AN old tractor that stayed on the family farm in West Somerset where it was delivered as new in 1945 is to be star of the show when it goes on sale at a major vintage machinery auction next month.

The 1939 Marshall Model M was this week taken from the farm of Anthony Case in Withycombe up to Cambridgeshire, moving away for the first time after being ordered by his grandfather Edgar in 1939.

The new tractor could not be delivered until 1945 once World War Two was over – and it stayed on the farm ever since, predating farmer Anthony’s arrival in 1948.

It cost £643 at the time and now it is expected to fetch between £18,000 - £20,000 as a top collector’s item at the July Vintage Sale of leading vintage machinery auctioneers Cheffins, on July 15 at Sutton, near Ely.

Buyers from all over the UK, Ireland and Europe are expected to travel long distances for the sale, the auctioneers said.

“That model is a sought after collector’s tractor - it’s a star,” said Jeremy Curzon, a director of Cheffins.

“You don’t see it often and it has impeccable provenance having been with the same family from brand new to the present day.

“It’s never been restored so is not spoiled – it’s in its original working clothes and has such a well documented history,” he said.

The tractor is being sold along with letters charting the history of the sale and dating back to 1938, showing the original request for information and a catalogue from makers Marshall and Sons and Co Ltd, to correspondence with supplying agents Geo Thurlow and Sons.

In February 1939 the Cases were told the tractor could be delivered at fairly short notice – but as things turned out, it did not happen until 1945, following the end of the war.

“Imagine explaining these days why they could not have their tractor for six years,” said Mr Curzon.

He said there were many letters from the maker and from the supplier in Cambridgeshire, in beautiful old prose full of the language of the time with phrases like ‘humbly’ and ‘obedient servants’.

“To have kept every letter about it is absolutely fantastic – it gives the full ownership story. Ultimately we are all custodians of these things, and whoever has it becomes a part of this history,” he said.

He said the tractor had been brought up to the sale at Sutton on a lorry, which was how it had been delivered originally.

“The company wrote they had hoped to deliver it by rail but it was not possible as the railway was closed, so they were investigating sending a lorry for it – which was quite an adventure in those days,” he said.

For the family the tractor had a certain sentimental value, said Caroline Case, who runs Withycombe Farm farm with her husband Anthony.

“But while there was a certain sadness to see it go, there was also a healthy dose of realism,” she said.

“It was used in Anthony’s grandfather’s time but has sat in a shed for many years.

“Anthony is 69 and there are no children to pass it on to. I’m 60, and we thought it’s a sensible time to realise what is our pension,” said Caroline.

The couple farm arable crops, beef and sheep.

“We are still very much farming and we have no plans to retire,” she said.