The Jim Russell Collection

A unique sale is the focus for this episode of Auction Torque. We go behind the scenes as the Cheffins team have been enlisted to sell a collection of Ferguson memorabilia amassed by the late Jim Russell following a lifetime of dedication to sourcing a plethora of exceptional and rare items. Jim’s collection is renowned in collecting circles and the sale is a key date in the calendar for those wishing to add bespoke pieces. 

We speak to Tom Godsmark from Cheffins, who describes the complexities of dealing with scale models, as opposed to large agricultural machinery, and how the team went about cataloguing over 700 items and moving the collection back to Sutton for the sale. 

We are privileged to be joined by Stuart Gibbard, an agricultural historian who was a good friend of Jim’s and helped source several items in the collection. Stuart talks us through the collection’s history and relevance, including how Jim built an extension to his house to store the Ferguson Brown tractor, a deal which Stuart brokered. Alongside this, there are some meticulously built scale models and the final minute book including Harry Ferguson’s final signature. 

Finally, journalist and presenter Charlotte Vowden talks about her experience at the cataloguing day and how she found the emotional aspect of having to watch a family make the decision to disperse of a lifetime collection. Charlotte is also writing two columns in Practical Classics magazine on the sale and will be on social media during sale day.

The sale takes place at Cheffins' saleground in Sutton, Ely on Saturday 25th November with a preview day on Friday 24th November. The live online catalogue can be viewed in this link – https://machinerysales.cheffins.co.uk/auctions/info/id/1516/The-Jim-Russell-Collection-Auction-sale-of-Ferguson-Brown-Type-A-one-of-the-most-comprehensive-Ferguson-memorabilia-collections-

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