David Brown VAD/1 C CROPMASTER
Built: 11/1949–02/1953 · Series: VA-Baureihe
More machines from model year 1949
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David Brown VA range 50 D and VAD/1 C Cropmaster – tractors from Meltham in the 1940s: four- to six-cylinder diesel engines of 25.7 to 37.3 kW, 1,542 to 2,616 kg
David Brown's VA range was built in the 1940s at the Meltham works near Huddersfield and formed the stage preceding the later Cropmaster; the register lists here the 50 D and VAD/1 C Cropmaster types, whose designation already points to the transition to the Cropmaster naming. The models carry diesel engines with four to six cylinders.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists here 2 versions with 25.7 to 37.3 kW from engines with four to six cylinders and 2,713 to 4,061 cm³ displacement, weights from 1,542 to 2,616 kg, lengths from 2,981 to 3,423 mm, widths from 1,619 to 1,880 mm, heights from 1,499 to 2,134 mm and a rated speed of 1,800 rpm.
As the predecessor of the Cropmaster, the VA range stood at the transition from pre-war to modern post-war farm machinery in Britain and competed with Fordson and the first Ferguson tractors; with this range David Brown established itself as an independent British tractor maker with growing export business.
Buying one of these early post-war models used, the condition and tightness of the diesel engine, rust on the bodywork and mudguards, and the condition of the clutch and gearbox, heavily strained in the simple mechanical designs of the time, all matter. Spare parts are available through specialist vintage-tractor dealers and clubs for historic David Brown machines.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: David Brown VA-Baureihe
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 35 hp (25.7 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 1,800 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 2,713 cm³correct |
| Bore | 92.2 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 101.6 mmcorrect |
| Compression ratio | 15.6correct |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 2,981 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,619 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,499 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 1,946 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 406 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,542 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 4 V/1 R or 6 V/2 Rcorrect |
| Front tyres | 6.00-19 ASFcorrect |
| Rear tyres | 11.00-28 AScorrect |
| Top speed | 30 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | frame constructioncorrect |
|---|---|
| Units built | 8,000correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 16.7 kW/t (26 kW / 1.5 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 21% of the tractors in the register — out of 15,663 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the David Brown VAD/1 C CROPMASTER have?
The David Brown VAD/1 C CROPMASTER delivers 35 hp.
How much does the David Brown VAD/1 C CROPMASTER weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,542 kg.
What engine does the David Brown VAD/1 C CROPMASTER have?
4 cylinders, 2,713 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the David Brown VAD/1 C CROPMASTER go?
Top speed is 30 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the David Brown VAD/1 C CROPMASTER?
2,981 mm × 1,619 mm × 1,499 mm.
When was the David Brown VAD/1 C CROPMASTER built?
Production years: 11/1949–02/1953.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Check front and rear tyre sizes: mismatched pairs strain the drivetrain.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- Load the hydraulics and watch for sag.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 23 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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Other models in this series
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