The Rural Museums Network has conducted a number of surveys and reports to explore the tractors and combine harvesters held within museum collections in the UK.
The invention, development and spread of tractors during the 20th century had a profound and lasting effect on life in the UK. The technology of the internal combustion engine brought major changes to the way farms were operated and to the lifestyle and work pattern of farmers and farm workers. Together with Combine Harvesters, the tractor is an icon of the 20th century.
As a result, the following reports and surveys were conducted for the Agricultural Heritage Distributed National Collection in 2004 to 2005:
An exercise to survey and rate combine harvesters in the UK. The methodology is described and the results tabulated, 2004
Tractors and Combines – Icons of the Twentieth Century
Report of the Collections Working Groups, 2005
Distributed National Collection – Tractors in Museums
A survey and rating of tractors in UK museums. The methodology is described and the results published, 2005
Important Tractors not represented in Museums