Can anybody identify this machine?

[smithhymac]

Hi all, I been asked to identify this machine for a mate that stumbled across it is a woodland in south wales.
To be honest I'm totally stumped by it, I haven't seen it in the flesh just been forwarded these phone pictures.
I can recognise the power plant as a fordson major maybe a power major? so I'm guessing it's 1950's!
Any ideas? the chap thinks it's engineered rather than 'home built'!

[smithhymac]

Just to explain a little more about it, It's rigged as a rope operated back hoe (you can just see the bucket pulled in tight to the machine) and it apears to slew on the large round plate between the axles that it raises itself clear of the ground with!
Also the operator is positioned far side next to the nose of the major bonnet.
An interesting looking machine!

[essexpete]

What a find, do you mind if I send a copy of photo to the Fordson forum guys? It is odd that there was a mix of rope and hydraulic. It looks like a Major built before the Power, but that does not really help. My guess that would be early 50s. If you think the skid is original it might be possible to date with an engine no or casting codes.
It does not look as though it would have operated of reasonable ground very easily.

[smithhymac]

go for it chap! any information will help, it's a shame the pictures are not clearer but I gather it's a sizeable machine to be hidding in the trees!

[XS650]

Wow -what a beast , thats some hedgerow find . would turn a few heads on the rally field Never seen anything like it .

[essexpete]

Bit of a performance getting to the rally and the ifor will definitely be overloaded.

[FOWLER MAN]

Hi All,
As you say, a great find.
I've never seen anything like it either but what you can see of the way it's engineered it definately looks to be older than the Major skid unit.
I'd bet the original power unit would have been more like a late 1940s Fordson TVO. 27N unit.
Everything about it says very early or pre 1950s to me, which rules out the skid being original.
Fred

[Martyn Henley]

Shot in the dark here, but with the slew rings slung underneath the machine, it reminds me of a Pingon, could be a early version ? i cannot find any evidence of it on the net.

Martyn

[FOWLER MAN]

Shot in the dark here, but with the slew rings slung underneath the machine, it reminds me of a Pingon, could be a early version ? i cannot find any evidence of it on the net.

Martyn

Hi Martyn,
You may well be right. Later on Winget made a crane with the slew ring underneath too.
Fred

[essexpete]

There are part hydraulics on the machine, seems an odd mix. I wonder if the whole machine eveolved over time.
Would it have been used for trenching on a roadside?