One of a kind tractor donated

By Lachlan Ellis

A vintage tractor, believed to be around 50 years old and the only one left of its model in Australia, has been generously donated to a local vintage machinery club.

Former Ballan farmer Arthur Ranken donated his International Harvester Cub Cadet Garden Tractor to the Ballan District Vintage Machinery and Vehicle Club (BDVMVC) in May, and said the tractor, a similar style to a ride on lawn mower, was one of just two ever brought to Australia.

“This tractor was one of two that International Harvester company imported from the America in the early 1970s for evaluation with the thought of importing them as part of that company’s range of tractors at that time. They didn’t proceed with that plan,” Mr Ranken told the Moorabool News.

“Of the two that were imported, one was destroyed, and this one remained in private use by an IH senior executive for a number of years, until I acquired it also some years ago. Now to preserve it, I’ve put it in the hands of an organisation where it may possibly be restored, and will certainly be preserved for years to come.”

Mr Ranken’s hopes that the tractor can be “restored to its former glory” are shared by President of the BDVMVC, Perc Robinson, who thanked Mr Ranken for his generosity.

“We’re very happy with the donation. It’s a very rare tractor, it’s a prototype that was brought over by International Harvester before they went broke back in the 80’s. Arthur saw us at the Tractor Pull last year and said he had the tractor, so I went and picked it up. It’ll be restored in due time and put up on display,” Mr Robinson said.

“When Arthur got it, it had been left outside for a lot of years and it deteriorated a lot. But we’ve got it undercover, and it’s on the list to be restored. I don’t think it’ll take much to get it going.

“We’re very thankful to Arthur for that donation.”

While the BDVMVC is “getting stronger every month”, Mr Robinson said it’s always after new junior members.

“Us old guys aren’t going to last forever, if we don’t pass our knowledge of old machinery on to the younger generation, all that old knowledge will be lost,” he said.

To express your interest in joining the BDVMVC, contact Perc Robinson on 0428 829 274, or Ray Meadows on 0400 816 176.