After 135 years, Cliff and Bunting machines are still some of the highest quality agricultural implements in Australia; an attestation to their founding fathers.
The Firm Cliff & Bunting was established in 1887 by Harry Cliff and Jonathan Craven Bunting in North Melbourne. Harry and Jonathan were specialist manufacturers of chaff-cutters, corn-crushers, bag-fillers and horseworks, and by 1910 had emerged as Australia’s leading manufacturer of chaff-cutters.
In 1897, they released a “Reliance” model which set new industry standards as it featured interchangeable knife-wheels that allowed the machine to continue running all day without lengthy delays to re-sharpen knife blades or refit spare knife blades individually. An improved “New Reliance” model continued innovation within the industry and together with their “Champion” model, their reputation as manufacturers of reliable and versatile chaff cutters provided a tower of strength for the next 50 years.
Unfortunately, a decline in horse-drawn transport after the second world war led to a decline in demand for chaff, which saw the company produce their last chaff-cutting machine in 1955, but their innovative philosophy was unwavering.
They diversified; producing their own brand of small petrol and diesel engines, garden spray units, hay balers and power transformers under the ‘Trimax’ brand name. In later years they continued to expand into automatic pick-up balers, a self-typing mechanism for their balers and engine-functioned machines.
Today, the Cliff & Bunting brand name is still held in high esteem and spare parts continue to be manufactured by Dickens Engineers of Corowa in New South Wales. The longevity of the brand is an attestation to its durability, reliability and innovative qualities.
A Cliff & Bunting model “W” Chaffcutter which is a smaller version of the famous “Reliance” series, manufactured by Dickens Engineers, Corowa, NSW.