A Sad Sight....

Ken Christopherson · Feb 6, 2015

Hello all.. I figured I would share some thoughts from today's road trip I had. I accompanied a friend of mine to Biewer's Salvage Yard in Barnesville, MN today. He needed a frame and some governor parts for his late model JD B, and I needed a new manifold for the Case SC. It has been about ten years since I have been up that way, but it looks the same as the day I left. I'll admit, the last trip I made, I was 19. Today I am 28, and this time, there was something different. An eerie quiet was in the air. As I walked through the endless rows of carcasses I began to think of the tireless years that these machines and their operators worked. The amazing thinkers that designed and the craftsman who built these amazing relics, without the advancement of computerized technology, robotic welders, and the like. After a while, I began to feel a bit saddened over what has happened with these machines. Our heritage, what America was built upon, was literally rotting away before me. In many cases, useful parts were obtained and put to good use, but the others - discarded, lost, and forgotten. I don't want to end on a somber note, but I wanted to say that I hope to continue this as a lifelong hobby, and to pass it on to future generations. Enjoy a few pictures I was able to grab of the retired relics (cell phone quality will have to suffice).

casenut1 · Feb 6, 2015

Great pics. Just wish it was closer to Ohio.Do they ship?

Alan K · Feb 6, 2015

I agree. Hate to see them parked somewhere but at least they ARE somewhere....for now. I always wondered how on earth they were able to assemble the larger old steel wheeled tractors that came out after the steam engines. A lot of heavy parts to move there. Thanks for posting the pictures.

Ken Christopherson · Feb 6, 2015

They do ship - and they have an incredible inventory. Gary and Don are great guys, and travel all over the country. Their phones were ringing off the hook but they took the time out of their day to assist us in pulling the frame off of a late model B for my friend's tractor.

Cory Schmidt · Feb 6, 2015

The same feelings when going to the yards.
OH the tales they would tell.

"I was across the drive when the barn burned..."
"I was left out all the time, but was taken care of"
"The farmer bought me new, I sat, kid sold me for junk"

Them tinkers and engineers sure had good heads on their shoulders. The modern stuff is still based on the old, hard, manual work.

thanks for posting

SweetFeet · Feb 6, 2015

Ken C.,

Have wondered if Biewers was photo worthy... I'd have to vote yes.

Agree with your sentiments... disintegrating iron (or a building) brings out a sense of wonder and awe regarding those who imagined and created them - along with a sense of sadness at the dying/disappearing vestiges of that bygone era.

That is precisely the reason that I'm drawn to photographing dying machines and buildings... some connection to a past I never lived, and a sense of "preserving" that for the future. And yes, phtotos like this do bring out a sense of melancholy.

Thank you for posting.

To any wondering, yes Biewers ships. Good folks! We bought our front steel wheels and some other parts for our rusty Regular from them, they were great to deal with (and having checked around the country - I feel their prices are as fair as any other salvage yard).

BillOHIO · Feb 6, 2015

Ken, Thanks for your words and photos. I am a little older than you (74) but we have similar thoughts when looking at these old tractors. Of course I remember many when they were new, especially the Farmall 450 and the either 460 or 560 in the background. I grew up with IH as Dad worked at IH Dealership in Troy, Ohio all his life.

Don't you wish we could pull up a lawn chair among those old tractors and listen to all the storys and history that goes along with them ?

Thanks again for renewing a lot of old and good memories tonight ! Bill

Ken Christopherson · Feb 6, 2015

I didn't even make a dent in the photos I could have taken. We were under a time crunch, so I took a few photos of some interesting things I saw and got on my way. Next time I go, I will try to take much more. Gary and Don Biewer are great people to work with, and will go out of their way to give a hand.

paul · Feb 6, 2015

Nice message and photos.

I went to an auction sale near the Twin Cities a year ago, actually near the huge garbage dump between the Cities and Hutchinson.

Wasn't billed as such, but turned out to be a smaller ag junk yard. The new houses were moving in closer, could see where the land was going....

The old relics were kinda pushed up into piles. They sold off a lot of rebuilt stuff, but then to the piles, and sold them by the pile. Was pretty disappointing to see 100 pieces all go for one money, you know it was going to haul off to China....

Paul

CenTex Farmall · Feb 7, 2015

Thanks for sharing.
I would call it a welcome sight; they're still there and not shredded. Some will help keep the other ones going.

I what looks to be an old CC Case in the second photo.

FBH44 · Feb 7, 2015

I agree, I agree, I agree, however, nothing is stopping you from buying that old Case chicken-perch, I think it's called, and restoring that old baby. If that's a retail scrapyard, go buy it and get to work.

Traditional Farmer · Feb 7, 2015

Actually its a really great sight to see that at least some of the old parts machines are sill around and not scrapped out.

Bill VA · Feb 7, 2015

When I see stuff like that - or an antique car or truck, I think how happy the buyer and seller must have been at the time of purchase. Brand new - life was good.

Bill

hd6gtom · Feb 7, 2015

lot of dreams in that yard, wish I could have talked to some of the original owners.

Leroy · Feb 7, 2015

Could you give me some information on that IHC dealership? Was just outside my area as was 2 counties south of me, I live 1 1/2 mile north of the Shelby-Auglaize county line. And I am 3 years younger than you at 71.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 7, 2015

The first D John Deere I bought from Don Beiwer was in 1979.
I hauled to the Dakotas quit often and would stop in and see Don and Gary when they had their yard at his home.
We still communicate every then and now,he got me hooked up to see the Rolag thrashing show often.

Badger bob · Feb 7, 2015

sad sight would be seeing then on a slow boat to china. Bob

welled deers · Feb 7, 2015

I have purchased several tractors and parts from Don and Gary Biewer highly recommend them. They are good to work with. Would love to see their private collections which I have heard is extensive. They often display equipment at the
Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion at Rollag Minnesota on labor day. One of the best shows I have attended.

SweetFeet · Feb 7, 2015

Ken C.,

Forgot to say that part of the difference in your perspective from age 19 to age 28... is wisdom and age creepin' up on you.

A little levity here:

In another 20 years, it won't be creeping...
it'll run right up to you, jump on your back - sink its claws in and try to beat you down into the ground. Don't ask me how I know. LOL

Brokengun · Feb 7, 2015

Oh my some of those ole gals look restorable!

oldtanker · Feb 7, 2015

(quoted from post at 11:21:02 02/07/15) Oh my some of those ole gals look restorable!

They sell complete or mostly complete tractors. Just google em and check out their web site.

They are about 70 miles from me. Can see the yard from I94 by Barnsville MN. Glance over at it every time I go to Fargo. The only problem I have had with them at all was they were about 20 minutes late in calling me about a part I needed. Worked out to my advantage so no real grip. I called several places and the first one that said they had the part was in route to another place I had to go. They called back about 20 minutes later, they too had what I needed, at the same price, but I was heading out the door and in the other direction.

Rick

Jon Hagen · Feb 7, 2015

Be happy, their still there for anyone that wants them or a part from them.

Sad would be a before picture, then another after picture showing an empty lot with a note that they had all been sold for scrap iron.

black · Feb 7, 2015

Wow !! that's a great collection of old iron. I hope it doesn't go to scrap . Kinda looks like Dave Stieners yard in Mich. Those JD look pretty darn good to me.

Thanks for the pic.

Larry -- Ontario

Dick · Feb 7, 2015

Great pictures and a great story Ken. Very well said.
Thank you,,

26Red · Feb 7, 2015

I stop by there every couple of months. Bought several projects from them over the years. Good to work with. It's tough to leave there and not bring a new restoration project home!

Robert Major · Feb 7, 2015

Hi Thanks for posting the pictures, Yes in some ways it's sad. But for me i wish it was in Manitoba, or Saskatchewan. We are running out of those yards for old iron Fast. yards are being cleared or not buying in new stock that old, some yards are just plain ignorant and you can't deal with them either. I got 2 I can deal with if they ever have what I need, but thats not often now.
I'm finding it hard to get some parts for a fordson project and have to get the smaller parts from Australia and ship them in. Thats even starting to dry up on supplies there as well.
Regards Robert

Mike (WA) · Feb 7, 2015

Salvage guy once told me that the real trick project to get is the tractor that is broken in half or has a major casting broke. Everyone shies away from them, but they're actually the easiest to find parts for- most of the old carcasses in the salvage yards have lost all the "popular" parts, but the frame pieces you need are still there, and they're thrilled to sell them to a restorer rather than crush them.

Ted in NE-OH · Feb 7, 2015

"Ran when parked"

Geo-TH,In · Feb 8, 2015

Look at the situation from another angle, yes sad sight, but the bones from these tractors made it possible for other tractors can live instead of being melted down for scrape during WW2.

BIL collects antique bikes. His oldest is an 1883 24 inch girls bike. Next to impossible to find parts and when he does, it's big money. He finally found a special skip link chain for my dad's 1897 victor which is fully restored. He has a room in his house with 12 bikes in it. I think collecting tractors is better, at least we can use them instead of looking at them..

A Sad Sight....

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