Custom harvesters telling tales
My hometown is Stockton, the original Breadbasket of California. We have thousands upon thousands of acres of grain-growing land, from the flat Central Valley floor to the gentle hills to the west.
My father worked many years at a farm machinery repair and parts house. Two of his customers – Ray Dorado and Bruno Simi – became good friends of our family. Together they owned the largest custom grain harvesting outfit in a six-county area.
These two had some funny stories to tell. One involved Bruno and a custom harvester conference. During the conference, they showed an old film with actor Dennis Weaver as the owner of a harvesting outfit. Bruno mentioned he’d never run green and yellow machines as were featured in the movie. Since the beginning of his business, all he owned were big red Massey combines. A guy nearby turned to Bruno, pointed at the screen and said, “Oh, by the way, that’s my outfit.” Our friend got up slowly and walked out.
Ray told us a story involving their largest customer. This grower had ag experts on the payroll. One day the customer asked Ray if they would harvest his fields if he planted barley. Ray told him that, as far as he knew, nobody had succeeded in growing it. The customer was adamant that he would follow his experts’ advice. Ray said he would try it, if the customer bought the correct combine head. Having consulted another grower who had tried planting barley earlier, Ray again warned the customer that the barley heads would fall apart.
At harvest time, with the special head, the harvest began. After the first row, it was evident the harvester was doing a great job of planting the barley seeds for the next year. Ninety percent of the grain didn’t even make it to the hopper, let alone the bank-out wagon. That head was rusting away in their yard when they closed the outfit 15 years later.
Just thought you’d enjoy a few stories from the past.
Andy Hastings,
Stockton, California
Signed by the president, no less
I came upon this letter and bill of lading while sifting through old family memorabilia. I was unable to find an address for the William Galloway & Sons Co., but from what I am able to find online, the company is no longer in existence. I am sending these on to your magazine. I thought you might enjoy them. The name should actually be Rudolph Schemm. He was my great-uncle.
Renee Marsrow,
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Reader recommendation for new book
In the August 2022 edition of Farm Collector magazine, two articles really caught my eye. One began: “Ten Inventions that Changed the Face of Agriculture in America” by Sam Moore, and the other, “Legendary Tractor Builders” by Lee Klancher. Readers who enjoyed those articles would really enjoy reading the book Tractor Wars by Neil Dahlstrom. It featured the 20-year period that introduced power farming.
Loren Terlisner,
10419 Borgert Ave.,
Saint Cloud, MN 56303
Editor’s note: Thanks for the tip, Loren! Tractor Wars is available for purchase at the Farm Collector store.
The Sears corn disc cultivator – better known as a “go-devil”
After seeing the letter to the editor about a go-devil (Farm Collector, June 2022), I was reminded of this advertisement for a Kenwood listed corn disc cultivator (commonly known as “go-devil”) in a 1909 Sears, Roebuck & Co. Consumers Guide:
“A first-class simple, substantial and useful tool for the first cultivation of listed corn. Has solidly made runners that will wear indefinitely. Seat is conveniently placed with operating lever at the side of the drive. With this lever, the cultivating discs can be set at any desired depth or raised clear of the ground. Adjusts up and down, also right and left to any angle.
“Discs are steel, graduated in diameter from 10 to 12 inches and run on a steel shaft. They can be set with the small disc next to or away from the corn, and at different angles to the ground. The shields prevent the earth from covering up the corn plants and can be raised or lowered by a chain connected with the rear arch and may or may not be used, as desired. They always lift with the raising of the discs. Shipped knocked down from factory in western Missouri.” The piece weighed 145 lbs. and sold for $9.98.
Russell Wyatt,
Hot Springs, South Dakota
Send letters to:
Farm Collector Editorial
1503 SW 42nd St.
Topeka, KS 66609;
fax: (785) 274-4385;
email or online.
