We so enjoy your magazine – Farm Collector. The reason for this letter is the cartoon drawing on page 2, February 2004 Farm Collector. The one-room school I went to wasn’t as fancy as the one in the picture, but still it brought back pleasant memories. That is the way my girlfriend Shirley and I traveled to and from school during bad weather. We would hide beneath old quilts. That would have been my grandfather driving the team, wearing a raccoon skin coat, with icicles hanging from his mustache.
What will the kids of today have for memories – the time the school bus had a flat tire?
Is there a way to get a print of the drawing that’s suitable for framing? I am sure this won’t be the only letter you will get regarding this. Thank you for a wonderful magazine.
– Elaine Kes 4230 140th St. N.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372
Editor’s note: For information on ordering reprints from Memories of a Former Kid, contact: MugWump Marketing, 11152 Base Line Road, Dundas, MN 55019; (507) 645-7999.
Horse-drawn combine question
Were horse-drawn combines ever used in the wheat belt of the central U.S.? If so, are there any replicas in museums or private collector displays in Kansas?
I’d like very much to see one if it’s available for public viewing. Also, does anyone know the amount of manpower needed to feed, water, harness and hitch the horses or mules to the combines? How many men did it take to operate the combines?
I look forward to receiving and reading your magazine each month. I’d appreciate receiving any information you can provide on these combines and teams.
– Dwight L Mott 10954 W. Exposition Place Lakewood, CO 80226 (303) 985-9337
Garnering a grain elevator
I found this old grain elevator in Washington state wheat country and need help identifying it so I can restore it. There is no name or logo located on any of the parts, but the steel-and-wood-rein-forced elevator is 20 feet long, including a 4-foot broken-off section.
It is 8 inches wide inside with a flat chain and rectangular paddles. The hinged dump chute is 6 feet long with a 7-inch-diameter auger. The auger feeds the elevator section from the side. It has 22-inch-diameter steel wheels and an all-wood frame. It is 80 inches long wheel-to-wheel with 57-inch-wide wood axles with bolt-on cast wheel spindles. The front axle pivots for steering. Elevation adjustment is with a hand crank, and the worm drive works with a cable drum. There are no parts or bolt holes to indicate it was self-powered. Most of the casting numbers start with a ‘C.’ Remnants of weathered reddish color are found between the wood frame-butted joints upon disassembly.
I received an Internet response from a North Dakota museum historian who sent a photo showing nearly an identical elevator powered by a horse power sweep with a tumbler rod. This would agree with the input shaft on mine. I also need information on horse power sweep-type drives.
– Joe Scott 25209 45th Place S. Kent, WA 98032 e-mail: tractormanwa@aol.com
Hooked on walking plow mystery
Can anyone tell me what the iron hooks are used for on my old walking plow? I have seen them on a lot of old walking plows, but no one seems able to tell me how they were used.
– Ed Sindt 1123 Indian Ave. Rock Rapids, IA 51246
Handy dandy pocket companions
I have a large collection of old plows and planters, and I really enjoy reading your magazine. I really do like the ‘What-is-it’ page you have every time. Plus, I just finished reading the John Deere article.
I have a little book called The Farmer’s Pocket Companion. It is the ninth annual edition, and it says it was issued annually to the farmers of the southwest. It is dated 1878 and also has a John Deere picture on the cover.
I have had different people look at the book, but no one seems to know anything about it or its value, if any. If you have any suggestions on whom to write or know anything about it, would you please let me know? It has all kinds of plows and planters for sale with prices. Thank you and keep up the good work.
– Marty Moore 7 56 County Road 269 McCaskill, AR 71847 (870) 874-3370
Editor’s note: See the September 2002 issue of John Deere TRADITION for information on pocket ledgers.
In search of fruitful info
I have a Whitman’s apple/fruit press, which required the wooden frame and wooden parts to be totally rebuilt. While doing the woodwork, I had the metal parts sandblasted and repainted. On the press it says ‘Circa 1872.’ Can you tell me where the press was made and how I can find out the correct colors/finishing of the press? Thank you in advance.
– Russell Gleason Lakewood, Colo. e-mail: russell.gleason@comcast.net
Super H Farmall riding the check rows
I received the January 2003 issue of Farm Collector in the mail today, thank you very much.
I read with interest the article by Sam Moore on checking corn. The farmer I worked for as a teenager checked just one field of corn in the five years I worked for him. At the time, he had just bought 40 acres of land that had not been taken care of. It had lots of weeds, so he checked the whole thing in corn. He told me that the fellow who started to stretch the wire in a field had to do the whole thing. He claimed that no two people could stretch that wire in the same way. This was in 1953, and he had just bought a new Super H Farmall. That tractor was used to cross-cultivate those 40 acres of corn. His son did the cultivating. I think he almost got seasick from riding up and down over the rows. The governor on the H sure got a workout.
– Dal Wolf Naples, Fla. e-mail: dalsfarmallsf12@yahoo.com
An Oliver original
I have a two-bottom gang plow I am restoring, and I need some information. I think this plow is an Oliver No. 7 gang plow that Oliver made to use with Fordson tractors. I would appreciate a positive identification of the plow and the original paint colors.
If someone could help me with this I would appreciate it very much.
– Boyd Silsby R.R. 1, Box 101 Mankato, KS 66956
Two-for-one planter
I have a seed planter as pictured on page 5 of the February 2004 issue. It’s still painted the original green color, only mine differs in that it has braces to support the two hand grips.
Many years ago, I was told you could plant corn and beans at once in the same disc so a vine-type bean can grow up the corn stalk. Someone in the past has penciled fertilizer on the larger canister so both ideas are possible.
I have six of these old hand planters, but only one of this type. I have a miscellaneous collection of old tools, blowtorches, John Deere tractors and farm tools. I thought I would add my 2 cents.
– Bob Spear 2461 Lappin Lane Council, ID 83612 (208)253-6451
Old Mr. Potato planter
I subscribe to your magazine and enjoy reading about vintage farm equipment. I own two old John Deeres, but I like restoring old implements. My current project is an old John Deere cylinder bar rake hay loader. Last summer I picked up an old potato planter for a future project, but I don’t know anything about it. I was surprised to see one like my potato planter on page 4 of the February 2004 Farm Collector, however.
I would like to find out what make, year and color it is supposed to be. Any information would be helpful. Mine is identical to the one on page 4, except it has an oval hoop to hold the seed bags and is original.
– Chuck Farris 675 E. Spear Road Columbia City, IN 46725
