Kaipara Vintage Machinery Club Inc
Harding Park Dargaville
Open: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
10-30am - 3.30pm
Our Next Crankup Day
Saturday 14th April
10.30am onwards
Featuring: Dargaville Equine Driving Club
Farmyard Animals
Classic Vehicles
Camp Overn Cooking
Plus Plus Plus
Our Aim
To acquire, restore and display machinery, equipment and tractors once used by general, earthmoving or farming contractors, farmers and local authorities and the Pioneers of the Kaipara District.
Watch out
For the next crank up day, see those machines come to life.
Club History
In August 2001, eight elderly gentlemen with like interests formed this club. Since then membership has steadily grown encompassing all age groups and gender from many different walks of life.
Location
Harding Park, Dargaville. Follow the signs to the museum.
Our site
So much vintage and veteran machinery and implements have found their way to a new home, some in excellent condition others needing varying degrees of T.L.C.
Amongst our acquisitions is ‘Rose’ a 1952 N.C.K. excavator, 18 tons with a 50 ft boom, once used for pile driving, bridges and buildings. An R.B. 10 Dragline used extensively in the Northern Wairoa drain cleaning, building stop banks and digging water dams.
The Cat 15 was used in cultivating the land after the timber had been milled and now the latest member to the family has just arrived. A Gehl 1962 self-propelled silage harvester, apparently the only one imported into New Zealand, it has been in constant use in the north until an electrical fire, last year, played havoc with the cab. With a bit of T.L.C. and a coat of paint she will look like new again. This monster is powered by a Detroit 200 H.P. Diesel motor.
Tractors of many shapes, sizes and colours plus farm implements cowshed and dairy equipment, corn shellers, timber and logging machinery, horse and bullock harness.
The 110 year old woolshed has been shifted to our site and is fully operational, the plant being driven by a Lister 3 H.P. petrol stationary motor.
A Southern Cross windmill has been relocated, the huge sails turning gracefully in the breeze.
A Booth Mac No. 3 hand wire tie, stationary baler is on display along with a large collection of other haymaking machinery.
Our new museum building is nearing completion. So many treasures that are in storage can be displayed to advantage, evoking memories amongst the more senior citizens and helping our younger people to learn and appreciate the history of our area and life in days gone by.
Examples of what you can see
CASE 15 – 27
The oldest surviving tractor in the Northern Wairoa, this 90 year old tractor was the second tractor to come to the Dargaville district. Initially, it was the power supply for the Mr Bill Bradley’s sawmill at Tatarariki, on the banks of the Northern Wairoa River. In later years, this tractor also did some land development work and often worked at night with a kerosene lantern hanging on the radiator.
The Case 15-27 is the middle size of the three models manufactured in 1920’s, producing quite a big power at 800 r.p.m. using 4 gallons of kerosene per hour. Two forward and one reverse gear; fitted with differential lock.
Engine: 4 ¾” x 6”
Weight: over 3 tons
On loan to the Kaipara Vintage Machinery Club Inc by Mr Peter MacKenzie
Dated 30 June 2010
SAUNDERSON - 1916 UNIVERSAL G - SERIAL NUMBER 1930
Mr H.P. Saunderson of Bedford, England, was probably the foremost pioneer of agriculture tractors in England. Mr Saunderson built his first “Dogcart” in 1896. He sold his first tractor in 1902, having developed 2, 3 and 4 wheel drive models by 1910. He also built road carriers of 4 ton capacity, integral tool carriers, mowers, binders, ploughs, cultivators, weed cutters and one aeroplane which he named “Might Fly”.
A man of real vision. Nobody had invented or built any of these types of agriculture machinery previously. “Saunderson” tractors were equipped with 3 forward and 1 reverse gears, a differential lock, spring mounted king pins, and a 10,000 line pull winch.
The Crossley engine was kerosene fuelled.
This tractor had been idle for over 40 years, the present owner spending more than 400 hours on restoration and refurbishment. Owners comment, “It is very nice to drive”.
On loan to the Kaipara Vintage Machinery Club Inc by Mr Peter MacKenzie
Contact
Our club is open every Wednesday and Saturday, also any day when requested as any excuse to open up and show off our treasures is welcome.
Bruce Galloway ph: 09 439 5495
Ann Lupton ph: 09 439 4614
Bob Siegel ph: 09 439 8545, 0274 754468
Dated November 2010
Some of the new building exhibits
