[AT] Demolition

Fri Apr 9 07:54:17 PDT 2010

My neighbor had a small Case combine that he used on his small place and his brother-in-laws smaller place which is across the road from our places.  They did a little bit of wheat or oats each year basically to qualify for some farm tax advantage.

Quite a few years ago they stopped growing and harvesting grain completely and another local farmer is using their fields.

The Case combine sat in his barn for several years and he finally sold it to some guys buying it for the combine destruction derby. 

I think it's been in at least 3 if not 4 derbies now.

I hear people complaining about good usable combines being used for destruction derbies,  but those people aren't willing to pay anything to buy the old combines.  I doubt my neighbor got more than $200 for his combine as no one wanted it except the combine destruction guys.  If the old combines had some market value greater than their scrap metal value, they probably wouldn't end up in the derbies.

George

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Grant Brians
Sent: Friday, April 09, 2010 6:55 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] Demolition

This thread struck a chord for me because there is a fallacy in our handling
of combines in this country. Like other small operations (relatively
speaking) I could use a functioning small combine. In my case it would be
used for vegetable seed production. This is a common situation that there
owould be a need for the small combines to produce vegetable or flower seed.
If one were to attempt to purchase a new combine today in North America, it
would NOT be possible to purchase a durable unit for this purpose!
     The only sources of small combines today are Japan and China. Neither
are readily available in the US, and the Chinese quality is abysmal. There
is one Japanese manufacturer of mini-combines for rice which MIGHT possibly
be adaptable for the purpose, but they are optimized for small paddy rice
harvest. Also, if these units are built as it appears they are, then they
are not made to stand up to the abuse that farm machinery usually needs to
endure here. Also, if either type of machine were actually available in
distribution here (they are not widely available with any dealer network)
then there would be the issue of parts availability and price being a
challenge.
     Where does this leave the US/Canada farm economy? Excessive reliance on
foreign produced vegetable/flower seed. Not enough surviving small combines
in actual annual use to make parts available readily (for units that were
actually manufactured here in one of our two countries!) Removing a source
of farm income for small farms from seed production that efficient harvest
could enable.
     What is the solution? Well a part of the solution clearly is to make
sure that there still are some small combines running and available. Another
part is for small/medium size farmers to seek out contracts with the
independent seed companies. I recognize that there is also an imbalance in
combine supply between different parts of the countries as well, with a
place like coastal California where I am not having many because of minimal
grain production levels.
     One statement that was made is that the reason the combines are trashed
is because they have no value. But they should be perceived as having value.
It is a little like antique tractors - there are no examples of some
tractors because there was no one who cared, not because there was no value.
There is my opinion.
              Grant

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com]On Behalf Of charliehill
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 5:37 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] Demolition

I know those combine demo derbies are all in good fun but I can't stand to
watch them.  I grew up on a small farm and we could never justify owning a
combine so we had to give up 1/4 of the crop every year to a custom
operator.  Everytime I see folks tearing up combines all I can think is that
some small farmer somewhere needs that combine.  Even if it's worn slam out
there are some parts on it that some guy needs.

With that said, I know I'm being stupid about it.  If the things had any
value the farmers wouldn't be tearing them up in the derby.  It's just an
emotional thing with very little logic behind it.  If those guys gave me the
combines.  They wouldn't be worth what it cost to haul them to my farm and
that is exactly why they are tearing them up for fun.  They have no useful
value other than junk.  I still can't stand to watch it.

No offense meant to you Ralph.  Thanks for posting it.

Charlie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Waugh" <pwaugh at embarqmail.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 7:39 AM
Subject: Re: [AT] Demolition

> Ah, for to good old days, just fun, no fences , spectators at their own
> risk
> .... love it, looks like the Oliver had some power.
> Paul-46555
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ralph Goff" <alfg at sasktel.net>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 11:51 PM
> Subject: [AT] Demolition
>
>
>> Nearly forgot to mention that while I was uploading antique tractor video
>> recently I also included some scenes from the local demolition derby back
>> in
>> the fall of 87. The typical crunching and flattening of various older
>> cars
>> is seen but for the first time ever there was a combine event in which a
>> Massey 510, a Case 1060 and an old Oliver take turns trying to destroy
>> each
>> other.
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjkPKLjMlqU
>>
>> Ralph in Sask.
>>
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