[AT] Grain Augers & grain blowers

[Ralph Goff]

> In the midwest, grain augers were preceeded by grain blowers. These were a
> hot item for a short (<6 year) period. They were installed in floor of
> grain truck bed, normally front left corner.  Blowers were V-belt driven by
> truck trans PTO(?).  Not sure of that; do know the normal 3 speed trans was
> not properly equipped. Blowers worked good, but would crack grain if not
> kept fully loaded or if one ran the truck engine/blower too fast.  One
> still had to shovel grain over to this corner of the truck bed. In recent
> years I have noticed a couple old trucks that had grain blower installed
> (probably several decades ago).
Herb, can't say I ever saw the grain blowers here. I think my Dad went 
right from the shovel and "manitoba scoop" to a small 4 inch grain auger 
powered by a sometimes unreliable little two stroke engine. I think my 
Uncle did have a truck powered auger that ran off the pto. And I don't 
think any 3 speed transmission ever had the option of installing a pto . 
All my old 4 speeds either had the pto already or a removeable plate on 
the side to bolt one on.
That type of grain handling is one thing I don't miss from the old days. 
Now when we need to load a 1100 bushel truck I just hitch a hundred 
horsepower tractor up to the grain vac and watch the grain fly.

Ralph in Sask.
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