Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    Twitter LinkedIn
    • FREE Email Newsletters
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Contact Us
    Twitter LinkedIn
    Podcast
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    • News
      • Arable & Agronomy
      • Dealership News
      • Environmental Land Management Scheme/Policy
      • Event News
      • Health & Safety
      • Machinery
      • People
      • World News
    • Farm Machinery
      • Amenity & Maintenance
      • Cultivations
      • Drilling
      • Grassland Equipment
      • Harvesting
      • Muck & Slurry
      • Sprayers
      • Telehandlers
      • Tractors
      • Tractor of the Year
      • Tyres & Tracks
      • Whatever happened to?
    • Precision Farming
    • Markets & Policy
    • Profiles
      • National Arable and Grassland Awards
      • Company Profiles
      • Reader Profiles
    • Livestock
      • Beef
      • Dairy
      • Sheep
    • Magazines
      1. June 2025 issue
      2. Cereals event guide 2025
      3. May 2025 issue
      4. April 2025 issue
      5. March 2025 issue
      6. 2025 Tyre Developments supplement
      7. February 2025 issue
      8. National Arable and Grassland Awards supplement
      9. January 2025 issue
      10. December 2024 issue
      11. November 2024 issue
      12. October 2024 issue
      13. September 2024 issue
      14. August 2024 Issue
      15. 2024 Drills and Seeds supplement
      16. July 2024 Issue
      17. Cereals Supplement
      18. June 2024 Issue
      19. May 2024 Issue
      20. April 2024 Issue
      21. Tyres and Tracks Supplement
      22. March 2024 Issue
      23. National Arable & Grassland Award – Meet the Finalists
      24. February 2024 Issue
      25. January 2024 Issue
      26. December 2023
      27. Agritechnica Preview Supplement
      28. November 2023
      29. October 2023
      Featured

      Cereals event guide 2025 available now

      By Matthew TiltJune 20, 2025
      Recent

      Cereals event guide 2025 available now

      June 20, 2025

      June 2025 issue available now

      June 2, 2025

      May 2025 issue available now

      May 1, 2025
    • Events
    • Podcast
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    Event News

    60 years of the David Brown 880 and 990 at the Newark Vintage Tractor Show

    Matthew TiltBy Matthew TiltOctober 20, 20213 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
    NSG. Vintage Tractor - Saturday -40 cropped

    The David Brown Tractor Club is finalising preparations to celebrate 60 years of the 880 and 990 David Brown tractors at the Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show on the 13th and 14th of November.

    Some of the earliest models will be showcased on the club’s stand, brought to the event by members. There will also be a focus on the Hydroshift gearbox, 50 years after it was introduced, as well as information on founder David Brown.

    Club secretary Roger Brereton explained that Mr Brown made a significant contribution to farm machinery development. His involvement began in 1936 when a subsidiary of David Brown and Sons Ltd struck a deal with Harry Ferguson to manufacture the Ferguson Brown tractor – the first production tractor to be equipped with a hydraulic lift and converging three-point linkage.

    Around 1,350 Type As were built before Ferguson left to work with Henry Ford, which prompted David Brown to create his own prototype tractor. The Vehicle Agricultural Kerosene 1 (VAK1) was demonstrated at the Royal Show in 1939 and established the brand.

    Following a series of range changes and the company introduced its most popular tractor, the 990, in 1961. Dubbed the Implematic, it was offered in the company’s red and yellow livery.

    “The crossflow cylinder head, in conjunction with a two-stage front-mounted air cleaner, developed 52hp from the direct injection diesel engine,” Mr Brereton said. The tractor earned a reputation for being able to handle the cultivation kit of the day with ease, and sales grew.

    “In the early ’60s a six-speed Implematic would cost £784.14.0d and the 12-speed variant £815.14.0d,” Mr Brereton added.

    The launch of the Selectamatic 990 followed in 1965. The livery changed to the orchid white bodywork and poppy red wheels and mechanics that the brand is known for. Selectamatic referred to the hydraulic system and the tractor featured a multi-speed PTO as standard, differential lock and an uprated, 55hp engine.

    Its production run lasted until 1971, with smaller runs being produced up to 1980. More than 67,000 990s were built at the Meltham works, making it numerically the most popular tractor the company ever produced.

    The 880 was offered alongside the 990 from 1961 as a four-cylinder Implematic, developing 42.5hp from the diesel engine. This was superseded by a three-cylinder engine in 1964, which produced higher torque and better pulling power.

    A year later it was upgraded to include the Selectamatic hydraulic system and the new colour scheme. Production ran until 1971 totalling nearly 40,000 machines which were used across the world.

    It will also be 50 years since the Hydrashift gear system was introduced on the 1212 tractor in 1971 and was one of the first semi-automatic powershift transmissions in the UK. It featured four clutchless gears in each of the low, medium and high ranges.

    “Such was the groundbreaking innovation, descendants of the Hydrashift still keep modern-day tractors working hard on the land,” Mr Brereton said.

    David Brown Tractors Ltd was awarded the Queen’s Award to Industry and the Design Council Award for its Hydrashift gearbox.

    For more information and for tickets go to www.newarkvintagetractorshow.com

    Tweet
    Share
    Share
    Pin
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
    Previous ArticlePilgrim’s UK unveils efforts to reach 100% sustainable soya by 2025
    Next Article Farming Innovation Programme launched
    Matthew Tilt
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn

    Machinery editor for Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer. Matt has worked as an agricultural machinery journalist for five years, following time spent in his family’s Worcestershire contracting business. When he’s not driving or writing about the latest farm equipment, he can be found in his local cinema, or with his headphones in, reading a good book.

    Read Similar Stories

    National Arable and Grassland Awards return for 2026

    June 26, 2025

    Timac Agro brings back innovation roadshow

    June 25, 2025

    Kuhn to highlight potential cost savings at Groundswell

    June 18, 2025
    Most Read Stories

    Calls for government to include food redistribution into SFI

    July 2, 2025

    Kramp launches own-brand PTOs

    July 1, 2025

    Turney Group to take on Merlo brand with new dedicated depot

    July 1, 2025
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer

    The UK's leading agricultural machinery journal

    Twitter LinkedIn
    © 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

    Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions

    • Farmers Weekly
    • AA Farmer
    • Poultry News
    • Pig World

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.