To load and stack flat eights Russells produced this flat eight grab known as the Eight Fork .

Russells introduced a revamped version of David Brown ’ s Hurricane forage harvester in 1971 . Seen here is the 40-inch wide inline HH1R . A larger 48-inch version , the HH5R was launched at the same time .

The 80 and 90 were designed for use with a hopper and a three-ply rubber belt fitted with vulcanised rubber cleats for the fast transfer of loose potatoes from trailers to store . In 1971 Russells also introduced a revamped version of David Brown ’ s wellliked Hurricane forage harvester .

Improvements were made to the main casing of the Hurricane along with revamped mechanical and hydraulic controls . Russells Hurricane known as the HH5R was fitted with a 48-inch chopping unit and could also be configured with a low delivery chute for chopping straw and topping potatoes . A 40-inch width inline version of the Hurricane christened the HH1R was also offered by Russells . Russells next major product launch came in December 1975 when they introduced a range of bale handling equipment designed to suit the flat eight system . The equipment comprised of a flat eight bale sledge latterly christened the Eight Former , a flat eight bale grab later known in sales literature as the Eight Fork , and a hydraulic rear mounted bale carrier designed to lift

To transport stacks of flat eights Russells designed and built the 48 / 56 carrier which became one of its most popular implements .

and transport stacks of 40 square bales .

The 40-bale carrier was soon replaced by a much more efficient trailed version designed to carry 48 or 56 square bales which became one of their most successful products . A fully hydraulic bale sledge was also developed during the late seventies called the Carry Eight Fomer to create flat eights entirely above ground on a platform to avoid contamination and broken strings .

Featuring not one but two SuperCut spiral rotors , the McConnel TwinCut Flailhead has been designed to tackle hedgerows in a single-pass - delivering both a heavy-duty cut and a fine finish in a single operation .

SECOND CUT UPWARD DIRECTION

The patented * design of the TwinCut removes the need for a front hood , ensuring a smoother flow of material into the flailhead and allowing closer cutting to obstacles for improved productivity and precision .

* Patent number GB2269522

FIRST CUT DOWNWARD DIRECTION

Direction of travel

George Russell who joined the company in 1912 is seen here ( far left ) stood with his son John on their stand at the 1961 Royal Show . John would become managing director of Russells in 1970 .

In December 1975 Russells launched a new range of bale handling equipment to suit the flat eight system including this flat eight sledge christened the Eight Former .

Russells launched its mounted 40 bale carrier in December 1975 . It was replaced a year later with the 48 / 56 trailed bale carrier .

In 1978 Russells introduced its own tractor called the 3-D . This was a tool carrier based upon the design of the old David Brown 2D previously manufactured between 1956 and 1961 . Russells revamped tractor comprised of a rear mounted 20hp two-cylinder air-cooled Lombardini diesel engine that powered hydrostatic drive motors fitted to each rear wheel . This provided a speed range between 0 and 9mph .

A spur and quadrant steering mechanism was fitted to the 3-D along with disc brakes . The 3-D also came equipped with a 9.62-gallon diesel tank . Measuring 3.65m in length the 3-D had an adjustable track width between 122cm and 193cm made in 10cm increments . Lights , wheel mark eradicators and attachment brackets were all optional extras .

Russells launched its first and only tractor , 20hp 3-D in 1978 . It was a revamped version of the David Brown 2-D tool carrier designed specifically for precise inter-row work . The sold in small numbers up until 1984 .

The 3-D tool carrier was launched by Russells primarily for specialist inter-row cultivation , hoeing and spraying work on farms that grew root crops and potatoes . Despite offering unrivalled visibility , finger tip precision controls , and compatibility with a wide range of implements only around 30 were built before it was discontinued in 1986 .

By the early 1980s Russells had begun to consolidate its machinery portfolio in preference for selling other brands . The last range of machinery it introduced was a trio of four , six , and seven tonne trailers based on old Weeks designs in 1984 . By this time however Russells had become Ford tractor dealers and were also

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NRH ENGINEERING

Manufacturers Of British Built Agricultural Machinery

Our range includes :

• Cambridge rollers from 3m - 12.3m .

• Subsoilers - 2 , 3 , 5 and 7 leg .

• Coil packers with star cleaners .

• Drill combi cultivators .

• Plough furrow presses .

• Front presses from 1.5m-6m .

• Double trailed ring presses from 3m-6m .