Tractors on Parade

Tractors on Parade

They lined the main street like military tanks on parade. 

A show of agriculture might and muscle.

The year was 1984. 

The same year the first Apple Macintosh went on sale, Beverly Hills Cop led the box office and the summer Olympics were hosted in Los Angeles, California.

Back in South Australia, out the front of the Ramsey Bros dealership in Cleve, six Mercedes Benz tractors waited patiently while they went through their final checks and polishes before being driven slowly in single file to the Eyre Peninsula Field Days. 

Most would not return that afternoon, finding new homes across the district with some farmers buying two due to the versatility, build quality and comfortable “drive”. 

Over the years, Ramsey Bros sold over 50 “MB Trac” tractors, made in Germany from 1973 and imported to Australia in the early 1980s. 

If you’re lucky you might still see one out in the paddock at harvest, lovingly maintained by farmers who understand the practice of looking after a machine and it will look after you. 

MB Tracs are now considered a valuable collector’s item with keen interest from interstate and overseas.  Last year an avid German tractor enthusiast travelled all the way to Wudinna to source a local model for a farm machinery museum in Europe.  A genuine tractor-fanatic!

One of the young Service department team members responsible for preparing the tractors for sale in the photo is now Ramsey Bros Wudinna Service Manager, Craig ‘Radish’ Furnell. 

He remembers being just a little bit in awe of the occasion: “It was a big thing when you’re just a young fella like I was. 

“In those days, the Mercedes Benz tractors were classed as pretty expensive pieces of machinery. It was definitely a proud day.”

Today Al Schumann also works for Ramsey Bros’ Service team in Cleve.

Photo caption: L-R Peter Dennis (Snooze), Paul Leonard (Pal), Neville White (Nifty), Al Schumann (Al), Craig Furnell (CAF), Kym Rodda (KSR).

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