foster wheels

[chris wedgwood]

I may have started a trend here! suddenly there will be a world shortage of wooden wheels! were wooden wheels an option rather than an age issue, as there seem to be drums on woods and steels in the same eras?

[the highwayman]

Originally Posted by chris wedgwood

I may have started a trend here! suddenly there will be a world shortage of wooden wheels! were wooden wheels an option rather than an age issue, as there seem to be drums on woods and steels in the same eras?

Not to far from here there is a Marshall drum on wooden wheels that was supplied new with a Field Marshall, about 1949.

[UJ2225]

Any clues where that is Steve?

Cheers Jim

[Ransomes AM54]

By the early 20th century iron wheels were the default offered by most manufacturers with wooden wheels being a cost-option. Foster seemed to really push wooden wheels, and so more 20th century Foster machines were supplied with (and thus survive) with wooden wheels than probably any other manufacturer.

It is reasonably common for a medium-weight 20th century domestic-market Foster machine to be found with wooden wheels. Not so with examples from any of the other major manufacturers.

[the highwayman]

Originally Posted by UJ2225

Any clues where that is Steve?

Cheers Jim

P.M. sent

[windmiller78]

here you go piers a heavy weight on timber wheels 7 inch wide... mind you its a monster drum an dwarfs the foster...

[chris wedgwood]

So I tried to buy the spares Foster drum on the wooden wheels from Ebay, I though I could take the steel ones off our machine and swap over, then "give" the other drum to some deserving person having got the wooden wheels that I want, but no, would you believe the reserve price was 2K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!The bidding went up to £155 not sold

[Ransomes AM54]

2k seems to be the default Ebay-price for such kit. Quite why is beyond me. I guess it's a 'retail' value plucked from somewhere; auction values over the past few years seem to be a quarter of that (at the very most) for a machine in a similar condition.

The Foster drum was also badly listed from the point of view of a sale. A badly listed Ransomes machine sold on Ebay earlier this year for less than 200 quid, only to be promptly relisted by the new owner for around 2k buy-it-now. It certainly sold, although I am not sure what the final deal price was.

It could be worth putting a 'wanted' ad in Tractor & Machinery Magazine, Chris. Or sit it out until something comes up at auction or Ebay.

My advice (for what it's worth) would be to go for the Foster iron wheels that Adam M. spoke of, dispose of the Clayton ones (maybe to me) so at least it's on Foster wheels. This will put you may be in a better position to bargain with another individual with a Foster machine but who wants rid of his tired old wooden wheels.

[8_10 Brass Cleaner]

Originally Posted by chris wedgwood

So I tried to buy the spares Foster drum on the wooden wheels from Ebay, I though I could take the steel ones off our machine and swap over, then "give" the other drum to some deserving person having got the wooden wheels that I want, but no, would you believe the reserve price was 2K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!The bidding went up to £155 not sold

The Marshall drum I mentioned with the Foster rear wheels is hanging, makes Andrew Goddards look like a good one. However the owner wants somewhere near a grand for it. The harder I look at it, the more knackered I think it is. Its a full time job for a good joiner with some serious lumps of wood needed.

I've weighed it up and my assessment was thus:

I would tow it in the field, take the drawbar and Foster wheels off and burn it.

I would probably get a ton or so of iron out of it, minus the plates and useful ironmongery. So say £200, possibly less given I'd have to cart it to the scrapman.

I could move on the plates, wheels and drawbar, possibly the stub axles also, say another £3-400 in total.

So i valued it at £400 given I'd be doing the work. I also know I've allready parted money to buy the two wooden wheel hubs that came off it some time ago.

If anyone matched his valuation they are either an idiot or they seriously want that box. And there is not so many idiots about as there used to be.

If what Piers says is true, and I have no doubt that it is, if you can buy a half decent one for £500, why would anyone pay any more than beer money for a tired one?

But it does go to show you the economics, and gives you an idea why they get burnt.

[General C.R Dewet]

Originally Posted by 8_10 Brass Cleaner

The Marshall drum I mentioned with the Foster rear wheels is hanging, makes Andrew Goddards look like a good one. However the owner wants somewhere near a grand for it. The harder I look at it, the more knackered I think it is. Its a full time job for a good joiner with some serious lumps of wood needed.

I've weighed it up and my assessment was thus:

I would tow it in the field, take the drawbar and Foster wheels off and burn it.

I would probably get a ton or so of iron out of it, minus the plates and useful ironmongery. So say £200, possibly less given I'd have to cart it to the scrapman.

I could move on the plates, wheels and drawbar, possibly the stub axles also, say another £3-400 in total.

So i valued it at £400 given I'd be doing the work. I also know I've allready parted money to buy the two wooden wheel hubs that came off it some time ago.


If anyone matched his valuation they are either an idiot or they seriously want that box. And there is not so many idiots about as there used to be.

If what Piers says is true, and I have no doubt that it is, if you can buy a half decent one for £500, why would anyone pay any more than beer money for a tired one?

But it does go to show you the economics, and gives you an idea why they get burnt.

I don't disagree with your valuation at all, and many times I have thought I would be better putting a match to it ! That said, I got it and a Corbett's corn mill, which is what I was after for £150. Since then it has cost me a fortune, but surely this is what this hobby of "restoration" is all about. It costs me a small fortune to run the engine every year, why should this box be different? Back in the day they were as important and as valuable as each other to the owner.

My box has local history to where I live, and being only 42" is getting pretty rare. As my friend in the village said to me when I got it, "they ain't making any more, and everyone gone makes the others more valuable". I know it's going to cost me far more than its worth, but next year when I thrash with it for the first time, I know that all the cost will be worthwhile, as I know I will have saved a bit of agricultural history for the next generation to enjoy !

And if I make any bread from the wheat, I can always claim that this is the most expensive loaf ever made, and possibly get a contract supplying Harrods !