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In 1907 a Mr Cummins MP put it on the South Australian Government to import an agricultural tractor to be thoroughly tested at the Roseworthy Agricultural College. A sum of 700 pounds was forwarded to HP Saunderson & Co of Elstow Works, Bedford, England to supply a Model A with plough.

The tractor was put immediately to work, working up to 14 hours a day in all aspects of farm life. A record was kept of all associated expenditure as a comparison to the costliness of horses.

The final report was recorded in parliament: “We can only state, however, that the tractor as we have found it is not an implement the purchase of which we can any way recommend to farmers.”

Only 11 tractors are known to exist world-wide with this 3 wheel drive arrangement. Two are here at the Swan Hill Pioneer Village.

Camera – Nikon D80; Lens – Tamron 28 – 300 VC

Image processed, with background converted to B & W, in Photoshop Elements 6.0

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