Don Brown showed off his Allis-Chalmers Roto-Baler in the March 2011 issue of Farm Collector. The Roto-Baler baled hay differently: using a series of belts, the baler rolled the hay into round bales that shed water and stayed usable for longer. And the bales were wrapped with twine instead of being tied, making them easier for livestock to break apart.

We found this video of a Roto-Baler at work – and it is mesmerizing.

Read more about the Allis Chalmers Model 10 Roto-Baler from Farm Collector:
• Allis-Chalmers Roto-Baler Launched New Approach
• Putting a Spin on Round Bales
 

 
Hull-Oakes Lumber Co. / Photo by Gary M. Katz 

Hull-Oakes Lumber Co. near Corvallis, Ore., operates the last industrial steam-powered sawmill in the country. Built in 1938 by Ralph Hull, this sawmill is one of the few capable of cutting the large timbers still used for railroad trestles, historic structures and ship masts. Carpenter Gary M. Katz visited the operation and wrote a fascinating blog about his visit that you should definitely check out.  

Here’s a video of the Hull-Oakes headsaw in action followed by a few links to Gas Engine Magazine articles related to steam-powered sawmills:

Read more articles related to steam-powered sawmills from Gas Engine Magazine:
• Rescuing an Old Sawmill
• Recreating Up-and-Down Sawmill History
• The History of the Linn Mfg. Co.  

As long as you're not driving in it or shoveling it, snow can be a lot of fun. And some of the most fun you can have in the snow is while riding a snowmobile.

With tractors, cars and motorcycles, nothing beats an old vintage beauty that runs well and looks great. So, it should come as no surprise that there are people who feel the same way about vintage snowmobiles.

The Waconia Ride-In is a annual vintage snowmobile snow hosted by Midwest Vintage Snowmobile Shows near Waconia, Minn. As explained on its website, "the Waconia Ride-In started out as the Vintage Snowmobile Club of America's Midwest Ride-in over 20 years ago. Today, it has grown to be the single largest and most comprehensive vintage snowmobile ride, show and swap in the world."

Here's a taste of what you can expect to see at the 2011 ride-in, Jan. 29-30:

Read more about antique snowmobiles in this article from Farm Collector: 
• Antique Snowmobiles Come Out of Retirement 

Readers of Gas Engine Magazine were first introduced to iron sculptor and blacksmith Joel Sanderson back in 2006, when Joel wrote a two-part article about adding a 15 HP Reid Type A gas engine to his blacksmith shop. He also checked in June 2009 with an article explaining how he made a versatile carburetor for the Reid.

For Joel, the 15 HP Reid isn’t just a novelty – his livelihood depends on it. As the bio on Joel’s website explains, “Joel has combined the most successful methods of the past with new inventive approaches for working iron, the most versatile of all material.”

Until Joel checks in with another update from his fascinating blacksmith shop, here are a few videos illustrating what Joel does followed by links to the articles he has submitted to Gas Engine Magazine:  

Read Joel's Gas Engine Magazine articles: 
• Running a Line Shaft with a 15 HP Reid Type A Gas Engine
• Tuning a 15 HP Reid Type A for Line Shaft Duty
• Making a Carburetor for an 1898 15 HP Reid Type A Gas Engine  

For more information about Joel and his work, visit his website.

Gas Engine Magazine subscriber Jeff Hyatt of Patterson, N.Y., recently sent us the link to this video produced by the Tilly Foster Farm Museum located in Brewster, N.Y. The farm is where the Putnam County Antique Machinery Assoc. holds its annual antique farm equipment show. In this video, Jeff, the PCAMA president, shows off some of the pieces that were on display at the 2009 show: