[AT] Thoughts on small combines, other harvest machinery and where it takes us (continued)

Fri Nov 5 17:36:12 PDT 2010

Grant, you might luck up and come across a fairly modern pull type combine. 
IH and John Deere were making them up until the 70's I think. They appeared 
to be the same basic unit as some of the self propelled machines. If you are 
only going to harvest a few bushels of seed, ever considered a small 
threshing machine? You may want to consider a seed cleaner as well.

John Hall

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Grant Brians" <sales at heirloom-organic.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 7:33 AM
Subject: [AT] Thoughts on small combines,other harvest machinery and where 
it takes us (continued)

>I hope to get one of my AC All-Crop 60's back operational. With our very
> small scale seed production, we have so far not even needed a combine, but 
> I
> can see that changing in the near future. I have never operated a self
> propelled combine, actually never even cut grain with one. What I have 
> done
> is operated the AC60 for hand feed applications. Hmm, why would someone 
> take
> that seeming inefficient route for threshing? I have only done vegetable
> seed production and most types of vegetable seed production require the
> extra step of cutting and windrowing the plants for drying or the seed 
> will
> end up on the ground before harvest.
>     A moderately common sight here in years past was the flower seed
> harvest. Usually the companies would go through with a two bed vacuum and
> literally suck up the seed off the top of the plants (or maybe it would be
> out of the top?) to not lose much of the seed. We currently produce
> somewhere around 300 or 400 pounds of seed so the hand methods are still
> cheaper than machines, but I can see that increasing dramatically
> eventually.
>     All of this said, I sure can understand the appeal of owning and
> operating an old SMALL combine for the satisfaction of performing that
> harvest yourself. Our "new" 1950's walnut harvester and sweeper arrived
> yesterday here at the ranch and I am looking forward to getting this
> equipment refurbished and doing custom harvesting this next fall. They are
> crude machines by todays standards, but they not only work but they are
> totally effective when correctly maintained and operated.
>     One thing I see happening around here as in most parts of the country
> is the gap between the older people who KNOW how to perform so many
> equipment operation and other tasks and the younger ones who either have
> been steered away from the knowledge or never took the opportunity to 
> learn.
> That was a characteristic that I have never understood. When I was younger 
> I
> started doing something that I hope I never lose - seeking out those with
> potentially interesting knowledge or skills and asking them to let me 
> learn
> from them.
>     Maybe rekindling that spark is the real benefit and goal of taking
> machines to the antique farm equipment shows that we so enjoy?
>             Grant Brians
>             Hollister,California
>             Vegetable, Nuts and Fruit farmer
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
> [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com]On Behalf Of Ralph Goff
> Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 8:02 PM
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> Subject: Re: [AT] Massey Harris/Massey Ferguson 35 SP Combine?
>
>
> Theres at least one of these little Massey combines out in B.C. Canada. I
> had a picture that a friend took at a farm/car show there a few years 
> back.
> I'm surprised Al doesn't want the IH equivalent, the model 93. That had a
> little 153 engine. Theres a local guy has the newer version (203?) that he
> drove in a parade a few years ago. Sure looked small by today's standards.
>
> Ralph in Sask.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <MasseyH at aol.com>
> To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 12:28 PM
> Subject: Re: [AT] Massey Harris/Massey Ferguson 35 SP Combine?
>
>
>> Hi Al & Herb,
>>
>> I have a working MH 35 combine.  To say the least it is a small thing
>> compared to today's standards.  The grain table is only 7 feet.  It  has 
>> a
>> 140
>> Continental engine mounted on top.  It can struggle to cut  the heavy
>> producing wheat so we normally just cut a half width.  It does an
>> excellent job of
>> cleaning the wheat.  Great piece to haul to shows. Just  fits on my 20'
>> low-profile trailer. Occasionally you will see a #22 2-row corn  head for
>> them
>> as well.  They have the same problem - it just can not handle  200 bu 
>> corn
>> so most only pick a row at a time.
>>
>> Massey Collectors Assn. has a website at _www.masseycollectors.com_
>> (http://www.masseycollectors.com)  with a  discussion board.  You might
>> want to
>> start a thread there.  I know of  several here in the Midwest.
>>
>> I just saw an old promotion film highlighting the 35 combine.  Hope to
>> get
>> it on DVD soon.
>>
>> If you can find one and have the money and storage you will want  one!!
>>
>> JMO
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Gary
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 11/4/2010 10:03:13 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
>> metz-h.b at mindspring.com writes:
>>
>
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