Rotavating with Howard Bulldog.

I agree with your comments about the small rotavators, but they are useful in more confined spaces. I would say the nearest modern equivalent to your bulldog would be the Husqvarna, but at over £1000 for one with a decent engine it's a serious investment, luckily our Allotment society has one we can hire out. With driven wheels, and a reverse gear, it's quite manageable for most people.

 

Hi,

Thanks @Allotment Boy Yes for small spaces an industrial type of rotavator would be too much. My Bulldog doesn't have reverses which is a pity but it can be used in very tight spaces; I think it only has a rotavating width of around 12" so it can operate between shrubs and bushes.



I've just been nosy and had a quick online browse of similar Husqvarna rotavators similar to the ones you kindly mentioned as seen in the picture. I wonder how much industry and business has been killed due to the VAT cost?

I'm considering adding deeper side skirts to my Bulldog because it displaces quite a bit of soil to it's side especially whilst working on our steep slope. I've got plenty of aluminium sheet to hand; sheet steel isn't too expensive either if I need to buy some.

 

I've been visiting a farmer for about the last 50 years and I thought I could remember maybe 30 years ago someone bringing them the bigger one to try to get it running, wish I could remember if they did

 

Hi,

These rotavators once seen aren't easily forgotten are they @mac12.

It's about 67 years ago I first saw one of the big Howard's; a retired neighbour used to be a market gardener and had a large greenhouse in a large allotment; he and his wife were about to go on two weeks holiday and he asked me if I could look after his big greenhouse which had many tomato plants growing.

He taught me how to remove unwanted shoots and to water them from a nearby well adding correct amounts of liquid feed. In those days we had long hot summers so I did a lot of watering.

Because of his age he'd let the allotment go a bit; there was mostly waist high grass. I'd seen the Howard in a wooden purpose built shelter and being inquisitive I thought I'd drag it out and try to start it then I could flatten the grass. I didn't understand the controls as I tried and tried to start it; now I know to turn the petrol tap on and flood the carb. It was a struggle putting it back home but the grass still remained.

Not to be beaten I then got hold of a full sized scythe which was about as tall as I was and I actually enjoyed using it once I found the knack; I stuck with it and brought all the grass down to ground lever feeling very proud of myself.

When the neighbors returned home the husband was keen to inspect his greenhouse; the plants were heavily laden and in top condition which delighted him but he was absolutely amazed that I'd cut the grass using the big scythe. He laughed when I told him I'd tried to start the Howard.

I wasn't yet 11 years old because we moved when I was 11. This neighbour was over the moon and handed me a £5 note; I'd never owned such a thing only ever having had a very small amount of pocket money each week amounting to about two old shillings (10p); it was a fortune; when I showed it to my parents I immediately lost it having it replaced by enough money to buy a bag of sweets; we were in deep poverty so the £5 was a lot of money to my parents.

I'll never forget this short period of joy in my young life and here I am at 77 still working hard. I've been up the garden this morning digging lots of stones out;


I've enjoyed many heavy crops of stones over the years.

I'm not surprised the Bulldog wasn't happy to find these buried; there's more yet to dig out; this section is the top right hand corner I'm converting into another small wildflower meadow; our rear garden then will have four wildflower areas next year.

Kind regards, Col.