[AT] Orchard tractors

Wed Nov 7 06:48:23 PST 2012

One of the things that puts a monkey wrench in things, Charlie, is that orchards are no longer planted as individual trees that you can drive through in several directions.  Instead, they are planted more like a vineyard with the tees only about 3 feet apart, and with wires strung for the entire length of the row to lend stability to the plants so they can't be blown over.  On high-production farms, much of the work is done "remotely" with high-pressure broadcast sprayers and other machinery that can be powered with ANY tractor.  The need for an orchard tractor simply disappeared.  In a similar manner, tillage techniques have changed dramatically since the Wheatland tractors were popular.  Nobody needs to pull a 20-bottom plow across a field in this day and age.  Soil compaction has become more of an issue than brute force and pulling power.

Larry
----- Original Message -----
From: charlie hill <charliehill at embarqmail.com>
To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:08:25 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: [AT] Orchard tractors

I've seen Orchard and Wheatland tractors.  I've seen a lot of them..... ALL 
at tractor shows.
I've never seen one in the field or orchard.  The thing is.. the tractor 
companies built tractors to
meet the demands of specific regions and markets.  Down here in eastern NC 
and S/E Virginia
Allis Chalmers sold a bunch of tractors in the 70's that were marketed as 
"Tobacco Specials"
They were tractors in the 80 to 100 hp range that had extra long axles so 
they could cultivate
multiple rows of tobacco which is traditionally planted on 48" rows.   I've 
had AC EXPERTS (and I mean that)
from the Mid West tell me those tractors don't exist.  I can take you to 
several of them today.
Some of them finally agreed their might be such a thing but said it was just 
a decal stuck on
by a dealer somewhere.  However, I have confirmed with a long time AC dealer 
here that sold
dozens of them that they came from the factory with longer than stock axle 
shafts and with the
decals affixed when they left the factory.    My point is not to argue about 
AC tobacco special
tractors but just to point out how regional the tractor business was in the 
old days and
what lengths the manufacturers went to to meet the specific needs of their 
customers.

Charlie

-----Original Message----- 
From: Joe Hazewinkel
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2012 8:39 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: [AT] Orchard tractors

Cecil,

They are definitely a region thing.  I have an Oliver, JD, and Case orchard 
tractor here in Michigan.  Orchard and row crop tractors are more common 
here.  A wheat land tractor is considered a rare find around here.

Enjoy, Joe

Sent from my iPhone just for you

On Nov 7, 2012, at 8:25 AM, Cecil R Bearden <crbearden at copper.net> wrote:

> John:
> I don't want to hijack this thread, but I think we have already chased
> this rabbit until he is out of breath.  Where are you to have found  an
> orchard tractor? I have never seen one in real life!  I only saw them in
> pictures.  Please post a few for us to see.  We have orchards here in
> Okla, but no one has an orchard tractor.  They must be very rare,
> especially an Oliver.
> Cecil  in OKla
>
>
> On 11/6/2012 10:49 PM, John Wilkens wrote:
>> Will, avoid the legal solution and go with "the good neighbor
>> policy"...by all means!   Good luck!
>> Making pretty good progress on the Oliver Orchard project.  Hung a
>> sign on the front grill "Nothing is Impossible" that I glance at
>> often!    John W.
>>
>>
>>
>> At 09:37 AM 11/6/2012, you wrote:
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> Two of my neighbors hickories fell onto my walking path. I've got
>>> 10+ acres and he has about 15 acres. Never met the neighbor since he
>>> bought the property a few years back.
>>>
>>> The trees fell halfway on his property and all of the tops are on my
>>> property and walking path.
>>>
>>> My plan is to go to his door and ask him if he wants the trees. If
>>> yes, then I'll request that he takes them off my property at some
>>> point, tops and all. If not, then I'll ask if I can cut them off the
>>> root ball and tow the sections down to my splitting area.
>>>
>>> What is the law on trees that fall onto your property? Who owns them?
>>>
>>> This is a heavily wooded area. My feeling is that if I clear off my
>>> path I should get the wood... Problem is, I don't really want the
>>> tops, If I'm going to take the effort to cut up the tree I'll want
>>> the whole thing.
>>>
>>> Any thoughts?
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Will, SE PA.
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