Talk about taken care of ,pics .

thesmoothedeere · Jul 23, 2013

Just amazing to me .

sd pete · Jul 23, 2013

Any idea of when it was built? It has had tender loving care.

thesmoothedeere · Jul 23, 2013

I didnt see any info hanging on it .

Mike M · Jul 23, 2013

I think I'd try some linseed oil sprayed on it to farther help preserve it.

ShadetreeRet · Jul 23, 2013

Amazing to me, also. Wonder if they had any way of treating wood back then? Of course, the paint itself and primer that they used then was somewhat of a preservative. Thanks for the photos.

Dr. Walt · Jul 23, 2013

I wonder if they used the old Red, Milk Paint; that might explain why it's in such good condition.

O.T. Red, Barn Paint
Milk
Linseed Oil
Red Iron Oxide

Sorry, but I don't know the mix ratio's.

Doc

gtractorfan · Jul 23, 2013

Looks like it's been inside with a cover over it, almost a shame to get it dusty since it's a lot of work to clean it that good.

Fergienewbee · Jul 23, 2013

Must be fun to watch with all those belts, wheels, pulleys and bells and whistles.

Larry

thesmoothedeere · Jul 23, 2013

John Birdsell received his first patent for the clover huller in 1855, and the design of his machines changed very little from 1881 until the end of the company in 1931. This machine was built in South Bend, Indiana.
Found this online ....

Paul from MI · Jul 23, 2013

Accor4ding to Walter Buescher they were still being built after Allis-Chalmers bought Advance-Rumely in 1931. He mentions having some left in stock when Allis started building the All-Crop combine about 1935. Judging by the wooden wheels on that one, it may be quite a bit older than that. I have a reprint of an Allis-Chalmers catalog from 1935 and they are shown in it, I think. That is one of the nicest I have ever seen, absolutely ready to go to work.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 23, 2013

Better wood back then, also...

Anonymous-0 · Jul 23, 2013

You were at the Miami Valley Steam Thresher's Reunion weren't you?

OH - 961 · Jul 23, 2013

The wood available back then was "old growth" timber which was much denser and tougher unlike the junk that is sold as "lumber" nowadays. Old growth wood is very scarce, and pricey if you can even get it.
There is at least one company that specializes in recovering long ago old growth sunken logs from rivers and lakes, but I think that is mostly for furniture grade hardwoods. Very expensive stuff.
So far as I know, there were no real wood preservative treatments available that long ago, except maybe the creosote used on railroad ties and telegraph poles. The only protection is whatever paint or varnish, linseed oil, etc. may have been applied.
That machine will deteriorate if left to the weather. Hope someone cares enough to keep that old gem safe and dry.

Myron

Anonymous-0 · Jul 23, 2013

That is true american history and craftmanship. THANKS for the pic's !!

showcrop · Jul 23, 2013

All it takes is to keep a roof on the shed, but you see plenty of sheds that have needed roofs for a long time.

AG in IN · Jul 23, 2013

Here's a link from the local "Center for History" about Birdsell.

http://centerforhistory.org/learn-history/business-history/birdsell-clover-huller-company

AG

Anonymous-0 · Jul 24, 2013

No I guessing it is the one owned By the Elkhart County Fair.

Talk about taken care of ,pics .

thesmoothedeere

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