On the 21st of June, a historic machinery collection will go under the hammer courtesy of Cheffins.
More than 200 lots will be available, amassed by the late Roger Desborough. Among the collection is a 1917 Holt 75, one of only four known to be in the UK. In production from 1914 to 1924, and was supplied to British, French, Russian and US forces during the First World War.
This example was originally part of the Heidrick Tractor Collection, which forms the basis of the California Agriculture Museum. Roger purchased it at a Cheffins sale in 2016. It has an estimate of between £50,000 and £60,000.
Expected to make £35,000-£40,000, the 1919 Overtime Model N is believed to be one of the oldest machines of its kind in the UK. Additionally, there is
a 1917 Rumely Oil Pull 20-40, with an estimate of £20,000 – £30,000, a 1919 Saunderson model G with an estimate of £40,000 – £50,000, a 1919 International Titan 10-20, which is set to sell for £15,000 – £20,000 and a 1963 Doe Triple D Tandem tractor which carries an estimate of £40,000 – £50,000.
There will also be a series of machinery and implements on offer, as well as a Howitzer decommissioned artillery field gun.
Oliver Godfrey, Head of Machinery Department at Cheffins comments: “Roger Desborough was a legend on the vintage tractor circuit. His collection is known as one of the most historically significant in the country and this sale represents an incredible opportunity to acquire some genuinely important tractors which formed the basis of modern-day machinery and farming.
“Many have incredible provenance, having been purchased by Roger from some of the other leading collectors both in the US and the UK. We expect this sale to draw significant interest from buyers both in the UK but also across the pond, as it features some of the most significant tractors built in US engineering history, such as the Holt and the Rumely Oil Pull.
“While Roger had a keen eye for rarity and history and purchased a series of high value machines, he also was not averse to collecting some of the more popular classics, and there are a series of Massey Ferguson and Fordson examples also for sale in excellent condition.”