The World Agricultural Tractor Trials of 1930 were a major event in the history of farm tractors in Britain. 36 tractors, from seven different countries, ranging from massive crawlers to three motor cultivators for market gardeners, were brought to one site in Oxfordshire.

There they were put through a standard set of tests, including working measurements of drawbar and belt power, followed by ploughing and cultivating trials in the field. The results informed farmers and tractor manufacturers for years to come.

This film uses original photographs, archive film of the actual occasion and a gathering of machines, representing the models tested, reunited at the Carrington Rally to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of this event.

Among the machines to be seen are five of the earliest Caterpillar models, a four-wheel drive French Latil, three Peter Brotherhood tractors, a Vickers Aussie, two Swedish Munktells, a Linke crawler from Gernany and what is probably the only Hungarian-British HCSC in the world, as well as machines from Case, Massey Harris, Marshall and one of the few failures of the trials, the Fordson Model N, which went on to be one of the world's most successful tractors.

Written and narrated by Alan Stennett.

16:9 PAL