Spam/Phish> Re: [AT] Towing

[John Hall]

A few quick observations to various posts on this now off-topic subject:

I'm in Durham (geography plays a big role in this becuase every 50 miles or 
so technique, equipment, and terminology changed things).

I never have heard of any 4 wheeled carts/trucks. To the best of my 
knowledge we went from genuine slides to 2 wheeled trailers(called slides, 
sleds, dregs, drags or trailers---whatever your family preferred). Our 
family made them from wood including using a 6x6 for the tongue. Axles came 
from whatever--my favorite were the ones with spoked wheels from junk farm 
equpment. We never had the burlap sides you could turn up. Made life real 
interesting when you were in a hurry to get to the barn.

I think Al is right in that Silent Flame was a brand name----apparently they 
started out making burners.

We never had burley up this way until 2-3 years ago. It is growning in 
popularity and is quite an oddity to be seen growing and curing.

I don't remember the old 2 story harvester we had but I remember hearing 
about it. It took 7 to run it ---1 driver, 4 primers and 2 stringers. Very 
topheavy, too dangerous to use in our area. I do have some unpleasant 
memories of running a Roanoke(?) Surefoot harvester. Extremely hot to 
run--especially for the driver. Kohler engine with a John Deere lawnmower 
hydrostatic transmission. When you went to get it after a rain you had to 
push up on the canvasess to dump out the water. And boy could those 
fiberglass seats itch!! Eventually we quit using it because you needed more 
than 4 guys to pull a bulk barn without taking all day and wearing your 
primers out from the heat.

Mechanical harvesters are now very popular and practically a necessity. 
Evidently some of the bugs with the earliest machines have been worked out.

I tried not to faint when somebody mentioned going to the field with a 
tractor that wasn't IH. Around here super A's -140 was the norm for 99% of 
the farms.

And getting back on track somewhat about pulling stuff in tandem on the 
farm---ever tried loading 2 hay wagons at once? We pulled into a small wheat 
field to load bales of straw. We had too much help and were going to send 
about 4 guys to that barn after the first couple of wagons were loaded. We 
had 2 wagons hooked behind a 454 IH tractor. As we were loading and had 
about 30-40 bales on each, we headed downhill and had to turn to the right. 
My Uncle who was driving realized his mistake and yelled for us to hang on. 
The guy on the front wagon jumped off. I stayed on mine but it was a wild 
ride. No damage other than to our nerves. Considered adding an NHRA approved 
parachute to the tractor but decied it was just simpler to use some common 
sense.

Been in a couple of other tight situations where a wagon load of corn would 
push the picker in a tight downhill turn. Same thing with a wagon behind the 
baler---especially one about a third loaded with all the weight on the back. 
Definetly envy you fellows with flat land!!!

John Hall