[AT] An Antique Road Grader

[deanvp at att.net]

Roger,

Thanks for the article and video.  It brings back stories my father told of working for the ISDOT during the depression.  If you watch carefully you will see more control levers and wheels than what a person has hands and feet. So the operator had to get very proficient to operate that grader properly.   Now think about, instead of having a motor to propel that thing consider a team of horses pulling this device. A team of at least 6 horses or more.   We had a small version of that horse drawn grader on the farm used to dress up drive ways and move a light snow. Even as a very young child watching my father run that thing with just two horses was something of a miracle.  Reins wrapped around his neck, using voice commands for the two Belgian horses, King and Queen, It was a blur of spinning wheels with rapid arm and  feet activity adjusting levers, etc.  It was very obvious to me I would never learn to drive that machine. His learned skill level was way beyond anything I would ever be able to do.  Later instead of horses a tractor was used with me as the driver. Let me tell you the stream of voice commands on what the tractor was supposed to do or was, was way beyond anyone's capability to learn.  I suspect he could do a better job with the horses. But look at all those levers and wheels that need to be adjusted on the fly.  The only saving grace was the motor grader was moving slowly.  No matter where we went if there was a motor or horse drawn grader on display or any where around Dad always had to go take a look.   .It was a very important part of his life. I'm sure it was a skill level that is rarely achieved by us hobbyists. 

Dean VP
Apache Junction, AZ

-----Original Message-----
From: AT <at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com> On Behalf Of Roger Moffat
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2022 9:21 PM
To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Subject: [AT] An Antique Road Grader

Came across this article and video linked up on Facebook.

A guy bought a 1929 McCormick Road Grader, that used to belong to Oregon State Highway Department and got it going.

There’s an article, and an Oregon DOT video about it here

https://bangshift.com/bangshiftxl/take-a-tour-of-this-86-year-old-mccormick-deering-grader-that-still-plows-snow-in-oregon/

Cheers

Roger
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