A unique spectacle appeared across the Shropshire countryside this harvest; a sixty year old CLAAS combine, sold new by machinery dealers’ Morris Corfield in 1962 working alongside its modern counterpart.  The SF, which was the first self propelled combine to be sold by the family-owned dealership has come a long way since it’s launch in the 1950’s, and is thought to be one of very few working examples in the country. Shadowed by the CLAAS Lexion 8700TT which is the latest machine in a 60 year working relationship between the dealership and the Forester Family.  

The Forester Family, formerly of Willey Park and now trading as Barrow Farm, neighbours Morris Corfields’ Broseley depot and they have owned an impressive 25 CLAAS combines over the last six decades; a poignant milestone as Morris Corfield celebrate their 65th anniversary as CLAAS dealers in 2024.

John Corfield, one of the founders of the company sold the classic combine to Lord Forester at Willey Hall in Broseley in 1962, and in 1965 it was sold on to John Rowson of Home Farm Cleobury North, then on to George Green in Burwarton before it completed it’s Shropshire tour and was bought back by Morris Corfield in 1989. The original log book is still residing in Managing Director Norman Duppa’s office.

Norman commented “we wanted to celebrate the SF combine’s 60^th Anniversary in style, she has been stored in a shed at our depot since June 1988 when we purchased it from Mr Green, last making an appearance at our open day in Benthall in 2013. After a quick wash down, it’s Ford engine fired up first time.” He continued “it required some minor remedial work to get it working in the field this harvest including a cutter bar and header guard refurb and some replacement belts but this was easily completed thanks to the vast spare parts held at the at our depot.”

It helped the job in hand that the family-owned dealership has a colossal collection of  19,500 CLAAS parts lines ranging from vintage machinery to the very latest harvesting technology.

The SF combine was presented by August Claas in 1952 and had a ten year production run from 1953 to 1963. 19,456 units were built and this particular machine was sold to Lord Forester costing in the region of £1,600. A stark comparison compared the average combine today tipping the half a million mark. The SF comes complete with a four straw walker, and was offered with either a bagging platform or grain tank, 1.25m threshing drum, 10ft header, and 60hp Ford engine. The reel height can be hydraulically adjusted and threshing drum and travel speed are infinitely variable whilst on the move. In comparison Barrow Farm’s 8700TT Lexion is complete with the latest Cemos controls including 3D, 4D, Auto Stop, Auto Slope and the latest 1080 35ft Convio cutter bar.

The special scene kick starts an exciting series of events and plans in 2024 across the companies’ four depots to celebrate the firm’s 65 year anniversary as CLAAS dealer; one that very few other machinery dealerships can boast.

To following all the anniversary plans and for a video of the combines in action search Morris Corfields social media channels @morriscorfield