National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Golden Harvest
Two brothers went to mow – as agricultural labourers in Flintshire – and reckoned they could improve on the machinery used. Jones Balers Ltd and worldwide acclaim was the result.
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Overview
A success story from Mold. Self-taught mechanics/engineers, David and Glynne Jones, brothers who shared an agricultural labouring background in Flintshire, believed they could improve on the harvesting machinery in use on farms and set up a workshop at the old Rhosesmor Lead Works in the 1940s. Success following, they went on to open a purpose-built factory in Wrexham Road in 1958. The Broncoed Park Works produced machines that were acclaimed worldwide.
This film was produced c.1959 and the future was obviously thought to be rosy, with the unveiling of the Jones Balers Cruiser combine harvesters which had been 5 years in development. However, by 1962, the American company Allis-Chalmers had taken over the company, both brothers carrying on entreprenurially at Sealand Manor (Glynne farmed beef cattle, David established the North Wales Shooting School, both became international clay pigeon shooters). Ten years later the factory was sold to Bamfords of Uttoxeter which became part of Burgess, Europe's largest agricultural dealership. Burgess collapsed in 1980 and the Jones Balers plant closed in 1981 with the loss of 300 jobs.
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