Milking machine set up

Hi Guys, I have just acquired another Lister D, and the previous owner said that that it had originally came off a MILKING SLEDGE on the Somerset Levels, something that i had never heard of before. Being a retired AG Engineer i think i could imagine what that is, but i would be most grateful for any information and if possible a photo from anybody in the South West
Many thanks in advance for any information Bill

All I can think of is a Milking Bail, which basically was a mobile milking shed which went to the cows in the field and was moved around to suit.Used a lot round here by a large concern about 50 years ago.
Al

dursley dog wrote:All I can think of is a Milking Bail, which basically was a mobile milking shed which went to the cows in the field and was moved around to suit.Used a lot round here by a large concern about 50 years ago.
Al

never heard of such a contraption before Alwyn

be nice to see a picture .

matt

Matt
If you Google Milking bail then click on images there's loads of pictures of Milking bails.Hope this helps you.
Al

Thanks Al

So it was you that I was bidding against on the Lister D at Kelso. Hope it turns out to be a good engine for you.

Stu.

Hi Stu,Yes i got it but i would'nt have gone any higher. There is not many engines come up for sale around this area, it is complete apart from a home made exhaust and the Spec plate is missing, i do'nt know why people take them off.By the number on the flywheel it is about May 1949 Regards Bill

Bill I thought you'd finished buying engines was it due to lossing your storage or something.

Well you saw my highest bid with it being a bit of a travel I had to include fuel prices in to the final cost I can't remember my final bid somewhere between 35-40 which was all it was worth to me. Good luck with it's restoration and hope to hear you have it up n running very soon. The exhaust is not a big problem to sort they'll have made something up when it was in the milking palour for noise and smell and the brass plate, well you could try and get a new plate I'm sure I've seen them for sale, I'll see if I can find out who it is and I think Kev knew someone that made up plates.

Stu.

Stu, I did sell a couple of engines, actually one of them on a dairy set up went down your way to a guy who makes handles for lister trolleys, but i cant remember his name. I took the mag off this one this morning and took it to bits, cleaned it up and it sparks ok but the top cover is cracked so the least bit of dampness and it will be knackered. but i might give it a try tomorrow if i can get my villiers 4F finished off first. I managed to get the use of another garage about 50 yds away but i dont know if it will be long term so i will have to behave. Bill

Bill now you've got us wondering what you get up to in your garage if you have to behave!!!
Good to know that your still with us and didn't have to sell up completely.
I know the guy well he's called Tom. I've more then likely seen your old engine as I was over at Toms about a month ago and all his engines were in the garage.

Stu.

Stu, i emailed David Edgington today and the engine was sold to J White & Son Castle Cary Somerset so the story about it coming off a milker on the levels could be true. Bill

That engines got some miles under it's belt to end up hundreds of miles away, I wonder what the story is for it to get from the south west to the north east.

Stu.

I have recently bought a Crossley/Gascoigne vacuum pump Stu that was in Hampshire, the Anson Museum looked up the original sales details for me and it was sold to a smallholding in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, back in 1932 so that travelled a bit as well! I even found a pic on the web of the family who bought it new!! Bill, I reckon that it was you that I bought a Gascoigne baseplate from last year, you had it delivered to Newark Tractor Show for me?

Pete.

Sure makes you wonder how these engines which arn't light weights manage to get around the country. My Lister J was new to someone in Hampshire, yet the owner before my bought it in North Wales.

Stu.

Yes engines certainly get moved around the country, the last Lister D i sold a few months ago was bought by a guy in Essex. Yes Pete it was me that sold you the Gascoigne baseplate last year, did you get a milker built up with it? Is there anybody on here that lives in Somerset that might know if the firm of J White & Son of Castle Cary is still in existance? Bill