Mike Thorne is a name known to many, many tractor enthusiasts, and particularly those whose primary interest is in Ferguson and Massey Ferguson models, as Mike has assembled an almost unrivalled colleciion of the tractors of both marques. But before he decided to go down that route, he had been collecting tractors since the 1980s - machines of many makes, models and vintages, some in good order, others wanting substantial work. In his time he has acquired no less than 100 examples, and in this book he takes the reader through them all, with individual entries on every one - though he admits there are some that he has forgotten. So the reader will be treated to observations on a very wide range of tractors, large or small, rare or common, good or less good, with information on where he bought them, on problems, repair and restoration, and on the machines' characteristics and specifications. Mike designed and constructed two fascinating buildings to house his collection at Coldridge in deepest mid-Devon and these form his museum, which can be visited by appointment and offers enthusiasts a real treat. Telling one man's story of half a lifetime of rescuing half-dead tractors and collecting live ones, this book, written in an informal style, should capture the attention of anyone who cares about vintage tractors.
About the Author: Born in London, the son of a successful builder, Mike Thorne gravitated to agriculture in his teens and soon became familiar with the tractors then used on the land, having a particular admiration for the revolutionary grey Ferguson, with its unique three-point linkage for mounting implements. As time went by he also, if asked, would construct modest buildings for local farmers, and this activity grew from being a sideline into a major business, involving large industrial buildings as well as ones for agricultural use. In the 1980s his love of tractors moved him to start acquiring examples of many makes, and over time he bought more than 100 before a change of direction saw him reduce the collection to only Ferguson and Massey Ferguson models, which are housed in museum buildings that he designed. The collection is impressive in its range and quality.