Rushton Tractors

I am a new member from West Sussex in England and also a recent new member of SEVAC (South East Vintage Agriculture Club) attempting to restore a very rare Rushton (not Rushton Hornsby as listed in Yesteryear Parts). This tractor was manufactured in Walthamstow, London between 1928-1932 to compete with the Fordson F which was being imported from Detroit, it had many interchangeable Fordson parts and a few modifications. There are only 10 now known worldwide, five in the UK, two in NZ and three in AUS. As this Tractor is so rare, there is very little known, so hopefully somebody reading this can help in someway to pass on expert knowledge or any possible sources of a workshop manual or parts.

craftyfox we would love to see pictures both now and later. Good Luck with it.

HG6GTOM - Have posted a image on Tractor Photos with a brief history of its Designer and origins.

Also uploaded another image of its current condition viewing the engine from the left and right sides.

Just a thought, there is something to be said for keeping a rare antique in original, unrestored condition, indoors. As opposed to cleaned up and painted in some similar, not original, condition. I realize it might be in rough condition, but to many that is a value.

To my knowledge this Tractor has not fired up for at least 40 years and has been kept indoors ever since, I share your views and a complete restore to original colours was not intended, initially I need to prepare eveything to get it going again, but there is a lot of work to achieve that, such as a full decoke, regrinding of valves, repair broken crankshaft flat pulley, uncease water pump and belt tension pulley, overhaul the "Watford" impulse magneto, repair loose bearings on mechanical governor, repair the leaking radiator, dismantle and clean and repair water air cleaner, dismantle manifold and thouroughly clean vaporiser, the fuel tank internal baffle seperating gas from TVO are no longer, so intend to remove one end, thoroughly clean out all loose debri and fit an extra external one gall gas tank and use the original for TVO only.

Once the engine ticks over, the rest of the tractor will be dismantled, most of the worst rust removed, re-assembled and everything will be coated with WD 40 to hopefully prevent further corrosion.

A long but hopefully worthwhile job with lots of advice from your many knowledgable members.

Hi Crafty, try Robert Crawford at Boston, phone number 01205 750367 he used exhibit his at the Carrington rally in Lincolnshire. Did you go to the Newark tractor show last November and see the display of pre 1930 tractors, the 1923 IH 10-20 was mine. MJ

(quoted from post at 03:13:47 02/20/15) Hi Crafty, try Robert Crawford at Boston, phone number 01205 750367 he used exhibit his at the Carrington rally in Lincolnshire. MJ

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This is the only photo I can find, taken in south east England.

Hi WIZZO, that is a Ruston and Hornsby tractor, Robert Crawford also owns one as well as his Rushton tractor. What hasnt Robert got?. MJ.

(quoted from post at 08:10:08 02/20/15) Hi WIZZO, that is a Ruston and Hornsby tractor, Robert Crawford also owns one as well as his Rushton tractor. MJ.

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This is a Rushton . Somewhat before my time!

Hi MJ,

I agree that the photo posted by Wizzo is in fact a Ruston Hornsby made in Lincoln, England, very confusing as the name is so similar but worlds apart.

Thankyou for the contact at Boston which I will follow up shortly, its a small world as I see you live in Newark so I expect you are a member of the Newark Vintage Tractor Group. Last July I marshalled the tractor section of a classic and vintage show at The South of England Showgound, Sussex and met Bernard Saunders and his Fordson Doe Triple D and know your area well as recently I sold houses in Lincoln which I had owned since 2002 and forty years ago I traded in the area within the pig (hog) industry for a company based in Spilsby, Lincolnshire.

Getting back to Rushtons, in the last few day's through other sources, I met up with a New Zealand Doctor working for the NHS in Bristol, England who has a good friend who owns over 200 classic and vintage tractors in NZ and is currently restoring a Rushton and about two years ago this Doctor made contact with another farmer in Suffolk, England restoring two others and said when he has the time he will give me all the contacts, so it's now all coming together, so if these other contact names are not already members of this forum, I may be able to encourage them to join.

Now it's less talk and more action