Saturday, September 15, 2007

I got an idea...

Farmers have a lot of time to think about things while riding the tractors and combines across the field. Often it's not mentally demanding, and your thoughts begin to wander. Apparently this Massey Harris Clipper combine is the result of one of those times. Someone who got tired of constantly emptying the rather small grain tank added a hitch to pull a wagon alongside. The Clipper was ideally made for this, as swinging the chute on the grain elevator to the unload position directed the grain into the wagon instead of the grain tank. This hitch was well designed, being hinged to allow it to be locked in the upright position putting it out of the way when not in use.

Many farmer added modifications for almost every machine ever built have appeared over the years, some successful, some not. Many were developed to resolve a particular situation on one farm, while others were broadly successful, resulting commercial production. A friend of mine who dealt in used farm machinery once said "Don't worry about farmers having guns, but do make them register their welders and cutting torches!"

Sunday, September 2, 2007

John Deere Grain Dryer

Quite rare, even during the years of it's production, Deere built portable grain dryers for a short time. Probably a bit before it's time, they were apparently not produced in large numbers. I can remember seeing maybe one prior to this one appearing at the Rantoul show. A recirculating batch dryer, it was in operation on Saturday at the show. A bucket type elevator served to load and unload the dryer, as well as to recirculate the grain during the drying process.