A collector's tale: Restoring old Howard machines to their former glory

Feb 21, 2023    Posted by Brittany Cunningham

Peter Robinson, a maintenance fitter by trade, and his wife Mel live at Kangaroo Flat, Victoria. Behind their house is a spacious garden and a large, airy workshop, splendidly stocked with tools, spare parts and the remnants of engines and appliances.  

Peter is a devoted collector and restorer of Howard machines.  

"It all started in the late 1960s when my father bought a second-hand Howard 'Kelpie' tractor with some attachments," he said. "I used it the most because I enjoyed having a small tractor I could operate and play around with. It's still in my collection. "The tractor had a trailer, grader blade and mouldboard plough. On our property we mainly used the trailer because it was so manoeuvrable. Overall, the Howard was very useful." The first Howard machine Peter restored was another Kelpie tractor, built in 1955. He saw it advertised in the local paper for $300 and decided to make it a project. That was over 20 years ago and his interest in collecting and involvement with other Howard enthusiasts subsequently grew. "I came into contact with members of the Howard community after buying seven old Howard 2000 tractors from a deceased estate," said Peter. "I didn't want to keep all of them, so I restored a few and sold the others. One that I sold went to [Sydney collector] Shane Djuric's father. He had tractors and I had parts and the association grew from there. "Other collectors had been displaying their Howard tractors and machines at events like the Clarendon Classic well before I first attended, which was in 2013. Now, I go back every year to display machines and parts."  

While Peter enjoys his hobby primarily because the old Howard machines are a smaller size and easy to work on and transport to events, he believes other collectors derive their interest from Howards being Australian-made and well built. His wife Mel takes up the story. She is a great supporter of Peter's hobby and they often collaborate. During the last restoration they completed, for example, she did the spray painting. "Peter has the technical nous and I finesse," said Mel. "Sourcing parts is difficult; if something's not available he generally makes it. I wouldn't say I share the same passion but I support him, although I don't usually go to the rallies." To coincide with the centenary of Howard going into production, Peter decided to restore a 1968 Howard 2000 tractor with a creeper gearbox. When Australian Farm Machinery visited, it was a heap of parts on the workshop floor. That was before Peter got to work.  

"I managed to source all the parts that were broken or missing," said Peter, "so it's now stripped down and degreased and ready to be put back together. I'll remove the worn bearings and assemble the parts, starting with the gearbox. I'll then wire brush the other parts and paint them, then move onto the wheels." As the photos demonstrate, Peter successfully restored each and every part, literally from the ground up. The gleaming, revamped Howard 2000 will be exhibited at various events during the year.  

From parts to a perfect restoration! Peter is pictured bottom right demonstrating the Howard 2000 at PFG's headquarters. 

_{(Article originally published in the Australian Farm Machinery Magazine Autumn Edition)}