Ever since I can remember, I've had this real thing for Claas combine harvesters, and Claas Matador (esp. the Giant/Gigant model) in particular. Late summer brings out the passion again, and I don't expect anyone else to understand, but more for self gratification than anything else, here is a page dedicated to Claas combine harvesters... View in 1280 x 1024 to get the full screen.
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| This is the first self propelled Class combine, the SF. Built in the 1950s it carries the early Claas paint scheme of silver and red. | |
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| The SF was followed by the Europa/Mercur model in 1958. First models were silver before the introduction of what became know as 'Matador' green. | |
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| A very early Matador Standard (on the left) and a later more representative example (on the right). The Standard model was basically the same, but with smaller grain tank, shorter straw walkers, more girlie wheels and a 4 cylinder diesel engine instead of the Giants 6 cylinder Perkins engine. | |
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| This is the actual one that started it all, when owned in the early 70s by the Ogilvie family estate and based at Elm Tree Farm, Aldringham, Suffolk. | Later on (when these pictures were taken in the late 1980s) she had been sold to the neighbouring farm, Cherry Tree Farm in Knodishall. |
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| Farmer Michael Easy (son of our next door neighbour when I was a child, who farmed Red House Farm) owned KRT28D (registered in 1966) until the mid 1990s. | |
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| This was the last Matador Giant I saw working in 2001 near Stowmarket in Suffolk. The following year the same farm was using a newer MF combine. | |
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| Also in 2001 I spotted this in a farmyard at Martlesham in Suffolk. I assumed it has reaped it's last, until the following year I spotted FDX401D working again near Wickham Market. I stopped and chatted to the farmer and he even let me harvest two lengths of the field. | |
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| Above was the last time I saw a Matador in action, but I still keep my eyes peeled for the distinctive shape in late summer and early autumn... | |
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| This 1968 Matador Standard met a sad demise, rusting in a field between the A12 and the London - Norwich railway line. | |
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| The Matador was replaced in 1969 by the Mercator/Senator model. Basically a Matador in posh clothes! Note the change of paint colour and logo. | |
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| My other favourite Claas combines are the Lexion range, which seem to be everywhere. The local farm to where I live now has now had four of 'em! | |
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| A Claas Dominator harvesting rape in 2002 in Suffolk. | Claas Dominator Mega 202 in 2004 at Wickham Market. |
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| The same Dominator 98SL Classic as above near Tunstall in 2003. | I found this Lexion 560 in Sweden whilst visiting there in '05. |
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Above is a two week old Lexion 570 at Darsham in 2005. |
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| Above and below are the two Lexions being run in '08 by the farm closest to where I live, a 560 and a 580, both with 9 metre cutter bars. | |
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| And this beast is run by Westrope Farming in Suffolk and driven by Ben - the first working 600 I saw, in Aug 2008. | |
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