Born In London, the son of a successful builder and developer, Mike Thorne gravitated to agriculture in his teens and soon became familiar with the tractors then used on the land, having a particular admiration for the revolutionary grey Ferguson, with its unique three-point hydraulic linkage for mounting machinery. At this time he also, if asked, would construct modest buildings for local farmers, and this activity grew from being a sideline into a major business, involving large industrial buildings as well as ones for agricultural use. In the 1980s his love of tractors moved him to start acquiring examples of many makes, and over time he bought more than 100, before a change of direction saw him reduce the collection to only Ferguson and Massey Ferguson models, to house which he designed and constructed a fascinating pair of showrooms, open to the public by appointment and well known to tractor enthusiasts. In this book he writes about all the tractors he has owned, making an absorbing account of a great passion, with nearly all the tractors illustrated. He has written three books on Ferguson and Massey Ferguson tractors for Herridge & Sons, all of them now standard works.

Launched in 1958, as the successor to the ubiquitous Ferguson TE20, the Massey-Ferguson 35 was a product of the merger of Massey-Harris and Ferguson. It incorporated numerous improvements and new features and became massively popular worldwide. Its companion, the 65 model, was introduced shortly afterwards and was a larger tractor, offered with the revolutionary Multi Power system that gave 12 forward and four reverse gears. Durable and versatile, these tractors are still a practical proposition today, and even unrestored examples command high prices. Michael Thorne, author of Ferguson TE20 in Detail (2006; ISBN 978 0954998 13 4), continues the story as he describes the development of these models, the production versions and their capabilities, options and extras, conversions, implements and their use today.

Harry Ferguson was a remarkable inventor and a man of vision. Aside from his innovations in mechanized agriculture he designed a four-wheel drive system for road cars and created inspired design solutions to a wealth of engineering problems. Yet he is best remembered for the small, unobtrusive gray tractor that bears his name. Launched in the late 1940s, it rendered its competitors obsolete and provided farmers with a tool that could meet almost all their requirements. The book starts with Harry Ferguson]s early work on tractors and his development of the system, and his collaboration with Ford in the USA on the development of the Ford 9N tractor. Then comes an in-depth study of the TE20. Later chapters cover the TVO- and diesel-powered versions, American- and French-built Fergusons, industrial models, special-purpose variants, and conversions including four-wheel-drive and high-clearance models. There is an extensive study of the extraordinary range of implements available, with information also on tractor options and accessories.

Following his well-received books in the `In Detail' series on the Ferguson TE20 and the Massey Ferguson 35 & 65 models, Michael Thorne, founder of the Coldridge Collection, which houses a host of examples of Ferguson and Massey Ferguson tractors. turns his attention to the outstandingly successful and well-loved 100 Series of tractors, of which the 135 and 165 were the best sellers, with half a million and 98,000 built respectively. In this book he tells the story of the development of the new range from the previous 35 and 65, and then gives detailed descriptions and assessments of the important 130, 135, 148 Super Spec, 165, 168, 175 (the largest tractor), 178, 185 and 188 Super Spec models. These chapters are followed by others on Implements, Conversions & Accessories, the 100 Series Overseas, and the tractors in use today.

Something is awakening... An ancient evil. An opportunistic swordswoman. An unspeakable treasure. A dedicated priestess. When the Tomb of Izrabol the Vile is unearthed, every would-be treasure seeker in Tahlverden descends on the small village of Athaton in search of it. But more than treasure is buried in the tomb. There is a reason it has remained sealed for millenia...the Corruption Six strangers are all that stand between the world of Tahlverden and one of the greatest evils to ever exist A sword & sorcery tale of greed, gluttony, and lust from the author of The Relentless Ones