Re: Tractor Abuse!

Posted by Howard H. on November 09, 2006 at 09:29:19 from (164.58.210.24):

In Reply to: Tractor Abuse! posted by Allan In NE on November 09, 2006 at 05:13:40:

I went to one of the most unusual farm sales anyone would ever see a couple of years ago out here in the Oklahoma Panhandle.

The fellow was a fanatic for maintenance detail like you would never believe. Every piece of equipment was perfect - some from the 30's and 40's.

The tires on the old Krause one-ways weren't even low.

The factory radio and cab upholstery in the old 930 Case was still perfect.

The old Massey cabless combine was still in perfect running condition.

The fellow was an aging loner, got sick, and hung himself from the windmill. But he wrote a notebook full of notes on most pieces of equipment for the auctioneers to post for the sale.

Things like "truck in perfect condition except slight oil leak on rear left axle - find seal on stairway in basement". Or on the old Model T - "note matching serial #'s - only thing that needs attention is hood mount blocks need to be shaved 1/16 of an inch".

He also left notes asking that no one who was not "authorized, competent, responsible, etc..." touch any of the cars in the barn.

The auctioneer stopped the sale at the 1940's grain truck and told the story that the owner told every farmhand they had hired during harvest, that if they were caught with the windows rolled down on the truck while it was still in the field or dirt road before they got up on the pavement they would be fired.

There was a 40's model Chevy pickup in perfect working condition - with a pintle hitch on the rear bumper that had almost 1/4" groove worn in the bottom hook. He had USED his equipment and taken AMAZING care of everything.

It was more like a museum selling out than an old farm estate.

The whole sale was eerie and sad and a good lesson at the same time. Reading his notes as different pieces were sold was very eerie.

It was sad that he died the way he did - alone and sick - but it has stuck with me as a lesson to this day that it is possible to take care of the equipment almost indefinitely. The amount of respect he had for taking care of things was inpirational.

To this day, it still affects my attitude on maintaining my tractors and equipment.

He also left the university where I work a good portion of a million dollar bequeath - so it paid off for his family to farm like that.

Howard H.

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