Initially he walked behind it, but after he got ‘‘sick of walking’’ he added a seat.
The plough was so aged, there was no noticeable colour on it at the time.
It was on his parents’ property but hardly used until Mr Ford took up the mantle.
He didn’t know how old it was but it had been on his family farm for many years and was rusty 75 years ago.
So now, many years later, he has given it to the Mid Canterbury Vintage Machinery Club who were ‘‘glad to get it’’.
They in turn entrusted it to Ashburton Powder Coating’s Max Cawte for restoration.
‘‘I’m happy it’s been preserved. There’s not many of these things left ... the scrap heap was the other option,’’ Mr Ford said.
Mr Cawte, who volunteered his time to restore the piece, took a week to get it back up to scratch.
‘‘I’m pleased to be doing it for them,’’ he said, referring to club members.
A tricky issue was which colours to use on the vintage piece. Some red was found on the wheels once old grease had been removed.
Club president John Stewart said it was a generous donation to the club.
‘‘It’s too easy for people to send these things to the scrap yard now.’’
It was due to be mounted on a concrete pad at the front of the building at the Ashburton A&P Showgrounds, facing Seafield Rd.
Members liked having such an old plough and knowing its provenance further enhanced that.
Mr Ford, who lives at Dromore, is a regular at the club’s Tuesday morning gatherings and has not missed a ploughing competition in the district since the club started more than 35 years ago.
He did enter a ploughing competition once, but as he was only a starter he never did it again.
The plough was one of two Mr Ford had in his possession.
The other he has given to Clydesdale ploughman John Booth. He has also given a horse gig to Leeston Museum.
