LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

I will be repainting a Hayes corn planter for a neighbor. I would like any information regarding the correct colors and paint scheme. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-John Thumma 15291 430th St. Laurens, IA 50554 (712)845 2224 e-mail: jthumma@ncn.net

A horse collar of a different color

I have a friend, Vic Weyers, who has collected pressed steel horse collars. Could any of your readers give us information about these collars? Does it also use a collar pad?

Any information would be appreciated.

– Don E. Foster 3942 P-10 Lane Paonia, CO 81428 (970)527-3696 e-mail: dfoster3@tds.net

A bright idea

Farm Collector magazine is the best.

This fall, we built a new cabin at our farm pond near northeast Iowa. We were looking for a different light to hang from the ceiling in the main part of the cabin. Then I read about Steve Weeber in the May 2003 article, ‘Hoistin’ Hay,’ and we had an idea. I found an old F.E. Meyers hay carrier and track in our old barn and an old, four-tine fork in my son’s barn. We used an angle ring, lights from a ceiling fan and built our one-of-a-kind light fixture.

– David Eibey 3042 110th Ave. Ryan, IA 52330

‘Fanning’ discussion continues

I own one of the miniature clipper fanning mills like the picture (Farm Collector, May 2004, page 4) of the one owned by Nello Mungar. While these may have been used as a salesman’s sample, that isn’t what they were used for in the Red Top growing area in southeastern Illinois.

The elevator bought Red Top seed to test the seed for impurities, such as chaff, and weed seed, such as sorrel (a fine red seed), and used these fanning mills. Red Top was discontinued 50 years ago. A seed dealer would have as many as six of these little mills setting around. They all had a clear, varnished finish, and the large clipper mills were red.

I also own a Maytag farming mill made in Newton, Iowa. I like your magazine very much. Sam Moore has some excellent stories.

– Herman Calvert 11886 E. 400th Ave. Newton, IL 62448

Mowing with a granddaddy

Mamie Davis Turchnik, Witt, III., gives us a look at what may be the granddaddy of the all power mowers. The picture was taken at Wrigley Field, Chicago, in 1931 or 1932.

What we seem to have is a reel mower and roller, powered by a single-cylinder, hit-and-miss engine. Eleven-year-old Mamie is modeling the machine. She lived adjacent to Wrigley Field and played there many times as a child.

‘One day the mower was just sitting there, and we decided to take a picture with me as a driver. I never drove it,’ Mamie says. It looks like it’s well built, requiring a rear caster wheel and seat cart. You didn’t dare let the grass get ahead of you with a reel mower or you would have to call in a horse-drawn sickle mower for taller grass.

– C F. Marley 26288 Oconee Ave. P.O. Box 93 Nokomis, IL 62075 (217)563-2588

IH plow from the rolling plains

This is some kind of International Harvester plow, which I found on the Texas rolling plains. The bearing has IH 1171 BA, and the wheel has IH PO 2136. I would like to know what model it is.

– Roland Gregersen Hollis, Okla. e-mail: rgregersen@pldi.net

Horse-powered corn grinder

We recently purchased a horse-powered corn grinder. Any information you could provide would be helpful. The top has Tiger No. 1 on it, also No. 18 on the legs, and two other parts have the No. 45 and No. 34. One horse going around it in a circle powers it. You have to add the hopper and the wooden parts for hooking up the horse.

Does anyone know of this model, how it originated or other information? Thank you so very much. We thoroughly enjoy Farm Collector magazine.

– Joe and Beverly Nikodim Route 1, Box 160 El Dorado Springs, MO 64744

Antique thresher needs good home

As resource conservationist with the Lake Soil & Water Conservation District, I manage to get in all sorts of interesting conversations. Recently, I learned our board chairman has in his possession a large, 16-foot, all-wood thresher built in Pottstown, Pa., in the early 1930s. He’s considering donating the thresher for public display. Can anyone suggest possible recipients, preferably in the northeast area?

Thanks for any assistance provided.

– Lloyd Jenny Resource Conservationist Lake Soil & Water Conservation District 1725 David Walker Drive, Suite C Tavares, FL 32778 (352) 343-2481, ext. 6 e-mail: lloyd.tenny@fl.usda.gov

Kansas connection?

I purchased a farm implement toolbox with the letters ‘C.S.&A.’ recently. Could anyone please tell me what implement company this stands for? I was told it might’ve come from a company in Kansas.

I enjoy reading Farm Collector and look forward to every issue.

– Ralph Bucher 23 Township Line Road Schwenksville, PA 19473 (610)287-9353

Baffled by vintage plate

I bought this license plate from a private individual near Blue Rapids, Kan., and was curious if any reader could help me learn more about its origin. The tag says ‘KU,’ and I’m wondering if the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., used it?

I collect vintage car license tags and have 60,000 in my collection from across the world, including Rome, Italy, Hobart, Tasmania and mainland Australia. Yet, I can’t figure out where this plate came from. Any help or information would be appreciated.

– Dale Luttig 9565 Highway 63 Emmett, KS 66422 (785)535-2610

Rangers stumped by find

I am a park ranger at Mirror Lake State Park in Baraboo, Wis. Approximately five years ago, the item pictured was found on the edge of our lake in the mud. We hung the item up on our office wall asking for help in identifying it. After five years and thousands of visitors, we still do not have an answer. We have written to the local state historical society and national park service without success. We have visitors who come to the park just to see if the object has been identified yet!

A recent camper who is an avid reader of Farm Collector guaranteed us that you could find us an answer. If you could help, the visitors and staff at Mirror Lake would be extremely appreciative.

– Jennifer Hudson Mirror Lake State Park El 0320 Fern Dell Road Baraboo, WI 53913 e-mail: Jennifer. hudsonstanek@dnr.state.wi.us

Weighing down the windmill

I came up with an idea that I would like to share with the Farm Collector readers.

I have noticed many of the ornamental windmills, seen in yards and gardens, shake and rattle in high winds due to an unbalanced wheel. The windmill I purchased had the same problem. I found a simple method to overcome this out-of-balance condition.

I took a small lead wheel weight used to balance automobile wheels, cut a groove lengthwise into the side of the weight, the size of the outer wire brace ring on the wheel and a bit deeper than the diameter of the ring. Place a piece of tape on the wheel blade that stops on the bottom each time, to identify the heavy side of the wheel. Tape the lead weight to the ring, 180 degrees across the wheel. Trim the weight a little at a time, until the wheel stops turning at a different place each time. Then crimp the lead weight groove closed around the wheel ring. I placed the crimp on the outer side, so that centrifugal force doesn’t tend to loosen the weight.

The above modification has changed a shaking, noisy windmill into a very smooth-running windmill in windy conditions, and the wheel turns in the most gentle breeze. The small weight is behind a blade where it is unseen unless looked for. Have fun.

I hope this might stir up some action. It bugs me no end to see machines that are not working up to their designed potential due to inattention to detail by the manufacturer to save money.

– Ralph R. Look 8006 Watson Lane Wichita, KS 67207