Scraping around the bottom of the barrel for blog content today, there’s this charming piece from hobbyfarms.com on vintage tractors. That’s right. You heard me. Tractors. Don’t get me wrong. I love me some old tractors now and again. And the link is worth clicking because there are some real beauts in there. But for my money, it’s working tractors, not show pieces, that hold pride of place in these annals. Like the ones below.
My father-in-law was a Caterpillar Tractor salesman. Especially useful in low-lying fields that would bog down other lesser machines, the Cat’s metal tracks meant you never EVER got stuck. All that and about 2 mpg on diesel fuel – who could ask for anything more?
The real workhorse on our farm was this one. I’m ashamed to say I don’t remember the make or model. But I do remember riding around on those back forks quite a lot. Well, whenever there wasn’t another bin of apples on there.
This Farmall Model A was customized with a pneumatic tree trimming unit attached to the rear power-take-off. I stalled it out on a steep slope one time and rolled it. My dad was not pleased. Luckily I jumped off the uphill side as it was beginning its descent. Otherwise there would be no dewconsulting.net/blog today.
Last but not least, if yer gonna go for a hobby tractor, you might as well go for something like this steam engine from Williams Grove during their annual vintage tractor show. It won’t be giving anything away to identify the kid in the red sweater as your very own blog master – and tractor connoisseur. Shades of yesteryear!
Just because it’s red, I was thinking either International Harvester or Farmall. I believe you can see it says “Farmall” in your apple orchard picture.
My dad rolled a hay wagon once, because he thought he knew better than his dad. Did you make the same mistake?
Knowing when and how to jump is, actually, not always instinctual. I had been practicing in my head for many years before the moment of truth was upon me. Some might call it “. . . the valley of the shadow of death. . .” I was safely atop the hill as I watched my lawn tractor take the rolling plunge, blades afly. Maybe it was instinct for you or just your big fat brain working it out in a hurry. Anyway, glad you’re writing and glad I’m reading.