Hi Everyone

I'm new to the forum and came across this brilliant website while looking for information on Burrell Engines.

My gt grandfather Henry Bird originally of Attleborough in Norfolk started a threshing business in 1868-69 as far as I can work out and with the help from a friend. In the Census of 1871 for Attleborough he is listed as a an Agricultural Machine Man.

I had been in touch with an elderly gentleman who gave me some information relating to Henry and he stated that my gt grandfather would possibly have had portable engines initially.

As the years progressed he moved from Attleborough to Gt Hockham in Norfolk and I also have the Census of 1881 saying that he is a Machine Owner. His son ( my grandfather) Arthur Bird was born in 1886 and took over his threshing business by 1911 when my gt grandfather died. I know that Henry & Arthur had Burrell engines along with a Garrett 5 ton tractor and a 5 ton Ransomes, Sims & Jeffries tractor too.

I wondered if anybody on the forum may know any more info on the Bird's threshing business in Gt Hockham.

Many thanks for any help
Regards
norfolklad

Just an update to this post.

Since writing this way back in 2011 the information that I have collected regarding the Bird family and their engines of Gt Hockham. I have written a book about my family, my own history and also in this book is a whole list of engines that the elderly gentleman gave me.

This old gentlemans name was Godfrey Sturgeon, no doubt some of the people using this site may of heard of him. I was absolutely amazed at the information he gave to me, this comprised of mainly Burrell engines but regrettably as most of you know, many of these dear old machines were cut up for scrap! Such a sad end to such majestic work horses of their time.

I do hope that perhaps the list may be of use to others who research traction engines, at least it will be there for posterity.

David Bird (norfolklad)