As usual this year’s entries ranged from devices created from scrap and waste products to those made from carefully selected and engineered components. The simplest this year was an old plastic can cut in half and attached to a frame to make easy work of collecting dry leaves while the most complex was a farm-made hydraulic press that utilises a large hydraulic ram powered by a tractor.

The winner in the New Piece of Equipment class was Terry Stinson, a farm manger from Wickham Bishops in Essex who had invented a stand that allows used agrochemical cans to be completely emptied. After the chemical has been used the containers are rinsed three times and then placed upside down on spikes and any remaining liquid drains out of the containers and drips into a trough before running out along a piece of gutter to be caught in a bucket.

Second prize in the class was a heavy-duty hydraulic press that was designed for pressing out bearings and for bending or straightening metal. Most of the components have previously seen use elsewhere and the power for operating the press comes from the hydraulic output of a farm tractor. A spool valve mounted on the press controls the operation and direction of travel of the hydraulic ram.

The Gadgets class was won this year by Stephen Saunderson of Heybridge in Essex who had invented a jacking trolley to help when maintaining the track rollers on his International crawler. The device consists of a frame mounted on two bottle jacks that in turn are mounted on small steel wheels. When a track roller needs lifting into position it is mounted on the trolley, moved to the correct location and then jacked up into position, saving the user’s fingers from being squashed by the heavy components.

Second prize was awarded to Mr R Foster of Badingham, Suffolk for his dry leaf collector.

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A Versatile Fuel Filler built from an old lorry fuel tank was the entry of Peter Jordan of Brook Farm, Buxhall, Suffolk, and won fourth prize. Other components included four wheels, a pallet and a battery powered electric pump with some fuel hose. Peter designed the fuel filler for on-site refuelling of tractors and combines on his farm and the whole assembly is easily transported on a farm forklift or in the back of a pick-up truck or trailer. According to Mr Jordan the total cost of the components was just £130.

Paul Dryden’s Tractor Powered Hydraulic Press was the largest entry this year and was awarded second place in the New Pieces of Equipment category. Paul’s father Ian is pictured.

 
Pictured (l-r) are: Doug Potts, Judge; Ian Drysdale – who was representing his son Paul;
Peter Jordan; Terry Stinson; John Foster, steward; and Mr S Saunderson.

Terry Stinson of Wickham Bishops took first prize for his environmentally friendly Spray
Can Drainer that helps ensure that cans are drained completely before being crushed
and recycled.

 
Mr S Saunderson of Heybridge, Essex won first prize in the Gadgets category for
his Jacking trolley for lifting the bottom track rollers on a large crawler tractor.

An ‘Eco-Friendly Scarecrow’ was the entry from Steven Binks of Ropers Hall Farm,
Assington, Suffolk. The scarecrow is flat, in the profile of a man and is mounted on a
spindle allowing it to rotate in the wind. A flag ‘held’ by the finger adds to its
effectiveness and the device was awarded a fifth prize.

Simple and extremely functional this ‘Dry Leaf Collector’ is made from a 23 litre plastic drum cut in half lengthways and fitted to a metal frame that incorporates the operating handles. Designed by Mr R Foster of Red Barn Farm, Badingham, Suffolk this device took second prize.

The ‘Preserve Mole Hunter’ won third prize and was the entry of Mr R Hunter of Yew Tree Farm,
Fressingfield, Suffolk. This device is placed in the mole’s tunnel and harmlessly traps it so that it
can be easily transported to a more suitable location.  An informative illustration explained the
principles of its operation.