A Review Of Barry J. Finch’s Publication “Memories Of John Patten’s Ploughing Engines” By James Hodgson.

A review of Barry J. Finch’s publication “MEMORIES OF JOHN PATTEN’S PLOUGHING ENGINES” by James Hodgson.

“This is a great record both of ploughing engines in their ‘working clothes’ – the chains hanging off the back of the tender, the mole draining rope laced through the back wheel hub, the straw bale on the steersman’s stand ready for lighting up the next day – and of the ploughing crews – the clothes, the caps, the cigarettes! 

The photographs also reward close study – the bent handrail on Prince and the later shot showing the plough pulled in so close that it probably happened again, the makeshift toolbox behind the crankshaft, the coiling gear always running true, the cultivator with all bar one point removed (why was that?), the plough with only two people on board.

The pictures of the dispersal sale are quite poignant and bring back memories of the Philp sale 36 years later.  It is always interesting to look at the prices fetched.  The pair of Windsor and Sandringham made £460 – this is equivalent to £13,980 in today’s money.  The cultivator from the set of BB’s made the highest price of the day of £420, equivalent to £12,800 now.  And to close, Barry’s original, smaller book ‘Ploughing Engines at Work’ was priced at 3 shillings and sixpence which is now £5 – so for a little more money you get more pictures of a larger size at better resolution – bargain!”.

James Hodgson

MEMORIES OF JOHN PATTEN’S PLOUGHING ENGINES is priced at £12.00 including P&P and now available from the shop.