Practically Classics Forum

ebay seller wrote: Hello everyone,
Welcome to my auction for some original, un-restored genuine vintage "Barn Find" hay. I realise it sounds unbelievable, but it was found midst the usual winter stock piles of Vincent black shadows, Brough Superiors, Nortons and the ubiquitous E Types and Astons etc..I mean....who would think of stowing hay in a barn?
I spotted this little jewel hidden behind a forgotten loosely packed and well rotted row of Black Lightnings (who doesn't have a few of those in their barn!).
I've advertised this item on a worldwide listing, even though I'm not sure if like farmers here in the UK, US farmers were ever given government grants in the 30's, 40's and 50's to store millions of rare and exotic motor vehicles, for this was the main reason why this little beauty lay un-noticed for so long (I think you'll agree, a rare beast indeed).
This small pile of hay is clearly marked with a pre production prototype "Cereal" prefix (I had to contact "Country file" to verify this) and I've just been informed this morning by a very enthusiastic and excited "Classic Farmer Magazine" editor, that it could even have been harvested in the early 1960's by the great "Mike Balewood" himself and if so, is possibly a heap of factory "Works Hay!" Of course the auction starting price will reflect this.
I feel I must apologise for the poor photographs, but I had to Stihl saw through a heap of Matchless G45 and G 50 matching engines and frames and ended up holding the camera out at full arms length with an old Guzzi v8 engine block digging into my shoulder (I had to smash it with a chisel) and an ex Duke Manx Norton hanging precariously by its camshaft 15 feet above my head, but I managed to rip it down using an old motorcycle frame labelled "Rex McCandless No 1 (I chopped it up and used it as a grapple hook).
I must strongly emphasize that this is a working farm and as a consequence there will be numerous exotic cars and motorcycles constantly moving about the property, so large scale manoeuvring of old ripped tarpaulins and heavy spraying of thick white dust and debris for the future is constantly in progress. Farms are dangerous working environments! so please beware.
I'll be only too happy to answer any questions, but only bidders with a score of over 1,000,000 will be considered and the item must be collected within 1 minute of the auction ending. Time wasters WILL be reported to ebay!.
I can supply more detailed pics if needed. Happy bidding.
I've just been informed by a knowledgeable ebay viewer, that this is the early "wideline" and not the later "slimline" hay, I hope this helps anyone interested.
In answer to Dave, who just asked the question......"Would it be a spring Plunger hay, or late summer swinging arm variety?" Neither Dave, it's the mid summer sprung hub type. sorry, I forgot to click on the "Make questions public" link.