1957 Ford Picker/Sheller Restored

By Jan Garber
Published on June 24, 2013
1 / 7
The 1958 Ford 861 LP before restoration.
The 1958 Ford 861 LP before restoration.
2 / 7
Jan Garber’s fully restored pair: a 1958 Ford 861 LP and 1957 Ford picker/sheller.
Jan Garber’s fully restored pair: a 1958 Ford 861 LP and 1957 Ford picker/sheller.
3 / 7
The Ford picker/sheller’s grain bin before restoration.
The Ford picker/sheller’s grain bin before restoration.
4 / 7
The grain sheller before restoration.
The grain sheller before restoration.
5 / 7
Side view of the dynamic duo.
Side view of the dynamic duo.
6 / 7
Although it looks a bit unwieldy, the picker/sheller is surprisingly easy to mount on the tractor.
Although it looks a bit unwieldy, the picker/sheller is surprisingly easy to mount on the tractor.
7 / 7
Rear view of the picker/sheller.
Rear view of the picker/sheller.

In 1973 I noticed a sale bill listing a Ford 1-row mounted picker/sheller. My granddad had farmed with Ford tractors, Dearborn row-crop implements and a Ford hay baler, but he used an International Harvester 2-row corn picker. Never having heard of such a machine, my curiosity was high, so I went to the auction preview. Yes indeed, I had to have this machine, as I had been picking corn with a 1-row New Idea and having shelled corn would save storage space.

I went to the auction and made the purchase for $35. With the help of an owner’s manual, I made necessary preparations to a Ford 4000 tractor for mounting and away I went on a 54-mile round trip. I could not believe how easy it was to mount this unit, although I did put the grain bin on the trailer. I got the picker/sheller home and greased it up and it ran with no problems. Then and only then did I discover the serial number: 1008. I knew then it was the eighth one made.

That fall I harvested my field corn and was totally surprised; rarely did I find any shelled corn on the ground. Then I put the unit to the true test and harvested popcorn. I was just as pleased. I sold the New Idea, as Ford had a better idea. Mounting the picker/sheller is a piece of cake compared to the cursed job of mounting Dad’s International 2-row picker on his Farmall M.

After the wheels are set out and the angle mounting hangers are installed with the fender bolts, it takes about 15 minutes to mount the three-point sheller; it takes about 30 minutes to mount the grain sheller with a mounting bracket. If the grain sheller is hanging (which is easiest), then you can drive under it and lower it into position.

Letting it go

In 1979 I sold all my farm equipment, including, reluctantly, the picker/sheller. The buyer only wanted the rubber snapping-roller to put on his picker. For years I tried to buy it back but he had to have it in his pasture, for a cattle rub I think. Eventually he died and I bought the piece back at his estate auction for $35 (without the owner’s manual). Thirty years in the pasture had aged the unit but I was bound and determined to restore this classic machine. This time I only had a 5-mile round trip to retrieve it.

Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-866-624-9388