[Jeroen]

Last weekend the Dutch Tractor Club de vetnippels (grease nipples) held its annual event.

http://tcdevetnippels.nl

It was only about an hours drive from where we live, so I decided to have a look. On Saturday it had been raining very very hard and almost all day. This event is out on a field so it was extremely muddy, if not to say muddy. The parking for visitors is on a nearby field and many cars needed to be towed out by a tractor. Luckily I went in my Jeep Cherokee. With 4wheel drive engaged it ploughed, axle deep, through all the mud and water logged fields!

This is a vintage tractor event, so you will see all sorts of tractors, from the very traditional steam tractor to many different more modern ones. A few other things were on display as well as you will see.

This was the first (steam) tractor I came across. Love these machines!



There were several caterpillar tractors as well as you will see.



Many of these tractors are owned and restored by farmers. Some of these families have several tractors. The other day I was talking to somebody in our village. She told me her son, who was 25 already has a collection of 25 vintage tractors.



This one is for sale (Te Koop). There is quite a second hand trade market in vintage tractors, believe it or not. I know of at least four major auctions every year that will typically sell about 100-150 vintage tractors!



There were also several stationaire engine being displayed. And quite a few of them were running too.



In the vintage days tractors were used to power lots of implements and machinery in farms. Here you see a tractor being used to power a huge band saw mill.





Even today modern tractors still power farm equipment. The most used one, apart from the obvious machinery for ploughing and so on, is pumps.

These tractors might look and are in fact vintage. But almost all of them are in running condition. I particularly liked this one.



Those of you whom have been following some of my post might remember I would really like an Unimog. Great little truck. However, Mrs D. has vetoed this idea.

A man can dream of course



These sort of events are very much family affairs. Lots of women and kids about. The kids bring their own mini tractors and tear around the place!



It was muddy, very muddy!!!



Lots of these Lanz tractors about:



Some Hanomag’s in different shapes, colours and level of restoration



The nice dark blue Hanomag had this pneumatic horn installed. I don’t think it was original though.



Some very old tractors, all quite rusty, waiting to be restored at some point in time.





They were also running these demo’s on vintage rock crunchers. All powered by, what else, vintage tractors.



Nice little tractor, somebody must have added the little hydraulic crane to it.



There were several other market stalls about as well. Some interesting vintage wood- and metal working tools.





Another Lanz



Couple of Bulldogs



These days calling anything a lilliputer or midget is considered to be political incorrect. I don’t think the farming community is too worried about this sort of wokism.



Some folks demonstrating old crafts:





A free merry go round for the kiddies!



Not sure what this thing is called in English. In Dutch we call it a “Kop van Jut”.
You swing a big hammer that catapults a small cart along the vertical rail towards the bell. If you manage to ring the bell, you have won!



Big party tent as well. You could get food and drinks, life music. BIG party tonight for all the participants!



I thought this was quite an unusual design for a tractor. They tend to have the engines quite open and visible. It reminded me of some of the old streamlined steam trains. I don’t think tractors require streamlining though!



Tractors are used not only by farmers, all kinds of heavy duty work can and is often done with the help of tractors. Here one with one of these massive levellers attached.

[Jeroen]

I must be honest, I know next to nothing about tractors. But I just like them. Also these events are well organised and everybody is very easy going. A lot of these folks know each other. So it is a very relaxed and happy atmosphere.

I can spot a model tractor though! This was quite the interesting contraption. Made from an old sewing machine, bicycle parts and various other bits.



Some more track-tractors. I must admit, I don’t think I have ever seen these for real. I have come across tracked bulldozers of course, and even the odd shovel. But tractors on tracks? Only seen them at these sort of events or in a museum.



Lots of tractors on muddy fields.





Look at the tractors at the rear. Those are modern day tractors, look at the difference in size with the vintage tractors!



Traditional way of smoking fish over a wood burner.



No mistake what brand of tractor this is!





Quite impressed with these Cabrio-type tractors! Same sort of mechanism as on my Alfa Spider.







This is a pretty much minimalistic type of tractor cockpit. You can’t get more exposed to the elements then this.



There were a couple old, vintage trucks too.



Another demo, of making hay bail with this wonderful machine, powered by yet again a Tractor.



When you say vintage tractor you say, simple mechanical technology. Dieselsystem don’t come more simple than this:



Farm kids learn to drive tractors from very early on. You need to start them on one of these first.



This was an absolute gorgeous tractor. Meticulously restored!



Not yet restored!



I can’t remember the exact brand/model, but I know I had a model of this one as young boy.



More muddy fields, with more tractors.







Nice line up of various different tractors.



Look at them wheels, they are so big!



Another Unimog I am not allowed!



There also a couple of dozen traditional caravans on display. In my memory, it was the gypsies who used to live in these. These days I don’t think you are allowed to call them gypsies anymore. Also these days they tend to live in very modern, multi storey caravans. It’s the trendy folks that buy up these vintage caravans.

On my way out I noticed this poster for yet another oldtimer tractor, truck, motorcycle show. Participants and vehicle need to be over 65 years of age. It’s good to know there are still events for which I am considered too young!!

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[V.Narayan]

Real working machines, like trucks and earth equipment, that directly contribute to the GDP!

Once again, a most enlightening and informative thread by Jeroen. Thank you Sir. I really enjoy your new threads be it on aircrafts (but of course!), ships, marine engines, museums or even tractors. It is to be appreciated how much effort you take to click and sort these photos and create this thread. For many of us, including me, these threads are a treasure of the wider transportation world.

Threads like these enrich Team BHP :-)

And doubtless you have lost none of your sense of humour.

Farm kids learn to drive tractors from very early on. You need to start them on one of these first.

Participants and vehicle need to be over 65 years of age. It’s good to know there are still events for which I am considered too young!!

Interestingly, here in Haryana, a predominantly agro State, I notice small tractors are back in fashion.

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

I really enjoy your new threads be it on aircrafts (but of course!).

Stand by! This Saturday my son Luc and I are visiting the Dutch Alouette museum as part of a vintage car club activity!

Jeroen

[ryzen7@5800u]

As always sir, an informative, enjoyable and illuminating thread. Your meticulous documentation, photography and writing is a treasure for Team-BHP.

I've always felt that tractors go a little underappreciated - it's nice to see such a dedicated club for these important and revolutionary machines.
Are there any entry fees or memberships needed for these events?

Sir, you mentioned that there is a sizeable market for vintage tractors like these. Are they only purchased by collectors or are they still being used in the farms? The idea of keeping machines like the Lanz Bulldog as a "garage queen" is a little saddening - but then again, these machines probably fall afoul of some emissions/environmental law or the other.