Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
British Collector
BUILDS A TRACTOR
COLLECTION AROUND
American
Heritage
Display until December 11, 2017
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CATERPILLAR
BECOME A TWENTY-FIVE
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•
1:16 Scale
Operable engine side panels
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Metal canopy
On the cover:
Ben Hughes’
34
McCormick-Deering
W-4 is part of his 22
tightly focused
collection of
American-made
classics.
– Submitted photo.
First Things
Richard Backus
Leslie C. McManus
Editor-in-Chief
Senior Editor
Numbers tell stories
I
Landon Hall Managing Editor
Arthur Hur Associate Editor/Online n this issue of Farm Collector, Del- City – where my grandparents then
Karen Rooman Art Director bert Trew reflects on the stories told lived. That first outbreak, in March
Terry Price Prepress by a ranch ledger book covering 1918, was fairly short-lived and con-
Kirsten Martinez Prepress 1947-57. Through little more than tained to the fort. But with World War
Anita Fisher Advertising Coordinator numbers, the ledger quietly reports a I troop movements all over the globe,
life-changing event on the ranch – but the virus returned to Kansas that fall
Web and Digital Content no spoiler here! You can read about it with a vengeance and spread rapidly,
Kristin Dean Digital Strategist on Page 40. resulting in hundreds of deaths.
Kellsey Trimble Digital Content Manager Other numbers in the ledger tell the As an educator, my grandfather
Convergent Media story of good years and bad. But it takes spent his workdays surrounded by stu-
Josh Brewer, Editor jbrewer@ogdenpubs.com a bit of reading between dents, teachers and staff,
the lines: The reader is left and exposure to the rap-
Display Advertising to imagine how bad, how idly spreading contagion
(800) 678-5779; adinfo@ogdenpubs.com good, how hot, how dry. was inevitable. I grew up
Classified Advertising Among my dearest fam- hearing stories about how
(866) 848-5346; fcmclassifieds@ogdenpubs.com ily heirlooms are two led- he nearly died from influ-
ger books maintained by enza. His ledgers tell the
Newsstand: Bob Cucciniello; (785) 274-4401 my grandfather from 1913- story. In October 1918,
Customer Care: (866) 624-9388 1923. The ledgers account during the worst of the
for what appears to be al- epidemic in Kansas, after
most every purchase, with a period of three weeks
tallies for daily totals, for without a single entry in
“Mr.,” “Mrs.,” and each of my grandfather’s column,
two children (the firstborn’s comes this: “$10, doctor.”
Bill Uhler Publisher account opens with an entry for “hos- At the time when a doctor’s visit cost
Oscar H. Will, III Editorial Director pital and doctor”; apparently the sec- $10, toothpaste sold for 30 cents. The
Cherilyn Olmsted Circulation & ond was born at home). telephone bill was $1.20. Some quan-
Marketing Director The ledgers contained monthly and tity of steak was bought for 40 cents;
Bob Cucciniello Newsstand & annual summaries, summaries by cat- liver for 20 cents. During my grandfa-
Production Director egory and – even though this family ther’s illness, there were several pur-
Bob Legault Sales Director of four lived in town – summaries for chases of broth. Following payment
Carolyn Lang Group Art Director poultry accounts, including egg pro- of the doctor’s bill, my grandfather
Andrew Perkins Merchandise & duction, chickens and eggs consumed, splurged on a 55-cent haircut, his first
Event Director feed and straw accounts, egg sale rev- in a month. Numbers tell stories – in
Information enues and equipment expenditures. this case, a story of survival. FC
Tim Swietek
Technology Director Numbers tell stories. The deadly
Spanish flu epidemic of 1918-19,
Ross Hammond Finance &
Accounting Director which caused 15-30 million deaths
worldwide, is traced to Ft. Riley, Kan- Leslie C. McManus
Farm Collector ISSN 1522-3523 December 2017, sas, situated near the town of Junction LMcManus@ogdenpubs.com
Vol. 20, Issue #5 is published monthly by Ogden
Publications Inc., 1503 SW 42nd St., Topeka, KS
66609 by Ogden Publications, Inc., 1503 SW 42nd Memories Of A Former Kid®
St., Topeka, KS 66609-1265. Periodicals Postage
Paid at Topeka, KS and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Ogden
Publications, Inc., 1503 SW 42nd St., Topeka, KS
66609-1265.
For subscription inquiries call (866) 624-9388.
Outside the U.S. and Canada, call (785) 274-
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Subscribers: If the Post Office alerts us that your
magazine is undeliverable, we have no further
obligation unless we receive a corrected address
within two years.
© 2017 Ogden Publications Inc. Printed in the U.S.A.
Back of
Fleece
Side
Iconic International
Harvester Logo Path on
Front Pocket of Both Sides
WANTED:
T
he genius of pioneer inventors can confound us.
Countless contraptions that revolutionized farming
in the 19th and early 20th centuries have become
& CONTRAPTIONS
Answers to the December 2017 items will appear in the February 2018 issue.
Answers for new items in this issue must be received by Dec. 8, 2017.
To submit photos:
E. F. Send prints to Farm Collector, 1503 SW 42nd St.,
Topeka, KS 66609. Send digital images to
editor@farmcollector.com.
• Photos should be taken in a well-lit area against a plain
background. Include dimensions and any markings on
the piece. We cannot guarantee every photo will be
published, nor can we respond to inquiries regarding
when photos will be published. No photos will be
returned.
• Digital photos should be sent as .jpgs at a minimum of
300 dpi.
To identify an item:
Send answers (with your name and address) to Farm
Collector, 1503 SW 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609. Email
responses may be sent to editor@farmcollector.com.
Answers for new items shown in this issue must
be received by Dec. 8, 2017.
THE ENDURING
Corliss steam engine
I
n my travels to various steam shows over
the past 25 or 30 years, I’ve often seen
large stationary steam engines (usually
at shows that have their own permanent
grounds) with the name “Corliss” on them.
I never thought much about what that name meant until
Farm Collector Editor Leslie C. McManus asked me about it.
There’s a very good reason so many engines made by various
manufacturers bear the name Corliss tacked on behind the valves separately from each other, unlike the common slide
builder’s name, and it’s an interesting story. valves in use at the time. His variable valves reduced wasted
George Henry Corliss was born in Easton, New York, on heat and allowed the engine to operate with more uniform
June 2, 1817. His father was a doctor and moved the family motion, while lowering fuel costs. By 1848, Corliss had be-
to Greenwich, New York, where George attended school and come a partner in the firm and felt the improved engine was
then worked as a clerk in a cotton factory before going to ready for prime time, so manufacture of what was to evolve
Castleton Academy in Vermont for three years. In 1838 he into the Corliss engine began.
opened a general store in Greenwich.
Corliss found himself more and more interested in solv- Equipping the Monitor for battle
ing mechanical problems and invented a machine to sew In 1857 the engine had become so popular that the com-
leather shoes and harness, although he had no money to de- pany was renamed Corliss Steam Engine Co., although
velop his invention. Undeterred, Corliss, who had also been George continued to refine his engine. By 1859, all of the
thinking about the inefficiency of the steam engines of the key features of the Corliss engines we see today were in
day, moved to Providence, Rhode Island, in 1844 and went place.
to work as a draftsman for Bancroft, Nightingale & Co., a In 1862 the famous Union warship, the U.S.S. Monitor,
manufacturer of steam engines and boilers. was being built at the Brooklyn Navy Yard according to the
There he developed rotary intake and exhaust valves designs of John Ericsson, and it was found that none of the
that could be set to operate variably and allowed steam to New York factories had the ability to machine the large ring
quickly pressurize a piston, moving it back and forth before bearing upon which the Monitor’s gun turret was to revolve.
the steam could condense. He also created a governor-con- However, the Corliss shop did, so the ring was transport-
trolled wrist plate that would control the steam and exhaust ed by rail to Providence, where it was finished in a single
Left: A factory drawing showing the adjustable rods and wrist plate of a Corliss
valve gear. The eccentric rod H from an eccentric on the engine crankshaft
provides a continuous oscillating motion to the wrist plate E. The steam rods
L and M trip the steam valves C and D in turn, at a point determined by the
governor cam rods A and B, while closing the opposite exhaust valves F and
G by exhaust rods N and O. As each steam valve is tripped, it is quickly closed
by weights on the dash-pot rods J and K and their associated dash-pots to
cushion the shock. In case the governor belt should break, potentially causing
a runaway and a wrecked engine, the governor mechanism closes both steam
valves, stopping the engine. From Appleton’s 1885 Cyclopaedia of Applied
Mechanics.
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G
Article and photos by Bill Vossler
1
Farm Collector
Once George had the tractor back on his “Glass bubbles are hollow, strong but light- 1. The grille on
farm near Hastings, Minnesota, he realized the weight spheres. They range from about 2 George Heinrich’s
amount of work he would have to do to get it microns to 10 microns in diameter. A strand 1960 Ford 641-L
in running shape. “It was rusty and had been of human hair is about 10 microns in diam- Workmaster tractor
sitting outside for years, and had water in the eter.” shows the painstaking
crankcase,” he says. “The propane system was So he chipped away at the tractor resto- work that the owner
in pretty bad shape, although the engine was ration. First, he split the 641 to change the put into restoring it.
free and would run. So I cleaned up the engine starter ring gear on the flywheel and inspect
on the outside and took care of a lot of the rust, the clutch. The clutch worked well and was 2. View of the
as well as some bodywork.” Starting in 2015, it in good condition. “The front oil seal on the operator’s area
took him about two years to get it completely crankshaft was leaking, so I replaced that,” on the Ford 641-L
restored. he says, “and because the engine had a little Workmaster.
bit of water in it, I drained the oil and put
Restoration underway new oil in. Then I cleaned the outside of the 3. George Heinrich.
Having grown up on a farm and farming engine.”
with his brother all his life, George figured he’d He wasn’t worried about water in the pro- 4. George’s
be able to get the tractor back into good shape. pane, as that fuel in the tank is always under Workmaster tractor
He had plenty of experience from previous pressure, with no chance of water or any- was in rough shape
projects, including Ford tractors. Time was the thing else getting into the system. But the when he got it – but
bigger issue: He was still working full time as propane regulator was worn and needed a it would start and
a lab technician at 3M in St. Paul, Minnesota. lot of work, so he consulted a propane dis- run.
“I worked on various things there, including tributor, who suggested replacement of the
glass bubbles to be used in body fillers, as well regulator with a modern unit from a forklift 5. This view of
as paint, cosmetics and explosives,” he says. truck. “I put that in, and it works really nice. George’s Workmaster
tractor helps show
how well it was
painted using the
“rattle-can” method.
5
Left: Cold winter
temperatures would make
an LP tractor like George’s
impractical in northern
climes.
Propane pros and cons For more information: George Heinrich, 525 E. Minnesota
A unit of propane does not contain as much energy as the 17th St., Hastings, MN 55033.
same amount of gasoline, although propane is less expen- Bill Vossler is a freelance writer and author of
sive than gasoline, George says. He’s also found that starting several books on antique farm tractors and toys. Hastings
a propane tractor is less of a problem than starting some Contact him at Box 372, 400 Caroline Ln., Rockville, ✭
gasoline tractors. MN 56369; email: wdvossler@outlook.com.
“When you start the propane tractor, you choke it and
as soon as it starts, it keeps running and never misfires,” he
says. “It acts like a diesel, no hesitation at all. Power-wise
the propane might be just a little less, but it‘s not much. I
put the 641 on the dynamometer and found it had 32 hp,
while with a gasoline tractor it‘s 33 or 34 hp, so not much
difference.” Propane is a very clean fuel, so the oil in the
crankcase stays clean.
After acquiring the 641 in 2015, George took the unre-
stored tractor to the Rice County Steam & Gas Engine Show
in Minnesota, and got a few comments from show visitors.
Since then, after a complete restoration, he gets a lot more.
“Most people aren’t too aware of the differences between
the 641 and other tractors, even though the propane tank
on top is quite obvious,” he says. “Most people don’t realize
how rare a tractor this is. Minneapolis-Moline was a propo-
nent of propane tractors, and John Deere and International
had a few, but Ford had very, very few. More than anything,
it was that rarity that caught my eye. I just have it for show
and to run it in parades.“
877-530-4430
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RMB-CIH HDMB-JDRUNS
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J oin Farm Collector Editor Leslie McManus on a 10-day coach tour operated power
of England, Wales and Ireland! All accommodations are arranged gun - Preferred
by Restorers
for your convenience: Just pack a bag and grab a camera, and prepare
for the trip of a lifetime!
Spend two terrific days at the
Removes
50th Annual Great Dorset rust &
Steam Fair! Take in the world’s paint
64-1/2"
largest display of steam and FAST
vintage equipment: traction
engines, tractors, farm machinery,
classic cars, demonstrations!
British collector
builds a tractor collection around
American heritage
B
en Hughes of Cheshire, England, works as
a quantity surveyor for oil cargoes. In his
3
free time, he tinkers with old tractors and
attends vintage shows.
1
Ben has been a fan of old tractors since an early age. As a 4
young lad, he and his father used to tinker with a Fordson
E27N that they named Trevor. However, Trevor was high-
ly unreliable and in dire need of restoration, so the father
and son sold him. Since then, Ben’s eye has been caught by of recently imported machines for sale. Lyn’s place is a para-
slightly more exotic tractors, namely those hailing from the dise for any local fan of American tractors. Ben is frequently
U.S. and Canada. They might be commonplace to you folks, in contact with Lyn, and just as often tempted by many of
but to us, they are exotic! the exciting finds Lyn has tracked down and imported.
Ben’s tractor collection is a work in progress. If he’s owned
Doing his homework a certain tractor for a time and feels he’s had his fun with
These days there is a definite theme to Ben’s tractor col- it, he will look for something to replace it with. Recently he
lection. He has a real passion for old American tractors, par- sold a couple of Farmall tractors in order to make space for a
ticularly those dating to the 1940s and ’50s. As he is always couple of Cockshutt tractors, as they are a bit more unusual
on the lookout for something different to add, his collection here in the U.K.
is constantly evolving.
“When it comes to tractors, I like the thrill of the chase,” The American-built alternative
Ben admits. He enjoys researching and sourcing various trac- There are plenty of American tractors over here, but whilst
tor makes and models, and then he tries to source what he’s certain makes are relatively commonplace, others are virtu-
looking for. Being based in the U.K., he sometimes finds that ally unheard of. It’s the relatively unheard-of-examples that
the range of old American tractors available locally can be a whet Ben’s appetite the most. Many American tractors dat-
little limited. ing to the early 1940s were sent here as part of the World
However, Ben has a really good contact, namely Lyn Jones, War II lend-lease program. Others have since been imported
also known as L&L Vintage Tractors of West Wales. Lyn has a by collectors, but if you want a particularly unusual model,
vast array of American tractors and an ever-changing lineup you will have to consider importing it yourself.
2017 19
Far left: The McCormick-Deering W-4
is a workmanlike tractor with no frills,
just a handsome machine that still
looks capable of a good day’s work.
Top left: Ben’s favourite tractor of
the six in his collection is his 1946
McCormick-Deering WD-9. Not only
is it an unusual sight here in the U.K.,
but it is also quite a beast of a tractor,
fast on the roads, with an engine that
runs sweetly. Beautiful to drive, with
nice light steering and it starts easily:
What’s not to like?
Bottom left: A Cockshutt 30 is the
most recent addition to the Hughes
stable. Ben saw it on eBay for sale at
a reasonable price and decided that
it was far too interesting to pass up.
There’s a striking and attractive con-
trast between the tractor’s worn pa-
tina and its sleek, streamlined shape.
At times (when the exchange rate is favorable to us) it 1952 McCormick-Deering W-4
doesn’t work out to be too ridiculously expensive to bring Built by International Harvester at their Farmall Works in
a small tractor over from Canada or the U.S. In fact, it can Rock Island, Illinois, towards the end of the model’s produc-
even be less costly than buying a British rarity. Many British tion run, Ben’s tractor is one of 2,385 tractors built in 1952.
tractors have become increasingly expensive and barn finds, Based on the serial number, he reckons the tractor was built
bargains and hedge tractors are ever harder to track down. In in September.
some ways, it is no wonder that the avid collector, looking The W-4 is the regular or standard-tread version of the
for something different to take to shows, has begun to look Farmall H. Some 24,377 W-4 tractors were built from 1940
overseas for inspiration. to 1953. The W-4 is powered by International’s own C-152,
For Ben, the American tractor passion began when he 2.5 litre, 4-cylinder, overhead valve, straight petrol engine of
bought a 1940 Case V. After enjoying this tractor for a spell, approximately 24 hp and is fitted with a 5-speed transmis-
he decided to sell it, as his eye had been caught by other sion, drawbar, PTO, lights, electric starter and belt pulley.
rare imports. The obsession had started to take hold and Ben “The belt pulley on this tractor is not standard and is
couldn’t stop searching for his dream tractor. Finally it came some 11.5 inches in diameter,” Ben says. “Plus, it also has
along in the shape of a McCormick W-4, which Ben still an unusual petrol tank sight gauge, fitted to the cap on the
owns today – along with five other tractors. petrol tank.”
T
By Leslie C. McManus
with this 1:16-Scale Farmall 350 Gas With Narrow Front Die-cast
9204 Center For The Arts Drive, Niles, Illinois 60714-1300
Tractor.
Please Respond Promptly
Precision-engineered to exacting 1:16 scale, this tractor features
YES! Please reserve the “Farmall 350 Gas Narrow
a sturdy die-cast metal frame construction and is hand-painted Front” tractor die cast for me as described in this
in classic Farmall red. No detail has been overlooked — from the announcement.
powerful four-cylinder gas-powered engine to its steerable rubber Name __________________________________________
tires on metal rims. Plus, hand-applied logos and graphics add to (Please print clearly.)
Hidden
in the Shed
PAIR OF MINT-CONDITION
SNOWMOBILES FIND NEW HOME
By Rachel Gingell
U
ntil early this year, a small,
weather-worn shed in an Iowa
field held a collector’s dream: a
pair of mint-condition John Deere
snowmobiles, untouched since 1975.
2. This pair of
snowmobiles
was purchased
new in 1975
by Richard and
Andra Hintz
during an
especially hard
winter.
3. Andra’s
snowmobile
4 was used so
little that the
speedometer
– shown here
new in the box
– was never
installed.
4. Andra
and the late
Richard Hintz.
5. Rear
view of the
snowmobiles.
The story starts in the winter of 1975, when a mid-win- ride with friends one winter day and came home with a
ter snowstorm left Iowa farmers Richard and Andra Hintz, broken wrist. No damage was done to the snowmobile, but
Holstein, stranded for seven days. They were the lucky that put an end to the fun for Richard. From then on, the
ones. The Great Storm of 1975 killed more than 50 people. snowmobiles stayed in the “tool” category.
After being snowed in with no way to care for their live-
stock (cattle and hogs), Richard and Andra vowed, “never Never used again
again.” Once they dug themselves out, the couple went to When the snow finally melted in the spring of 1975,
their local John Deere dealership to buy the snowmobile Richard loaded the snowmobiles on a trailer, covered them
they would need to keep their promise: a John Deere 600. securely and backed the trailer into a shed.
The date was Feb. 10, 1975. The Hintz family was thankful to never face another win-
The winter of 1975 was especially long and hard. A ter as brutal as that of 1975. Years went by without needing
month after purchasing the 600, Richard and Andra bought the snowmobiles again. The trailer sat, loaded and ready,
a second snowmobile so that Andra could help with the for more than 40 years.
outdoor farm work. Andra’s pick was the slightly smaller Richard died in 2015. His son, Randy, lives on the farm
John Deere 300, purchased on March 12 (she still has the now, and the land is rented out to a nearby farmer. Andra
original receipts). The couple also outfitted themselves in sold the snowmobiles at an April 2017 auction alongside
John Deere snowmobile suits and helmets. her husband’s 1,000-piece John Deere toy tractor collec-
tion. The pair of snowmobiles (with trailer) sold as a pack-
Tools, not toys age and fetched $23,000. “They are like sisters,” auctioneer
Richard put 388 miles on his snowmobile that winter. Ken Girard says. “They’ve been together for over 40 years,
Andra rode hers less; by the time the couple purchased the and I would hate to be the one to split them up!” FC
JD 300, spring was just around the corner. They never got
around to installing the odometer (it’s still in the box), but Rachel Gingell specializes in helping
Andra estimates the 300 has less than half the hours of her everyday mechanics repair antique trac- ✭ Holstein
husband’s machine. tors in their own shop through a series of Iowa
Unlike many snowmobile owners, Richard and Andra YouTube tutorials. Subscribe to her series
saw these snowmobiles as tools, not toys. Richard may on YouTube, or become a fan on Facebook
have learned this lesson the hard way. He went for a fun to follow along.
Barbed Wire
THE INANIMATE OBJECT
THAT WON THE WEST
R
By Clell G. Ballard
Sharp memories
remain clear
Should you accidentally come in
contact with a fence in the dark, that
memory will never fade. This author
had such an experience as a teenager
when playing hide-and-seek at our
4 church youth group sponsor’s ranch.
Unknown to me, a three-wire gate
stretched across one of the entrance
lanes – one we hadn’t used – that led
to the ranch house from the main road.
When running full bore in an at-
tempt to avoid capture, I ran square
into that gate. The next thing I knew,
I was sitting on the ground facing the
same way I had been going after hav-
ing gone head over heels caught in
the wire. The barbs were so caught in
my clothes that I was almost unable
to move. But moving by tearing my
clothes was necessary to stanch the
flow of blood from dozens of slashes.
Half a century later I still have scars
to remind me the barb wire fence did
exactly what it was designed to do: It
stopped me from going farther.
Rules of engagement
Barbed wire is sold in rolls 40 to 80
rods long. (A rod is a unit of measure
equal to 16.5 feet. An 80-rod spool cov-
ers about 1/4 mile.) Although dozens
of styles of barbed wire were produced
and sold since the mid-1850s, the de-
sign is standardized today.
AN AMAZING fence.
FENCE-LINE
DISCOVERY
People who deal with barbed wire did, I asked myself what could possibly it happened? Since the bee wouldn’t stay
fences on a regular basis usually pay have happened. Did a high wind force impaled there very long before falling off,
little attention to them. One learns where the bee off course until it collided with why did I come along at just the right time
to expect them to be, how to cross them the barb? Were situations at home so to see him? I doubt even computers could
and how to maintain them. Actual close bad that he chose to commit suicide in come up with answers to those questions.
examination of any one at any point just a bizarre manner? Was this an example of As noted elsewhere in these pages,
isn’t done. “drinking and flying” with a tragic result? barbed wire in the dry Western region
However, in 1986, I actually did that Another series of questions arose. In of the U.S. gets a skiff of rust on it and
when crawling through a gate at an our somewhat isolated area, there are doesn’t rust further. That is obvious on the
abandoned farm once owned by a relative. thousands of miles of barbed wire fences, strand with the bee. In the background
As the photo above shows, I discovered an all with three or four strands of wires. How is a piece of newer galvanized wire that
unbelievable sight. Right by my hand as I many million barbs are on those wires? was one of the several making up the
pushed the wire down was a bumblebee What are the odds that a bumblebee gate. Note its gray color. The gate I was
impaled on a barb. would be impaled on one of them? How crawling through had obviously been
Fortunately I had my camera with me was it possible that I was I was at the repaired sometime in the fairly recent
and I recorded what I discovered. As I very place way out in the country where past. – Clell G. Ballard
New wire is galvanized, making it silver when new and a back of our upper arms due to the way the diggers work.
dull gray color as it weathers. It has been impossible to as- When enough soil material has been worked loose down in
certain when wire first became galvanized, but it must have the hole, the digger’s handles must be pulled apart with ex-
been fairly recently. Almost every barbed wire fence this au- treme force to keep the material trapped between the blades
thor has ever seen consists of rusty colored wire. In typically so it can be lifted. Depending on conditions, that process
dry Western regions of the U.S., metal objects get a skiff of has to be repeated dozens of times before each hole is deep
rust on the surface but no additional rust forms. Thus those enough. Try doing that hour after hour in the hot sun!
wire fences, many of which are as much as 100 years old, are
still structurally strong. A necessary evil
For most of our history, the posts holding the wire – a All barbed wire fences need to be maintained. Wooden
minimum of three strands, but more commonly four – were posts rot and have to be replaced, the wire breaks from harsh
wooden. Wire was attached using staples. (The wire was weather conditions and, occasionally, as a result of animals
placed on the side of the post where pressure from livestock running into it. Sometimes a mountain stream changes
was most likely to result. A well-stapled fence was almost as course during heavy spring run-off, washing out posts and
strong against pressure from the other side.) On the Great tangling the wire.
Plains, wood posts were used for decades even though they Because of the wire’s vicious nature, leather gloves are an
had to be sourced, sometimes from a great distance. absolute necessity for fence fixers. Even then, accidental
Even today, one occasionally runs across a fence con- contact with barbs results in torn clothing and occasional
structed where regular posts were unavailable and a strange minor injury. Good gloves rarely last over a couple of days
collection of uprights support the wire. Big, dried tree roots, of fence repair before they disintegrate.
pieces of crooked driftwood, dry willows of fairly small di- Skilled fence fixers enjoy much more success than ama-
ameter, broken wagon tongues and whatever else the fence teurs, but the work is basically unpleasant for anyone. Even
builder could come up with make such fence lines most pic- though almost no one reads about them in history books,
turesque today. barbed wire fences are an example of one of mankind’s most
successful inventions. FC
Steel posts made brutal labor obsolete
Sometime in the 20th century, steel posts made their ap- A retired high school history teacher, Clell G.
pearance. Building a fence with them usually was facilitat- Ballard has worked on farms since he was in grade
ed because there was an unending supply available, if you school, including 53 summers spent working on his
could afford them. In addition, steel posts can be pounded uncle’s dryland hay and grain ranch. He also is a
into many ground conditions, making it unnecessary to dealer of World War II-era military vehicles and
dig post holes, a hugely taxing job. Wire is attached to steel parts. Contact him at (208) 764-2313 (and bear in Idaho
posts by wire clips in lieu of a hammer and staples. mind the time difference with Mountain Standard Fairfield
✭
Those of us who have dug thousands of post holes with Time) or by email at cballard@northrim.net.
a post-hole digger have highly developed muscles on the
No purchase necessary. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Open to legal residents of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec, where the promotion is void). Entrants must be 18 years of age or older.
Sweepstakes begins 10/16/17 and ends 12/19/17. See official rules online at www.FarmCollector.com/Grab-Bag-2017 I Sponsor: Farm Collector, 1503 SW 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609
Holiday Preview
Gift-Giving
CELEBRATE AMERICANA WITH U.S.-
MADE OVERALLS FROM KLEIN BROS.
If you yearn for simpler times, you may want to LOST ERA COMES TO
dress the part, and Klein Bros. Hardware, Malinta, LIFE THROUGH
Ohio, can help you do just that.
Klein Bros. Hardware was started by Mike and PENCIL DRAWINGS
Karl Klein in 1986, when the brothers purchased Bob Smith began drawing pictures
Malinta Hardware, which had been in business of tractors, trucks and farm equip-
since the early 1900s. The store is located in ment at age 6. But after he left the
the middle of northwest Ohio’s rural heartland, family farm in northwest Iowa as a
housed in a century-old building that captures young man, the demands of life –
the essence of an old-time, small town hardware including family and a 32-year ca-
store. reer in the military – crowded out
In addition to a full hardware operation, that early hobby.
Klein Bros. offers Round House bib overalls In retirement, he made up for lost
made in the U.S. Overalls are available in the time. The result is a charming book
store and at www.kleinbros.com in every size of color pencil drawings of tractors,
and style (zip-fly, button fly, hickory stripe, cars, trucks and farm scenes from his
low back and heavy duty); engineer caps are youth. Each drawing is a carefully
available in child and adult sizes. executed valentine to a time now
Round House overalls, many sizes and styles, lost, full of affection and respect.
Klein Bros. Hardware, www.kleinbros.com. One drawing (Air Attack 1947) cap-
tures the resulting mayhem when
a local pilot buzzed farmers as they
concentrated on cultivating new
crops for the first time. The roar of
RECONSIDERING THE fast-approaching aircraft invariably
caused several hills of corn to be
HERITAGE OF THE FEED MILL plowed over. “Those that remember
In Down by the Feed Mill: The Past and Present agree it was a miracle the pilot wasn’t
of America’s Feed Mills and Grain Elevators, more shot down,” the caption notes.
than 240 fascinating photos bring to light the Astonishingly detailed and realis-
importance of feed mills to American towns- tic, Bob’s drawings are an interest-
people, economies and heritage. This wealth of ing blend of discipline and whimsy.
contemporary new photos, together with some Machinery is represented in almost
vintage images from museum collections, give a photographic precision; the people
visual record of a changing and passing Ameri- are from the school of American folk
can institution. art, with simple but wildly expres-
Covering a time frame of more than 150 years, sive faces. Short stories accompany-
Down by the Feed Mill explains what feed mills and ing the drawings expand on each
grain elevators do, how they work, the role they scene. This is a book like no other in
played in the American agricultural economy and your library, and it is guaranteed to
the relationship of these businesses to their farmer customers. make you smile!
By focusing on three mills in depth, author David Hanks shows the changing Bob Smith’s Tractor Art, 2017,
technological and economic conditions that shaped and sometimes destroyed Bob Smith, soft cover with spiral
mills. Evocative photos capture mills in the southern half of Michigan’s lower binding, 80 pages, 17x11 inches,
peninsula, chosen to be representative of U.S. mills as a whole in terms of their color, $50 (includes shipping and
variety, historic evolution and characteristics. handling),
Down by the Feed Mill: The Past and Present of America’s Feed Mills and www.smithtractorart.com. To order,
Grain Elevators, 2017, David Hanks, hardcover, 208 pages, black-and-white photo- write to Bob Smith at 802 S. Pleasant
graphs, $34.99, Schiffer Books, www.schifferbooks.com. St., Canton, SD 57013.
MORE GAS ENGINE RESTORATION COOLSPRING MUSEUM BOOK & ACTION IN IH COUNTRY
A follow-up to his highly regarded first DVD PACKAGE A collection of magazine ads from 1964
book, Gas Engine Restoration, this newest Designated a Mechanical Engineering to 1984 for International Harvester tractors
gas engine restoration guide from veteran Heritage Collection by the American Society and equipment, Action in IH Country tells
vintage engine restorer Peter Rooke offers a of Mechanical Engineers, the museum boasts the story of the advertising for these ma-
wealth of practical, hands-on information for a collection of more than 250 engines in 20 chines. International Harvester did a lot of
both the new and experienced engine hobby- buildings, 40 of which are profiled here in two advertising from the mid-1960s to the early
ist. Drawing from his exhaustive experience re- great resources form Gas Engine Magazine: a 1980s. This collection provides a great
pairing and restoring gas engines, Peter Rooke museum overview in Coolspring: Discovering number of ads that reveal the history of the
shares the tips and techniques he’s acquired America’s Finest Antique Engine Museum and company, pictures to help those restoring
over the years to aid engine restorers in almost the Coolspring Museum DVD. their favorite “toys,” and entertainment for
every facet of the restoration process. Item # 7172 $24.99 those who just enjoy looking at the ads.
Item # 7949 $19.95 Item # 8223 $24.95
Farm Collector Favorites
IHC HERITAGE: THE BEST OF HARVESTING HERITAGE: 150 EARLY FARM POWER
INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER YEARS ON THE AMERICAN FARM A collection of magazine ads from 1902 to
Featuring more than 30 articles about This special collector’s edition brings 1938 of International Harvester tractors and
the great tractors, engines, equipment together more than 35 great essays from equipment, Early Farm Power completes the
and implements that made International Sam Moore, author of Let’s Talk Rusty Iron story of the advertising of the early Interna-
Harvester famous, IHC Heritage is a as featured in Farm Collector! Deeply tional Harvester farm tractors. Many of the
glossy–paged guide that is rich in history, researched and beautifully written, Moore’s older tractors in this book are rarely seen, so
facts, entertaining stories, photographs, essays recapture a time now irretrievably this volume becomes more of a history book.
and more. lost – but easily glimpsed through the Also included are ads of the small stationary
Item # 6361 $7.99 pages of this exciting edition. gasoline engines that furnished power to
Item # 5568 $7.99 some of the jobs around the farmstead.
Item # 8227 $24.95
THE BEST OF JOHN DEERE THE HISTORIC BARNS OF FIELD GUIDE TO MYSTERY
This one-of-a-kind guide describes the SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA FARM TOOLS, VOL. 2
history of John Deere. When the founder One of the earliest-settled areas in North When Farm Collector put together a
and blacksmith John Deere hammered out America, this region is home to an special edition dedicated solely to these
his first plow from a broken sawmill blade astounding 20,000 standing barns built mystery farm tools, readers snatched it up,
in 1837, he was responding to a need, from the late 1700s on. Topics include making it a best-seller. This new edition
and in the process creating enormous barn structures and appearances, archi- includes more than 160 tools that have
opportunity not just for himself, but for every tectural aspects and regionalisms, dates been identified and includes a small
farmer working the soil in those early days of construction, survival of 18th-century ex- paragraph explaining what the tool was
of settling America. Inside you’ll find articles amples, mysterious decorations, and barn used for! You’ll read how to identify tools
on the first John Deere tractors (Froelich and preservation. Completing this treatise are yourself using patents, online collector
Dain), the Velie influence, Model E farm color photographs, building plan sketches, resources, and books and publications
engines, and so much more. charts, and a glossary of barn terms for collectors.
Item # 8029 $7.99 Item # 8431 $50.00 Item # 7399 $7.99
E-mail Address:_________________________ Card Verification (last 3 or 4 digits on the back of the card) #_________________________________
QTY. ITEM# DESCRIPTION PRICE EA. TOTAL
TRACKING THE
Essentials This pocket
ledger is
representa-
M
tive of many
IN THE PANHANDLE distributed
to farmers
any of my columns in the as premiums
from leading
past have been based on manufacturers.
Now collect-
personal correspondence, ible items,
a diary, journal or album, pocket ledgers
were handy,
written or kept by a Panhandle resident. portable
notebooks with
Thanks to Bob and Becky Keel of ledger pages,
blank pages
Amarillo, Texas, this column will for notes and
basic reference
present excerpts from an accounts information.
ledger of a small family farm during Ledger books
like the one
the years 1947-57. Two ledger books referenced in
this article were
were found in an abandoned house; typically larger
with a hardback
no names will be mentioned to keep cover and rarely
left the house.
the deceased owner’s privacy.
U.S. ORDERS
Single-copy price
Only $16.95!
CANADA
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Item #8401
Gears made
Extension Rims &
LIGHTNING MAGNETO
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1-888-425-5346
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COST: Classified ads are $1.35 per word with a TO PLACE AN AD: PLEASE NOTE THE DEADLINES
20 word minimum. For photo with your ad,
enclose $25 per photo. For classified display ads – CALL US TOLL-FREE AT BELOW FOR THE NEXT FOUR ISSUES.
those with special borders or type – call Terri (866) 848-5346,
Keitel at Farm Collector, 800-678-5779. Classified FAX: (785) 274-4316 ISSUE DEADLINE
display ads are $65 per column inch (color). Bold
words only $2 per word. January 2018 Oct 31 2017
PAYMENT POLICY: Ads must be prepaid by check
CLASSIFIED COMBO SPECIAL in U.S. funds, or charged to MasterCard, VISA, February 2018 Dec 1 2017
Place your ad in both farm collectible publications Discover or American Express credit card.
– Gas Engine Magazine and Farm Collector – for Remember to include your name and address, March 2018 Jan 2 2017
$2.25 per word. Save up to 22 cents per word and/or phone number in the word count.
with double the exposure! April 2018 Jan 31 2017
MAIL YOUR AD TO:
SEND PAYMENT TO: Farm Collector, Attn: Jenifer FARM COLLECTOR MAGAZINE Farm Collector may refuse to publish any advertisement
Davidson, Classified Advertising, 1503 S.W. 42nd at any time, according to our discretion. However, we
St., Topeka, KS 66609.
1503 SW 42ND STREET are dedicated to providing our readers with the
TOPEKA, KS 66609 broadest range of alternatives possible. We believe our
readers are generally intelligent, and trust them to
IMPORTANT! Don’t forget to indicate ad classifieds@FarmCollector.com exercise their own good judgment when choosing
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write neatly. We reserve the right to edit your ad over for the next issue unless indicated advertiser’s claims carefully before buying.
for consistency and clarity, and may reject any ad. otherwise. – Bill Uhler, Publisher, Farm Collector
TO PLACE AN AD
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TODAY.
44 December 2017 Farm Collector
BOOKS CLUBS FOR SALE
MISC. MANUFACTURERS
CLARK’S
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Maker of Online or Call
(603) 795-2298 • LockNLube.com
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989-329-1588 Bob Clark, Owner radios. Auto, truck, tractor and all home ra-
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Phone: 563-875-6222 New and Used Parts For Most Makes! models, antique slot machines, trade simulators.
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RESTORATION/ REPAIR BUYING VINTAGE IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT:
Next Generation Magneto Repair, 3rd generation, NICK sprinkler heads, related literature: Skinner,
Buckner, Campbell, Hardesty, Nelson, Orr,
Dave Temple 856 Willow Brook St. N.E. Owatonna 507-251-8660 Rain Bird, Thompson, Etc. 703-447-4223,
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IH Salvage Tractors lunarcity@aol.com
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paid. Beverly Egbers, 326 County Road 24, Hooper, NE 62618 HWY 63 Wanted: Looking for back issues of Farm Col-
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kevinsmags@yahoo.com Farm Collector occasionally makes its
customer list of names and addresses
available to carefully screened companies
Paul’s Rod & Bearing whose products might be of interest. If
BABBITT BEARING SPECIALIST you prefer not to receive such mailings,
(816) 587-4747 • Fax: (816) 587-4312
please copy your mailing label exactly, and
6212 NW Bell Rd., Parkville, MO 64152
www.paulsrodandbearing.net
mail it to Farm Collector Preference Service,
1503 S.W. 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609.
Since 1952
RESTORING YOUR FAMILY HEIRLOOM. Museum LET US REPOUR YOUR ROD, MAIN AND CAM BEARING! U.S. subscriptions by mail, postage
quality restoration. Painting & sand blasting. All me- prepaid one year, $34.95. All payment
chanical work done in-house. Pickup & delivery ser- must be made in U.S. funds. Canada Post
vice. Antique tractor parts. Like us on Facebook! Call
International Publications Mail Product
Elite Restorations at 814-766-9929, (PA).
Sales Agreement No. 40601019.
Carr's Repair: Restores those power houses to original! Farm Collector does not recommend,
New IH sleeves & piston kits for IH 9 series gas approve or endorse the products and/or
and diesel tractors and JD D and R piston kits. services offered by companies advertising
Int'l Falls, MN No Sunday calls. Ph 807 487 2548, in the magazine or website.
www.carrsrepairvintageparts.com.
Visit www.FarmCollector.com/Store
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We’ve kept you running since 1977
and look forward to the next 40 years.
® New parts
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Allis Chalmers
1660 S. M-13, Lennon, Michigan 48449
Case • Co-Op / Cockshutt
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International / Farmall
(800) 234-3280 John Deere
Massey
Minneapolis Moline
Oliver