The Dickie Hay Turner

Little-known in the U.S., side-delivery rake and hay turner was a post-war sensation in the U.K. and European export markets.

By Fred Hendricks
Updated on July 19, 2021
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Several years ago, during a trip to Great Britain, my wife and I visited the home of John Farnworth in North Wales. John is a renowned historian of Massey-Harris, Ferguson, and Massey Ferguson farm equipment. In addition to authoring 18 books on these farm equipment brands, John has assembled a large collection of his own.

“My collection consists of more than 30 tractors, mainly Massey-Harris and some odd Massey Ferguson and Ferguson,” he says. “I also have more than 30 Massey-Harris implements and about 15 rare Ferguson implements.”

During our visit, we were privileged to view his extensive assemblage. Among the various pieces of equipment was a Dickie side-delivery rake and hay turner. Dickie manufactured the implement in Scotland. However, it was marketed by Massey-Harris in the U.K. along with several other countries.
John says the implement was used mainly for hay, but sometimes for straw in the early combining days. “In my youth, I saw one operating on my grandfather’s farm and, more recently, demonstrated at shows,” he says. “I bought mine from a large Ferguson collector in Herefordshire. It’s functional and in original condition. Recently, I was able to get some replacements tines which were needed.”

Hay turner launched to great fanfare

Tom Barclay, Reference and Local History librarian of the South Ayrshire Council Community Development Libraries in Ayr, Scotland, provided insights into the history and marketing of the Dickie hay turner.

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