[AT] Hottest tractor

[charlie hill]

David, on my first day on the job, I think I was 5 but almost 6 a B Allis 
"ran away" with me in LOW gear.  LOL.  The steering was worn out and I 
managed to take out two or three hills of tobacco on each side before one of 
the men got me/it straightened out.

Charlie
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Bruce" <davidbruce at yadtel.net>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 6:39 PM
Subject: Re: [AT] Hottest tractor


> Nothing at all like harvesting tobacco in a blinding rainstorm <g>.
> I have to admit I don't miss those days at all.
> Got my tractor driving start in a tobacco field, on an Allis B at 7 yo.
> Couldn't get the hang of the B's clutch so the "field tractor" and the
> "travel to the barn tractor" (an Allis D-14) were switched.  I handled
> the clutch better but I couldn't reach the clutch and brakes at the same
> time so the routine was depress the clutch, shift to neutral then switch
> to the brake.  I didn't hit anyone or any tobacco plants - I dared not!
> David
> NW NC
>
> charlie hill wrote:
>> Yep farming is full of irony isn't it.
>>
>> Tobacco is much like a vegetable crop.  Once it begins to ripen it's got 
>> to
>> be harvested.  That particular year, I think it was 57 or 58 maybe, when 
>> it
>> rained the whole month of July we burried a Super A Farmall to the top of
>> the seat, on top of a hill in a sandy field.  It got stuck late in the
>> afternoon and spun down to the axle.  We left it overnight intending to 
>> dig
>> it out first thing the next morning.  When we went back into the field it
>> had slowly settled down in what was by that time quick sand.  About 2 
>> weeks
>> later it got dry enough to dig a big hole around it and drag it out with 
>> a
>> wrecker.  I sure wish I had a picture of that now.
>>
>> The tobacco that was planted all around it was not lost.  It was carried 
>> out
>> of the field on foot.  The quality was not good but we saved it.  I keep
>> saying WE, actually I was just a small boy of  7 or so but I'll never 
>> forget
>> that summer.  I guess some folks reading this might wonder about a 7 year
>> old being out in that kind of weather and doubt what I'm saying.  I 
>> promise
>> you, I was out there all day long every day that summer, soaked to the 
>> bone,
>> sitting in the seat of an Allis B.  That's just the way it was back then.
>> Now a kid can't even drive a tractor until he's 14 or something like 
>> that.
>>
>>
>>
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