[AT] Corn Shellers?

[Grant Brians]

I have a small amount of popcorn this season, but it hopefully will be a lot
more next year. In answer to suggestion of finding a corn combine, there are
two issues - one is that there is no corn grain grown in this valley and the
second is that my corn is already hand picked....
     Over in the central valley there is a little corn grown for grain, but
most is silage for the massive dairy industry. The only coastal grain
harvest is the Corn Nuts grown in the Salinas Valley in modest amounts
still.
     Information about a unit like the IHC that John refers to below would
be of great interest to me.... Thanks all. Now back to selling Spinach,
Tomatoes, Baby Corn, Asian Vegetables, Turnips, Beets, Onions and Radishes
and such. Also, to getting machinery fixed!
           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 john hall
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 7:34 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] Corn Shellers?


Grant, I would guess a working 1 hole hand crank sheller would sell for
$100-250 depending on the brand and your location. The little Blackhawks
still sell for about $50, but they are way too small for your needs. We
shelled out about 4 bushels of corn with a single hole IHC sheller a couple
weeks ago. I pull it with a small Briggs engine. It will shell as fast as
you can feed it. There is an adjustable spring loaded part that you set
according to size of the cob. I've never tried anything as small as popcorn,
but imagine it would work OK. You've got to keep your wits about you with
one of these should a cob fail to discharge or if an ear doesn't want to
feed in, especially if you have hired help running it.

 Got anybody near you with a combine set up for corn? Maybe you could shovel
it in the header---be sure and clean out the combine good or you'll get
whatever he last threshed mixed in with your popcorn.

There were other stationary corn shellers that would probably make quick
work of what you need to shell. New Holland made one that was big enough
that you shoveled the corn in. A friend of mine has a cylinder type sheller,
I believe they were pretty common in the Midwest. You feed that one by the
shovel full as well.

Whatever you get, make sure it doesn't damage the cobs or you'll be needing
a seed cleaner too! You will probably still have to clean some chaff from
the threshed corn.

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: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 1:10 PM
Subject: [AT] Corn Shellers?


>I have a different kind of post this time. I grow popcorn and need to be
> able to shell it efficiently. Our production is small so I know I am
> looking
> at a used unit. The problem is that I know nothing about different models
> of
> them. I understand the theory of operation and have hand cranked them when
> I
> was younger visiting the midwest, so that should be no issue, but how much
> should I spend? How can I assure the unit I get can be adjusted for
> efficient operation with the small diameter ears that I produce? Are some
> units "self-adjusting" for ear diameter? Some varieties I grow have
> kernels
> on the top of the ear, some do not so does that impact the chosen model
> and
> its efficiency? Should I get a hand crank unit or a newer electric motor
> operated sheller?
>     As the old expression goes, enquiring minds want to know. But then the
> add on is that this enquiring mind wants to get a good tool in operation!
>     This is also somewhat time sensitive as I would like to start selling
> our popcorn to assess market demand.
>           Grant Brians
>           Hollister,California
>           Vegetable, Nuts and Fruit farmer
>
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>

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