The DAVID BROWN TRACTORS COLLECTION

Contains: tractor dispatches: summaries of domestic and export sales, various manufacturers 1958-1967; overseas commercial reports 1960-1965; publicity department registers 1960-1967; administrative files for sales and publicity events 1965,1967; publications of David Brown and Sons (Hudd.) Ltd 1920's; technical reference information files for sales representatives 1959-1965; papers delivered at the National Power Farming Conference 1966-1967; general advertising compilations 1937-1959; album of Farmer and Stockbreeder covers illustrating David Brown products 1939-1943; souvenir pamphlet of a visit to Park Works David Brown&Sons (Hudd) Ltd 1939; individual advertising and servicing publications of David Brown Tractors Ltd; publications of David Brown Tractors Ltd 1947-1978; individual advertising and servicing publications; posters 1967-1981; press release 1949-1962; records of advertising campaigns and events 1954-1955; promotion packs for dealers on launch of new tractor models 1958-1967; papers relating to artworks and proofs for publications; press cuttings 1945-1971; photographic negatives 1940's-1960's; photograph albums 1930-1969; photographs 1950's-1970's; pamphlet of the Royal Show, York 1948; catalogue of Royal Agricultural Society of England Oxford Show 1959; records of Radyne Ltd including customer request forms 1968-1969, correspondence of publicity department 1964-1965, individual advertising publications 1960's, technical bulletins 1960's, press releases 1965-1970, press cuttings 1964, photographic prints 1960's and the history of Radyne Ltd 1964

David Brown and Sons (Huddersfield) Ltd was founded in 1860, originally producing wooden gear patterns for the textile industry. In 1936 a subsidiary of the family business in collaboration with Harry Ferguson manufactured the Ferguson-Brown Tractor, to Ferguson's design in the David Brown Gear Factory. This was notable as the world's first production tractor to be equipped with hydraulic lift and 3 point linkage.

In the late 1930's this association lapsed, Ferguson joining Henry Ford in the USA; David Brown continued to produce tractors, David Brown Tractors Ltd purchasing the Meltham Mills site near Huddersfield in 1939. Also in 1939 the first David Brown tractor was exhibited at the Royal Show. Production was interrupted by the Second World War, the Meltham factory becoming involved in gear manufacture; however a small number of tractors (mainly used for aircraft-towing) and other recovery vehicles were produced.

In 1955 David Brown Tractors Ltd acquired by Tenneco Inc, Houston, Texas, and was affiliated to the Tenneco subsidiary JI Case of Racine, Texas. A new unified colour scheme of white, red and black was then adopted for Case/David Brown farm tractors in 1973. The David Brown Corporation has had subsidiaries in Northern Ireland, Eire, Australia, Canada, USA, South Africa, West Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden and Finland in 1964 Radyne Ltd of Wokingham, manufacturers of radio frequency heating equipment became a David Brown Company. As well as tractors and farm machinery, David Brown products have included gearing and transmission equipment, steel and bronze castings, electronic equipment, high speed naval craft, marine engines and Aston Martin and Lagonda cars.

AD Administrative and Commercial Records

AD7 Commercial Records

ET Technical Records Experimental and General Reference

ET2 Technical Reference to firms

ET3 General Technical Reference

P Publications, promotions and Advertising Records

P1 General Compilations

P2 Individual Publications

P2/A Individual Advertsing and Servicing Publications

P2/B Other firms advertising campaigns and Events

P3 Posters, Notices and Display Matters

P5 Press Releases

P7 Records of Advertising Campaigns and Events

P8 Printing Proofs and Artworks

P9 Press cuttings

PH Internal Photographic Records

PH1 Negatives

PH2 Compilations of Prints

PH3 Individual Prints

SH Records of Shows and Exhibitions

Records of Subsidiaries: Radyne Ltd

AD2/1 Administrative and Commercial Records

AD8/1-3 Correspondence

P2/A9-103 Individual advertising Publications

P4/1-4 Technical Bulletins

P5/2-15 Press Releases

P9/79 Press Cuttings

PH3/24-41 Photographic Prints

SP1/1 General Reference Records

Open for consultation

Description compiled by Caroline Gould

A detailed catalogue of the collection is available at the Museum of English Rural Life