Old Pond publishing days

Destination Doha - new DVD advance information

Destination Doha, produced by Tony Salmon for the BBC 'World About Us' series in 1977, double-DVD set, approx 98 minutes. IN STOCK at Old Pond, £17.95 (inc. VAT).

Doha, capital of Qatar on the Arabian Gulf – five thousand miles from London with 11 countries to travel through and 23 Customs posts on the way. Blizzards in Austria, sandstorms in Syria; broken-down trucks to repair and bogged-down trucks to dig out of the sand.…

 
The exciting, gruelling life of drivers on the overland run to the Middle East was captured by the BBC’s World About Us series in 1977 and transmitted in two parts.

In Part One, ‘The Easy Bit?’, we meet British drivers Frank Hook, John Williams, Dave Poulton and Dick Rivers. We follow their mixed fortunes and tyre changes across Europe, into communist Yugoslavia and Bulgaria and then to Turkey where bureaucracy was a way of life.

Part Two’s ‘Difficult Bit’ leads through chillingly dangerous roads to Ankara and over the Taurus mountains. Then through Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia – each offering a different challenge to the drivers and their Scania and Leyland trucks.

This double-DVD set contains both parts of the original programme. You’ll see that for these Astran International drivers their work was more than just a job – it was a way of life with a sense of adventure, winter and summer, ice-cold and desert-hot.

The photographs have been kindly supplied by Ashley Coghill whose own book, The Long Haul Pioneers, telling the full story of Astran International will be published in 2010.

Komatsu WA1200 wheel loader in Norway

Yes, have had a few days in Norway with Steven Vale and the film crew building up stock for future DVDs.

Part of the time we were in the southern province of Rogaland at the Titania ilmenite mine (left).

Ilmenite ore, the darker stone in the picture (right) is a dense, hard rock containing flecks of white.

These flecks are the ilmenite deposit which can be extracted and processed to form titanium dioxide, a highly white fine powder used in the manufacture of paper, paints and plastics. Someone mentioned lipsticks too.

The plant has recently bought the largest mechanical wheel loader in the world, a Komatsu WA1200 (left), of which there are only two in Europe.

We watched it load 40-45 tonnes at a time, filling the the Cat 789Cs close to their capacity of 180 tonnes.

Nearby, waste material was being loaded by a Terex O&K RH 170 (right). The haulers were Cat 789Bs and a couple of elderly Unit Rig MT 3600s, as in this shot.

Finally, down by the primary crusher we found another well-used machine still paying its way, the LeTourneau L-1000 Letroloader (left), a model going back to the early 1980s.

And one other interesting fact about Titania in Sokndal: on 16 August 2008 Katie Melua gave a concert here as part of the local cultural festival. She was at the bottom of the mine, below sea level, watched by an audience of 6,000. One of the concert-goers told us that it was magical, not just the concert but the night-time atmosphere of the place, with coaches lined up along the mine benches.

More DVDs from Stephen Richmond and Jonathan Whitlam - advance information

Tractor Barn Productions has an ambitious list of new releases this autumn. The DVDs will be available from Old Pond as soon as they are in stock.

David Brown Tractors: a power on the land 1939 - 1988 presented by Stephen Richmond.

This programme tells the story of the famous David Brown brand and features most types of machine to bear the name. These include the VAKI, the Cropmaster, the 25 and 30 machines and the Implematic range. Later models include the Selectamatic range and the popular 885, 995 and 1212 models. The 90 series in 1979 was the last to carry the David Brown name.

DVD, approx 90 minutes, released September 2009
ISBN 978-1-906853-29-7 £15.95 IN STOCK at Old Pond

Working Combines Volume One presented by Stephen Richmond.

Watch classic and modern combine harvesters hard at work gathering a variety of different crops and shown in their full glory. Stephen Richmond tells us about each of the combines, which include Massey Ferguson, New Holland, John Deere, Case IH and Claas. Special features include a glimpse into Tractor Barn’s extensive video archive.

DVD, approx 75 minutes, released October 2009
ISBN 978-1-906853-28-0  £9.95 IN STOCK at Old Pond

Leyland Tractors: a Power in Farming 1969-1982, presented by Stephen Richmond.

Leyland tractors were built in Scotland from 1969 until 1982. This programme tells the story from their Nuffield tractor heritage to the blue tractors that followed and the successful Synchro range and Golden Harvest models. It includes the designs which were later produced under the Marshall name.

DVD, -- minutes, release February 2010
ISBN 978-1-906853-26-6  £15.95

Modern Tractors: The First Decade of the 21st Century presented by Stephen Richmond.

The tractors of the 21st century are very sophisticated machines and in this DVD Stephen and Jonathan review some of the main features of these modern machines. They look in particular at the revolution in transmissions represented by CVT technology as well as the clever GPS self-driving features and the ingenious suspension systems.

DVD, -- minutes, release December 2009. ISBN 978-1-906853-27-3  £15.95 SEE ALSO BLOG 4 NOVEMBER

Photographs of the Suffolk Heritage coast - new book advance information

Bells Beneath the Sea: photographs of the Suffolk heritage coast by Carl White. Paperback book, 240 x 240 mm, 120 pages including 102 b&w photographs. ISBN 978-1-906853-15-0. IN STOCK at Old Pond at £19.95.

Legend has it that if you put your ear to Dunwich cliff on a stormy day you can hear the long-submerged bells of the town’s churches, ringing under the waves. Such is the rich, haunting quality of this coastline, whose past resonates strongly in its present. For twenty-five years Carl White has studied the area intimately for his photographs. From Lowestoft to Felixstowe he has explored the evolving character of the land, sea and sky, juxtaposing modern industry with continuing traditions.

This book offers both a portrait of Suffolk’s best-loved coastal landmarks and sights, and a historical document of its change. From the drama of a hailstorm at sea taken from Minsmere cliff to the grand promenades of Aldeburgh and Southwold, the photographs capture their subjects with artistic sensitivity and technical skill.

More Ford tractor filming

(continued from 22 July) Advance information about Ford farming 1965-95 is in the blog of 29 August 2010

At the start of the second day, Richard Duckett drove his 1970 Ford Force 2000 (left). He was working with a Kidd 40-inch inline Rotaflail and an M-F 17-7 trailer.

The 2000 was equipped with a six-speed gearbox.

Next up was Colin Butland on his 1969 Ford 3000 (right) with a Select-O-Speed gearbox.

The hay tedder is New Holland 245.

The New Holland 717 Precision Chop forage harvester (left) and Massey Ferguson 17-7 silage trailer were coupled to a 1975 Ford Force 7000.

George Langdon's tractor was being handled (gingerly) by Dennis Burston.

Michael Butland's 1981 Ford 4610 (left) was working with a PZ 165 two-drum mower.

Michael had the pleasure of operating the 4610's Ford column 'Rubik's Cube' gear change (right).

The last tractor I saw was Dennis Burston's 1973 Ford Force 4000 (left), the cab and square wings of which have been taken off.

Dennis was operating a New Holland Crop-Chopper 33 forage harvester and the M-F 17-7 trailer seen earlier.

We have more filming to do but anticipate that George French, along with Dennis and Maurice Burston and colleagues, will have a programme ready for 2010.

I Love My Tractor - new double DVD for children - advance information

I Love my Tractor: the adventures of Massey Ferguson, 2-DVD set, approx 133 minutes, IN STOCK at Old Pond at £9.95.

This animation series from New Zealand is designed for pre/young school children to show them life in the countryside and encourage them to learn respect and appreciation for their surroundings.

The cartoons are based on a small farm near the New Zealand town of Kumara Cove where a little red tractor called Massey Ferguson lives.

At home with Massey on Ferguson Farm is a fun-loving family of vehicles including Beaut the Ute, Max Tractor, Gracie the 4WD farm bike and Mrs Milk, the milk tanker.

Massey may be only a small tractor but he's big on resourcefulness, problem-solving and pluck.

The King of the Norfolk Poachers - new book advance information

“If I had my time to come over again I would still be what I have been—a poacher. So I remain, Gentlemen, The Ex King of the Norfolk Poachers.”

These are the concluding words of one of the most remarkable British books about the countryside, I Walked By Night, edited by Lilias Rider Haggard and first published in 1935.

The poacher went un-named in the book. The title page just reads 'by Himself'. Now, spurred on by a belief that she lives in a lodge once occupied by the mysterious poacher, East Anglian writer Charlotte Paton has researched his life and written his biography.

The name of the poacher was Frederick Rolfe. The true story of Rolfe’s life is just as remarkable his original tale, although it was embroidered and he glossed over some of his less pleasant actions, particularly where his wives were concerned.

In the course of her research Charlotte Paton has discovered a manuscript that throws light on Rolfe’s family life: an account by his daughter Emily. This is published for the first time as part of this book.

Charlotte Paton captures the social conditions in which Rolfe lived. There is plenty of background about magistrates’ courts, poaching practices, the life of the rural poor and attempts at the reform of agricultural labour.

Frederick Rolfe was already in his seventies when I Walked by Night was published. Charlotte Paton has unearthed much new material about his declining years and his unexpected end.

This is the story of a complex man who went his own way, often stirring up trouble on the wrong side of the law. He could inspire devotion and he created one of the most remarkable accounts of our countryside.

The King of the Norfolk Poachers by Charlotte Paton, hardback book. 224 pages inc. 16 pp photographs, indexed. ISBN 978-1-905523-89-4. IN STOCK at Old Pond at £19.95.

The real Frederick Rolfe (right) was photographed at about the time of his book's publication. The painting on the front cover of Charlotte Paton's book is 'The Moon Lighter' by Lawson Wood (Lynn Museums).
 

Old Pond Publishing schedule June-December 2009

June
Land Girls Gang Up, Pat Peters, paperback £7.95. Details: blog 26 April. IN STOCK
Massive Earthmoving Machines Part 4, Steven Vale, DVD, £15.95. Details: blog 4 May. IN STOCK

July
Know Your Horses, Jack Byard, paperback, £4.99. Details: blog 24 March. IN STOCK
Pocket Guide to Britains Farm Model & Toy Tractors, 1998-2008, David Pullen (Veloce Publishing), £29.99. Details: blog 15 March. IN STOCK

September
I Love my Tractor, the adventures of Massey-Ferguson,double DVD, approx 133 minutes, £9.99. Details: blog 22 August. IN STOCK
Farm Machinery Film Records Part 3, Brian Bell, DVD, £15.95 Details: blog 3 August. IN STOCK
Hadleigh: the portrait of a Suffolk Town, David Kindred, paperback, £12.95. Details: blog 5 June. IN STOCK

October
Know Your Pigs, Jack Byard, paperback, £4.99. Details: blog 6 June. IN STOCK
The King of the Norfolk Poachers, Charlotte Paton, hardback, £19.95. Details: blog 22 August. IN STOCK
Bells Beneath the Sea, Carl White, paperback, £19.95. Details: blog 29 August. IN STOCK
Suffolk Steam Railways, David Kindred, paperback,£12.95 Details: blog 5 August. IN STOCK
We Waved to the Baker, Andrew Arbuckle, hardback, £12.95 Details: blog 15 September. IN STOCK
Britain's Massive Miners Part 1, Steven Vale, DVD, £15.95 Details: blog 9 September. IN STOCK
Britain's Massive Miners Part 2, Steven Vale, DVD, £15.95 Details: blog 9 September. IN STOCK
Destination Doha, BBC 'World About Us', double DVD, £17.95 Details: blog 7 September. IN STOCK
Sheep Station NZ, Dylan Winter, double DVD, £19.95 Details: blog 23 July. IN STOCK

November
Know Your Trucks, Patrick W Dyer, paperback, £4.99. Details: blog 19 September. IN STOCK
In the Driving Seat, Alex Heymer, paperback, £9.95. Details: blog 5 October. IN STOCK
Tractor Restoration: paintwork, Alan Davies, DVD, £19.95. Details: blog 14 October. IN STOCK

December
Seventy Years of Farm Machinery: pt 1 Seedtime, Brian Bell, hardback, £19.95. Details: blog 19 October. IN STOCK
Modern Tractors Part 1, Stephen Richmond and Jonathan Whitlam (Tractor Barn), DVD, £15.95. Details: blog 4 November. IN STOCK

Britains Farm Models and Toy Tractors 1998-2008 book in stock

Yes, after a shipping delay, we have received stock of David Pullen's outstanding new pocket guide, published by Veloce. The 496-page book was previewed in the blog of 15 March. The finished product must be the yardstick by which other models books are going to be judged - and they'll find it hard to live up to this. Available from Old Pond at £29.99. 

Suffolk Steam Railways - new book advance information

Suffolk Steam Railways by David Kindred. Paperback, 128 pages including 200 b&w photographs, ISBN 978-1-906853-17-4. IN STOCK at Old Pond at £12.95.

The 200 photographs in this book reflect the diversity and importance that steam once had in East Anglia. For a hundred years it was the main carrier of people and freight, and a major employer, even though Suffolk was a mainly agricultural county with relatively few lines.

Although the photographs go back to the 1870s, most in this selection were taken in the 1950s and ’60s. They will stir many memories. The selection covers the main lines, stations and services as well as Ipswich Locoshed and Dock, the Mid Suffolk Light Railway and the branch lines. There are many shots of trains, but also evocative pictures of the men who worked the railways and their ancillary services.

David Kindred worked for over forty years as a photographer and picture editor with the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Evening Star. He has been fortunate to have had the help of a number of knowledgeable local train enthusiasts in compiling the informative captions.

 Shunting horses at Woodbridge in the 1950s (right).

A mixed train (left) on the Laxfield to Haughley line with Joe Skinner and Jack Law on the footplate.

 

Britannia class 70005 John Milton (right) entering the Ipswich tunnel from the Stoke side, 6 June 1959. The Ipswich Locoshed with its coaling tower and the Cliff Quay power station are in the background.

(Left) S Hearsum and B Cage, the largest and smallest employees, together at the Ipswich Locoshed in 1909.

B1 61378 storming through Bentley in March 1959 (right) - another great photograph by Aubrey Frost.