Marshall Sons & Co, the Tractor Market Story

Farming has played an important role in Lincolnshire’s economy for centuries. By 1821, nearly 60% of families within the county worked in agriculture in some way and by 1850, the percentage of Lincolnshire’s adult population engaged in agriculture was the third highest in England. Agriculture started with the practice of cultivating the soil, growing crops, or raising livestock for human use, including the production of food, feed, fibre, fuel, or other useful products.

A turning point in the history of agriculture and farming was the invention of the first steam-powered tractor during the 19th century. Previously, horses and oxen were the primary sources of power for ploughing fields and completing other labour-intensive tasks. Steam power offered farmers a more efficient and powerful alternative and this changed the landscape of farming and industry.

The story continues with Robert Ransome, a British engineer who patented the first portable steam engine for agricultural use in 1849. This invention revolutionised the farming industry, allowing farmers to cover larger areas in less time and with less physical effort. However, steam-powered tractors were heavy, cumbersome, and required significant manpower to operate.

In the town of Gainsborough, William Marshall founded the company of Marshall Sons & Co by 1848 and they started with the manufacture of mill gearing but soon began to make agricultural machinery such as threshing machines. In 1856 manufacture of portable engines and boilers began. This was soon followed by the construction of stationary steam engines. In 1870 the company began making tea preparing machinery and soon after road rollers.

The 1920s and 1940s is often referred to as the “Golden Age” of tractors, as it was during this time period that some of the most iconic and influential machines were developed. Marshall’s were competing with major tractor firms such as Fordson and John Deere. Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, recognised the potential of tractors in revolutionising agriculture. In 1917, he introduced the Fordson Model F, the first mass-produced tractor that was both affordable and reliable. This pioneering machine made it possible for small-scale farmers to benefit from the efficiency of tractor-powered farming, ultimately transforming the landscape of agriculture.

John Deere, a well-known name in the agricultural machinery sector, also made significant contributions during the Golden Age of tractors. In 1923, the company introduced the John Deere Model D tractor, which became one of the most successful and enduring tractor models in history. The Model D was innovative in many ways, featuring a two-cylinder engine that provided ample power for various farming tasks, as well as being a sturdy and dependable design. This iconic tractor cemented John Deere’s reputation as a market leader in agricultural machinery.

All this being said, Marshall’s were also moving forward with their designs for a new motor based tractor. In 1928, the Board of Directors gave instructions to Marshall’s chief draughtsman, Sam Dawson to commence drawings with the design of the Lanz tractor in mind. This tractor produced in Germany was a horizontal single-cylinder crude oil tractor. The first tractor assembled in the main erecting shops at the Britannia Works didn’t match the design of the Lanz tractor but resembled a tractor manufactured in Hungary.

By the time Marshall’s had entered the competitive tractor market, there were already key firms at the forefront. However, Marshall’s along with others such as Aveling & Porter, McLauren and Blackstone were renowned steam traction engine manufacturers who were keen to establish a foothold in the tractor market due to dwindling sales. The market was changing as tractors were now seen as a more efficient way to plough and harvest any produce. For one they were smaller, faster and Marshall’s by 1929 had now commenced production of an agricultural tractor geared for commercial success.

There were companies producing tractors all over the country and the world. However, in Lincolnshire, Marshall’s had also to compete with local firms in Lincoln such as Clayton & Shuttleworth. The Lincoln company were a maker of steam engines from 1845 (opening just a few years before Marshall’s). The company was known for their trade links with Eastern Europe and they owned a factory in Vienna. This connection made Clayton & Shuttleworth instrumental in the forming of a Hungarian tractor manufacturer. In 1911, 17 years before Marshall’s began designing their first motor based tractor the Clayton & Shuttleworth company had unveiled their first internal combustion engine tractor at the Norwich Royal Agricultural Show. This local company may have seemed to have been at the forefront however, after five years the company ceased tractor production. And this was after the company had developed the crawler tractor known as the Clayton Chain Rail Tractor and a bigger crawler called the Multipede. It is also referenced that Marshall’s took over the combine harvester technology and by 1929 the Clayton company had finally failed and closed.

Moving back to Marshall’s by 1929 the company had developed it’s first diesel tractor 15/30 Model “E”. The tractor made its first public appearance at the World Tractor Trials held at Wallingford in Oxford on 2 June 1930. It was a great opportunity for Marshall’s to compete with their new tractor against rival opposition. The World Tractor Trials were very important as this event was the culmination for a company of many tests carried out by the Royal Agricultural Society of England and the Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Oxford. The report said that, ‘the completion of the programme in so short a time was only made possible by the general efficiency of the machines and by courtesy of the operators in charge of them.’ In addition, ‘the purpose was not necessarily to determine which tractor is the best in its class, but simply to show exactly what each machine is capable of doing under normal conditions.’ Marshall’s were not disappointed by the performance of the Model ‘E’, tests were a success and the company started to get these tractors into full production.

In addition to the competition of the tractor market the customers and their viewpoints were also essential. To encourage sales the company needed to show that it’s tractor would be the right one for the job. In doing this, over the decades Marshall’s as with other companies improved its models to satisfy the needs of the customer. However, a problem that occurred for Marshall’s was when their customers complained that the new Model “E” tractor had insufficient power and the inability to maintain power under constant load. Marshall’s solution included the services of a leading engine development expert, Harry Ricardo. He had a fantastic reputation with other manufacturers like McLaren, Paxman and Fowler who had also requested assistance from Richardo. By 1931, he had boosted the Marshall engine’s output and this helped the company to regain confidence in producing these tractors.

Marshall’s targeted the overseas market however, more feedback included major failures with crankshafts cracking and structural cracks appearing around the crankcase and gearbox casings. An important step at this time was the acquisition of the renowned Clayton & Shuttleworth company who had been a rival steam engine manufacturer. The Lincoln firm held export licences for countries that Marshall’s themselves did not have, therefore, after acquiring the firm it meant that Marshall’s had opportunities to trade in areas which had been closed to them. Simply by substituting the Clayton badge for Marshall ones, a new sales area was opened. Feedback continued with mention of the tractor being inadequate with its excessive weight when sinking into light soil and compacting the ground.

Marshall’s began to re-design the tractor to improve it for the sales market. The Board of Directors gave specific instructions to the design team that the new tractor could not exceed dimensions of the Fordson in height and length. The directors also decreed that the new machine should fall in line with the increasingly popular sector of the tractor market. The new Marshall Model “M” tractor was completed in 1934 and by 1936 it was in production and orders were increasing.

In June 1945, a new model was announced with more modern styling and some technical improvements called the Field Marshall Series 1. This new model used an engine based on the original 1930 design. Key improvements on the Series 1 was the increase in speed, introduction of cartridge starting for cold weather which was a welcome improvement instead of relying on the handle. Production of Series 1 tractors continued at the rate of 1000 a year until 1947, when the Field Marshall Series 2 was announced. With the Series 2 Marshall’s it introduced independent rear-wheel brakes and improved engine-cooling. The Field Marshall tractors were proving especially popular with agricultural contractors because they were built to a good standard and a great reputation for reliability had been established. Marshall’s recognised and were encouraged by this so they offered an additional contractors version with a winch and dynamo lighting.

Demand for the Field Marshall was beginning to fall away from the peak levels of 1948 and 1949. One reason for the declining sales was the arrival of increased competition at the upper end of the power scale, including some tractors with Perkins engines which brought new standards of smooth power and made the slow-revving Marshall engine seem out-of-date. To help hold off the competition, the Field Marshall 3A was brought onto the market in 1952. The arrival of the new model was made obvious by a change of colour from the subdued green of previous Field Marshall’s to a bright eye catching orange. Engine efficiency was improved by using a different piston design and at the rear of the tractor, a special hydraulic implement lift was available for the first time on a Marshall. The Series 3A remained on the market with declining sales until 1957, when the company finally brought the Field Marshall Series to an end.

Marshall’s association with the Fowler company proved extremely beneficial as Fowlers were in the production of the Challenger range of crawler tractors. In addition, Marshall’s were continuing to look at developing new models with the new MP4 brought to the market in 1954. The MP4 went through extensive testing and trials as a result of direct instructions from the board as they wished their new tractor to not only compete with but to excel over their foreign competitors and on another note the company could not afford any failures. While the first MP4 was undergoing field testing, another prototype was in preparation. Marshall’s had developed connections with Leyland and Meadows and with negotiations Leyland supplied their engine for the MP4 tractor.

Finally the tractor became known as the MP6 tractor and it made its first public appearance in November 1954, at the Public Works Exhibition held at Olympia in London, and its second at the Royal Smithfield Show, Earls Court in London the following month. It was found that the MP6 was too big and cumbersome for the average British Farm so sales were low however, Marshall’s were not deterred as it was designed and targeted to be exported. The MP6 excelled in heavy cultivation and also gained an excellent reputation for hauling. It was widely used in Australia and the West Indies for pulling trailers loaded with sugar cane from the fields to the processing plant. However, there was an increasing presence of American tractors in areas where the MP6 had established a foothold. The two year delay in availability of the MP6 had allowed rival American companies to improve and develop their high horsepower tractors. Marshall’s could not compete against the low prices, as they simply did not have the facilities or manpower to equal the American competition in mass production.

Tractor designs didn’t traditionally include tractor cabs just a seat for the driver however, in 1967 regulations were introduced to protect the driver or operator. This meant that every new tractor designed would feature a cab for protection and was phased in on existing tractors. Therefore, many of the Marshall tractors included this feature such as the Track Marshall and wheeled tractor division that was purchased from British Leyland by Charles Nickerson.

Despite the ambitious attempts by Charles Nickerson to establish a position in the wheeled tractor market, unfortunately, strong competition from tractor giants Ford, Massey Ferguson, John Deere and Case prevented any area of growth. With the exception of the Marshall 100 and 115 tractors, the Marshall tractor range had not advanced sufficiently and the firm ended up by 1994 taking the decision to manufacture machines on a built-to-order basis. This also meant that production lines and machining tools were dispersed of, necessitating outside contracts for any further manufacturing. Unfortunately, Marshall’s closed in the 1990s but its reputation for making great tractors continues with many enthusiasts preserving and taking their different tractor models to shows including the annual Father’s Day gathering at Marshall’s Yard.