The David Brown 950 Implematic was the tractor that bridged the 900 series of the mid-1950s and the Implematic range of the early 1960s. Built at Meltham from 1958 to 1961, it was sold in the United States as part of the Oliver 500–600 pair.
David Brown 950 at a glance
| Maker | David Brown Tractors, Meltham, Yorkshire |
|---|---|
| Production | 1958–1961 |
| Series | Implematic |
| Predecessor | 900 series, 1955–1957 |
| Successor | 850 Implematic, 1961–1965 |
| American version | Oliver 500–600, rebadged 850 and 950 |
| Works | Meltham, West Riding of Yorkshire |
| Company | David Brown, founded 1860; tractors from 1936 |
| Exports | at one stage 80% of tractor production |
| Company sold | to Tenneco (J.I. Case) in 1972 |
No Wikipedia page exists for the 950 itself. This article is based on the maker’s page, David Brown Ltd., which lists the model and its production years; it is based on one source.
History of the David Brown 950
The Meltham works
David Brown was founded in Huddersfield in 1860 as a pattern-making company and became a gear manufacturer; in 1902 it moved to Park Works. The firm took over an old silk mill at Meltham in 1934 and started tractor production there with Harry Ferguson in 1936. The first 350 Ferguson-Brown tractors used a Coventry Climax engine, after which Brown’s own engine was fitted, and 1,350 were built in all, plus one assembled from parts in 1940. Brown’s own design, the VAK1, was developed in secret and launched at the 1939 Royal Show; over 7,700 were sold.
The 950 in the range
The 950 Implematic series was listed from 1958 to 1961. It followed the 900 series of 1955–1957 and was itself replaced for 1961 by the Implematic range of the 850, 880 and 990. David Brown’s heavy tracked machines belong to the same period: the DB4 tracklayer of 1942, with a 38 h.p. Dorman diesel and a five-speed gearbox, was replaced in 1950 by the Trackmaster 30, and the company also built VIG aircraft tugs for the Royal Air Force.
Oliver and after
In the United States the 950 was not sold under its own name: the Oliver 500–600 were rebadged 850 and 950 tractors. David Brown’s tractor division had ten subsidiaries, exported up to 80% of production at one stage and used 2,508 agents in 100 countries. In 1972 the tractor business was sold to Tenneco, owner of J.I. Case, and Case kept the David Brown name on some British tractors until the early 1980s.
Design and features
- Implematic opening: the 950 was the first of the Implematic series, listed from 1958.
- Bridge model: it came between the 900 series and the 850, 880 and 990.
- American twin: in America it was sold as part of the Oliver 500–600 pair.
- Meltham build: production was at the Yorkshire works that had built tractors since 1936.
David Brown 950 versions
- 950 Implematic (1958–1961): the British-market tractor.
- Oliver 500–600: the American rebadged 850 and 950.
- 900 series (1955–1957): the model line the 950 followed.
- 850 Implematic (1961–1965): the tractor that followed it in the range.
The 950 came before the 850 and was sold with it in America as the Oliver pair; the 990 belongs to the next generation. More machines are in the David Brown collection.
Video: David Brown 950 tractor and Ransomes TS86 Plough
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- David Brown Ltd., English Wikipedia: tractor range and production years, company history, American versions
