Undated photo from Heddon Steads. The tractor on the left bears the name 'Lady Alice'.
I attempted to find out more about this photo in 2013 through a post on the Geograph discussion forum. The thread is linked here.
Several possible manufacturers came up for the steam tractor: John Fowler (Leeds), who did make a Showman's locomotive called 'Lady Alice' c1920, or an Aveling & Porter model from around 1900.
c1900 was the best guess of a likely date based on the clothing of the agricultural workers.
c1900 was the best guess of a likely date based on the clothing of the agricultural workers.
© Copyright Ashley Dace and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
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© Copyright Richard Hoare and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
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Much more recent in time, but showing little substantial change in agricultural practice, are the two photos below from M J Richardson who provided the following explanation.
Mobile threshing machines would be trailed from farm to farm after harvest to thresh the corn from the stacks, which were built from the sheaves brought in from the fields at harvest. The steam tractor would also provide the power for the thresher/seed cleaner etc. by means of a belt, just visible in the picture.
© Copyright M J Richardson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence