Trencher Identity

[v1230nm]

Hi.

Please can anyone give me any information on this trencher? I believe that the photo was taken around 1960 in a village fairly local to me in Warwickshire when the water main was being laid. The only distinguishing marks are a registration number SJO964 which was an Oxfordshire mark. The contractor's name is Baillie which I remember as being around in the early 1970's and who were involved in laying the pipework for the underground telephone lines and may have been based in the Birmingham area.

Any information on the make and model of the trencher and the company would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Neil. (v1230nm)

[FOWLER MAN]

Hi Neil,
I'm pretty certain the trencher is a product of John Allen of Oxford.
Allen's started to build these trenchers under licence in the 1930s using the designs of the American Parsons company but using British made Dorman and Gardner engines.
They were originally marketed as Allen-Parsons trenchers but later the Parsons name was dropped. They continued in production till the early 1960s.
There were latterly three models , the 16-60, 14-30 and the 12-21 or (12-18). The one in your pictures is certainly the 12 series.
Below are a couple of pics of a12-21 in South Africa before and after restoration. This one has the Dorman4DWD engine fitted.

[FOWLER MAN]

Here is a sales leaflet I have found for the Allen 12-21 trencher.

[v1230nm]

Hi Fred.

Many thanks for the information on this. Certainly from the information you have sent me, it looks as if you have hit the nail on the head!, and with the Oxfordshire registration, this would tie in with John Allen.

All the best.

Neil. (v1230nm)

[Yewman]

Barfords of Belton made some interesting trenching type products.
Here is the first one on the back of a tractor.

[Yewman]

Another Barfords of Belton machine was the Lincol Ditch Cleaner, seen here being demonstrated to officials of the Forestry Commission.

[Yewman]

There are 2 machines shown above. The second is this one, also tractor mounted.

[Yewman]

[b]The next machine is the Barfords of Belton Lincol Drain Cutter.
Again, showing testing by the Forestry Commission.
I have no brochure details for these machines, unfortunately.
Looking at the registration of the crawler, we are in the 1963/64 time period./b]

[essexpete]

Some great classic info Paul and Fred!

[FOWLER MAN]

Hi Paul,
I have never seen that Barford backhoe attachment. Unusual to see it mounted on a Nuffield Universal tractor. The Fordson Major seemed to be used for almost everything back in the day.
The only one of the ditch cleaners I knew of was the side arm Barford Lincol machine mounted on the David Brown 30TD crawler.
I had quite a bit to do with David Brown tractors back then, (circa 1958 to 62), and I remember seeing the pics.
It was PTO driven and I'm guessing Barford's chose the David Brown because it had a four speed power-takeoff fitted as standard with speeds ranging from the standard PTO speed of about 540 r.p.m through to 1,800 r.p.m.
I have no idea how many were built?

Fred