Hello ODK history lovers
Of course, ODK records AUS and NZ lawnmowers. But it also
records imported garden machinery sold on our shores.

A fourth category goes to the machines not sold in NZ or
AUS, but of some historical interest.

Surely, the 1966 British Mayfield Merlin garden tractor must
qualify for this! It is a very rare machine … and few appear to
have survived.

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In researching another Mayfield – their Motor Scythe – I discovered
a great document titled, “A Buyers Guide to the Mayfield Garden Tractor”.
This was written by Bill Castellan and Ray Smith in about 2003.
An extract says: -

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SOURCE: http://www.tanygraig.f9.co.uk/John/mayguide.htm

This machine is important in that it is an early example of the British take
on the garden tractor. It was made by the great John Allen & Sons of Oxford,
makers of the famous Allen Motor Scythe! Allen acquired Mayfield from
Mayfield Engineering in 1965.

TO BE CONTINUED …