show he was awarded a silver medal for his improved seed fastener mechanism . As more interest was shown by farmers in George ’ s drills the business moved from the quiet village of Great Edstone to the bustling town of Kirkbymoorside , or Kirbymoorside as it was spelt by the railway companies that operated from the station .
It was the latter spelling that Russells would use in their advertising following their move to a foundry and larger manufacturing facilities close to the railway station in 1890 . Here George and his family set up the Yorkshire Patent Drill Co specialising in root crop and seed drills , along with associated inter-row cultivation kit .
In 1912 the business was renamed TB Russell and Co and it was during this year that Paul Russell ’ s Grandfather also called George joined the company aged 13 on a permit from the local education authority . He would start work at 6am and finish at 5.30pm most days , and was given a half hour break for breakfast and lunch . George ’ s weekly wage amounted to the equivalent of 15p . No overtime was given nor did he receive any annual holidays . He would work half days on Shrove Tuesday , Good Friday , and Christmas Day .
Seven years later following the end of the first world war the Russell family chose to sell two of their mixed farms to concentrate on developing a more comprehensive range of agricultural machinery , centred around seed drills . Following further expansion , and investment from the Shaw and Slingsby families in 1921 Russells became a fully incorporated company .
In 1926 they launched their patented root thinner which had the gapping mechanism attached to the right-hand road wheel thus eliminating any form of gearing and making it easier for one horse to pull .
The Russells moved their business from Great Edstone to a new factory in Kirkbymoorside close to the town ’ s railway station in 1890 where their headquarters remained until 2008 . This photo showing various parts and subassemblies was taken at the factory in the 1940s . Continued on page 38