A New Year always offers a time to reflect and set ambitions for the year ahead, we have some exciting developments in the pipeline, and we can’t wait to share them with you over the coming year.
2022 has seen another successful year of growth for Tamar Vintage Tractors with over 140 tractors sold - from Glasgow to Guernsey and everywhere in between!
This year we have noticed an increase in demand for classic and vintage diesel tractors, which are proving popular with smallholders and smaller farms. These older tractors make for reliable workhorses. A little tinkering, minimal tools and a basic understanding of mechanics will usually be enough to keep them on the job!
The Field Marshall proved to be the stand-out favourite for us this year, with the few models we acquired being snapped up almost immediately.
Throughout the year, we were fortunate enough to be offered some fantastic collections. There have also been some very rare tractors pass through our hands. One particularly memorable model was the Vierzon 201 hot-bulb which proved to be quite a learning curve!
A quick Google search will generally return a mountain of information but data for the Vierzon was scarce. Before long we had uncovered the fascinating history of ‘The Société Française de Vierzon’ founded by Célestin Gérard who initially trained as a carpenter, but throughout his life became recognised as an inventor and industrial pioneer.
We also gathered enough information to be able to start this unique ‘hot-bulb’ engine and subsequently produced a short YouTube tutorial.
We have seen a sharp increase in followers of our social media channels this year with both Facebook and Instagram exceeding 1,000 followers. Our website has also seen an increase in traffic which has resulted in some very speedy sales as visitors await their perfect tractor to be uploaded!
Next year we will be looking to grow our YouTube channel, we would love to know what you’d like to see from us. Would you like more details about the day-to-day running of our business? How-to-guides? Or do you just enjoy seeing the variety of tractors we source? Please feel free to comment below.
Over recent months we have been looking to downsize our personal collection, this includes our John Deere M which holds a remarkable history. This older restoration has retained its original buff logbook which details a registration date of April 1959, to renowned author and historian Donald Macmillan.
Donald Macmillan was widely recognised as the world’s foremost authority on the history of the John Deere company. He was appointed as the first UK dealer in 1958 and whilst growing his thriving business he also found the time to pen many books about John Deere models and history.
In 1981, Pearsons Auctioneers held a sale of over 30 tractors on behalf of Don Macmillan. The catalogue features this very Model M, Serial number 14021.
I’m sure fellow collectors will appreciate the continued struggle with space and time, but the refining of our personal collection should free up some shed space for some exciting new projects later in the year!
2022 saw the return of many of our much-loved rallies and shows. Highlights for us included the Dorset Steam Fair and the South Hams Vintage rally which we attended with our Rumley Oil-Pull and Ford 8N.
Looking forward to 2023 we are excited to announce the return of our Working Weekend. This will follow the format of our previous event where you will be welcome to bring your own plough or cultivator to work the land here at Lamerton.
Spectators are welcome and donations will be greatly received on behalf of our chosen charity.
December saw a gentle refresh of the TVT logo which now features one of our personal favourites - a classic John Deere. This refresh has included an update to our current website, new branded workwear and re-branded adverts in the Classic Tractor and Tractor and Machinery magazine.
We are so excited to be taking our ‘little tractor business’ into another year and are eager for another year of growth. We would like to thank our customers – new and returning – for their continued support this year, it’s such a pleasure to share knowledge and stories with like-minded tractor enthusiasts!
It remains to be said that we are always looking to source new stock, whether you have a single tractor or small collection, we have transport and are happy to travel!
Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2023.
Matt, Sarah and family