Roy in UK

JimKS · Dec 9, 2012

Thanks for your reply on my Field Marshall. I did get it running and showed it this summer.While traveling to the UK doing service work I bought numerous tractor books. Isaw pictures of tractors with gas producers mounted on them. I have aquired one of WW2 vintage that has nevr been used. Do you have any knolage of these or know someone who does?

Jim

Roy in UK · Dec 14, 2012

Hi Jim,I am glad you got your Marshall running. Interesting old tractors aren't they? I remember my neighbour using one of those right up into the early 60's to haul / power a threshing set , i.e. drum + a baler . When he was travelling down the road you could hear it for miles, "thud-thud-thud- thud!"
I can't help you much about the Wartime gas producers, sorry. I know in France they called them "Gasogene" tractors, The idea was used for cars and trucks too. There was a BBC TV documentary series programme called "Wartime Farm" and in one episode they actually re-created one, using an old 1930's ambulance
Wartime Farm episode 5

JimKS · Dec 17, 2012

Thank you for your reply. There is some vary useful imformation in the video.

Jim

Roy in UK · Dec 20, 2012

I think you can watch all the episodes on Youtube.On the whole it was very good but they did make a few "gaffes". In one episode they are shown drilling flax using a Field Marshall. Actually The Field Marshall tractor did not appear on British farms until well after VE day.In another episode they are baling straw with a Massey -Harris 701 (which did not go into production until 1950). But the one of the funniest things I have ever seen on a BBC documentary was during episode 1 when they attempted to make a mole drainer using an beaten out iron cart tire for the leg. What on earth (forgive the pun) was the blacksmith thinking? Yes, you guessed it, within 2 yards of entering the ground it bent like a banana!

Mike Farmer · Dec 30, 2012

Hi I just happened to notice yours about gas producers. Lanz were into this in a big way virtually throughout WW2 and apparently up til the late Forties. Their sytem as I recall 'baked' wood and burned the fumes produced. Evidently good with hard woods but very dirty and prone to clogging with any thing else. I dont know if this helps at all. Mike

Mike Farmer · Dec 30, 2012

Hi again. Sorry forgot to say. Your gas producer probably used Calcium Carbide and a water mixer of some kind. Wet Calcium Carbide instantly produces Acetylene which was then fed by pipe line to the gas controller/inlet manifold etc. In much the same way that earth gas derivants are used today. Acetylene cannot be compressed to any great degree so it was necessary to control the 'manufacture' to the amount being used. Carbide is still available. Personally I wouldnt go near it now but we had serious fun with it when I was many decades younger.MTF

richardinnz · Dec 31, 2012

When was that shown? We had the Edwardian farm shown down here last year, it looks like the same crew.
As already said above the Field Marshall (and that was a series 2) is well after the war, but I couldn't help to notice the Howard Rotaspreader body and the Vicon Acrobat rake they were clearing up, looking like they had been there since the first war. Other film gaffs is a Rotaspreader in Dads Army, and a Fordson New Major in the Battle of Britain film!

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