The David Brown company was famous for its gear manufacturing when it began building its first tractor in 1936, for Harry Ferguson. The Ferguson Type A was built at Meltham Mills, a factory set up in an old cotton mill not far from the David Brown company’s hub of business in the Yorkshire town of Huddersfield.
From 1939 David Brown began producing its own tractors, beginning with the VAK1, painted in a colour that would become synonymous with the brand for many years: ‘Hunting Pink’.
A slight change to Currant Red, followed by a drastic change to Chocolate Brown and Orchid White in the mid-1960s was followed by Tenneco’s acquisition of the tractor building-side of the David Brown business in 1972, which subsequently merged it with its J I Case farm equipment division.
Apart from a change of chassis colour to Power Red (orange), the David Brown tractors continued as before, with larger Case tractors gradually being introduced as part of the range, and a wider North American market now open to the Yorkshire manufacturer.
However, 11 years after the merger that would all change forever.
MAJOR REVAMP
The David
