Iron Memories

Not everyone is reacting negatively to the current downturn in the economy. Antique tractors are selling for all time record prices at the auctions.

An Aumann Auction held in Litchfield, Illinois a rare C.O.D. 13-25 brought an amazing $150,000.00 in a little over 4 minutes. To see the actual sale of this tractor visit www.you.tube.com/watch?v=s2sldt7ocq8. According to the auctioneer this tractor is one of about 6 known to exist. If you feel it bears a resemblance to an early Avery, rightly so, since the builder left Avery to open his own company.

Tractor Hydraulic Safety

Under Pressure…Understanding your tractor’s hydraulic system

Take a U-shaped tube, fill it with water, and put a plunger in either end. Push down on one plunger, and the other goes up..that’s elementary hydraulics. It’s a simple concept, but without it, your tractor wouldn’t be much more than four wheels and an engine. So take a minute and learn more about the system that makes your tractor a workhorse.

Harvest and Weather are not cooperating. I live in Iowa, and the weather is not harvest weather. We have had rain before and during the beginning of soybean harvest, and has continued right into Corn harvest along with wind, and much colder temperatures. We even got our first snow last weekend. Like we all have heard before,"It's Iowa, wait an hour it will change." I realize all of the surrounding states are in the same boat. We still have some soybeans yet to combine, and a lot of corn.

Isn’t it amazing how quickly something you see, hear or read can trigger a response? Today as I read the thought for the day “A candle looses nothing by lighting another candle,” that is just what happened.

Condensed from Capper's Farmer 1941
Farm hay drying has been made practical by equipment developed at the Tennessee Experiment Station. Rauth Brothers have installed the system on their farm in Warrick county, Indiana. It consists of a motor and fan set up on the outside with a series of ducts for distributing forced air thru the hay.

Antique tractors and Equipment is a Valuable Commodity...and growing.

Antique tractors and combines are currently in high demand at auctions. An un-restored 1961 International Harvester Farmall 460 brought $2,800 at a September 11 retirement sale in Texas. Earlier in the year another 460 of the same year sold for $1,400. Also at the Texas sale a 1975 John Deere 4240 was sold for $12,600, nearly $1,000 over the average auction price for this model. Once again confirming that good used equipment is a valuable commodity.

Antique Tractors are a good investment

Farm Safety Involves Everyone

Hearing Safety

Farmers experience one of the highest rates of hearing loss. Loss of hearing for farmers is caused in part by the many potential sources of loud noises on the farm: tractors, combines, grinders, choppers, conveyors, grain dryers, chain saws, shotguns, etc. Prolonged exposure to excessive noise can cause permanent hearing losses, unless noise control measures are taken.

The effects of noise can be broken into three areas:

1). Physiological effects: noise induced hearing loss or aural pain, nausea, and reduced muscular control.

Is it better than your 401K? Well maybe not but then again an antique tractor can be a sound investment.

When I see a well restored antique tractor I tend to get all warm and fuzzy inside thinking its restorer did so to preserve part of his/her familys history. While that may be true in some instances, it isn't always the case. Many times it is simply for the love of making the old new again. But on the flip side of the coin it may have been to preserve the future income of its owner.

Harvest season is under way throughout the corn belt. Farm equipment on roadways will be a common sight in the coming days as harvest continues. It is always good to remind motorists that tractors and other farm equipment are on the roadways. I'm asking for the patience and understanding of motorists during the harvest season. Farmers are under pressure,and have a very limited time in which to harvest their crops in order to get them in storage before the weather turns.