Doe Triple D
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The Doe Triple-D or Doe Dual Drive is a make of tractor produced by Ernest Doe & Sons in the 1950s and 1960s in Ulting Essex. It's two engines and 90 degree articulation made it one of the most unorthodox tractors ever built.
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[edit] Development
During the 1950s farmers in the United Kingdom in need of high horsepower tractors had few options. Essex farmer George Pryor developed an ingenious solution to the problem by creating his own tractor. He did this by purchasing two Fordson tractors, removing the front wheels and axle and linking the two by means of a turntable which provided the steering action powered by hydraulic rams. This left him with a double engined four wheel drive tractor capable of producing more power and outperforming any of the conventional tractors on the UK market at the time.
[edit] Commercial production
Local Fordson dealers Ernest Doe & Sons agreed to build an improved version, the first one was completed in 1958 and called the Doe Dual Power, later changed to Doe Dual Drive and abbreviated to Triple-D.
The first Doe Triple-D used two Fordson Power Major units to produce a total power of 100 hp, the later Triple-D 130 used two Ford Workmaster tractors increasing the power output to over 130 hp and the Triple-D 150 was based on Ford Force tractors producing 150 hp.
The vast majority of Triple-Ds were sold in the UK, but a number were exported to the United States and elsewhere.
[edit] Disadvantages
The main disadvantage with the Triple-D was the lack of suitable implements for such a powerful tractor, this meant that Ernest Doe & Sons also had to develop and build a range of implements to sell with the tractors.
Other disadvantages stemmed from the use of two engines, this made controlling the tractor more difficult because of the need for two gearboxes. There were two engines and gearboxes to maintain and repair and the probability of breakdowns was increased.
[edit] End of production
By the late 1960s several companies had developed single engined tractors capable of producing over 100 hp, this competition put the Doe out of production after over 300 had been built.
[edit] Models Produced
- Dual Power 1958-59
- Triple D (mkI)1959-63
- Triple D (mkII)1963-64
- Doe 130 1965-68
- Doe 150 1968-69
- D5100 1971-72
[edit] Collectors
They are a sort after tractor by collectors as fairly rare, as less than 500 built in total of all models. Several people have built their own versions. They are one of the most valuable collectors tractors, with some examples fetching over £60,000. The Triple-D often makes appearances at agricultural fares such as the Epworth Festival of the Plough in Epworth, Lincolnshire and LeSueur, Minnesota Pioneer Power Days show where it is always a crowd favourite, popular due to its unorthodox build.
Triple-Ds are worth a great deal due to their relative rarity, even unrestored Does can demand extremely high prices at auction. [1]
There are usually a few on display at events like Tractor World Show at Malvern, Worcestershire, and at the National Tractor Show
[edit] Copies
There are quite a few copies/fakes about which have been built from parts of broken ones or to similar design by people who either wanted a bigger hp tractor or would like a Doe but cannot find/afford a genuine one, thus building a copy from 2 cheap tractors.
[edit] Other Makes
- Ferguson TED-40 - 2 TE-D20s built by Andrew Wood from Leeds, Yorkshire.[2] And on display at Astwood Bank Vintage Show.
- A David Brown version has been built as well.
- Also a True Triple with 3 Fordsons used was built. ?
[edit] Preservation list
Below is a table listing known examples. (please expand the list and help include at least one photo of each machine listed)
- D 201 - year ? - 1416 UR at Belvoir Castle Steam Festival 2009
- D 267 - 1962 - Reg no. ? Formerly owned by Alwyn Blatherwick (Sold by Cheffins in Oct 2009)
- D 295 - year ? - Reg no. ? At Newby Hall Vintage Gathering 2009
- D 310 - year ? - At Belvoir Castle Steam Festival 2009
- D 330 - 1963 - 732 VYA of Bernard Saunders collection at Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show 2008
- D 341 - 196? - CVF 449B at Belvoir Castle Steam Festival
- D 379 - 196? - BNX 232B at Bernard Saunders Working Day 2008
- D ? - year ? - 569 BWC at Bath and Southwest Tractor show 2009
- D ? - year ? - 635 LTM at Bernard Saunders Working Day 2008
[edit] Scale Models
The Triple-D is also available in a 1:16 Scale model produced by Universal Hobbies. [3]
[edit] See also
- Martrac DD120 - A custom built machine that looks similar to a Doe
- Custom tractors - One off specials
- List of Tractor Dealers
- Shows and Meets
[edit] References
- ↑ Ross Records
- ↑ T&M Vol.9/2 p10
- ↑ link to picture of a model
- Wikipedia
- Classic Tractor Magazine
- Tractor & Machinery Magazine
- Ford Tractor Conversions by Stuart Gibbard
