Early Morning Thoughts

[Brad]

Just sitting here looking at some of the posts, links, and pictures. The machines in some of the pictures probably go back 50 to 70 years. I am impressed by the machine itself, in its current state of repair, and the fact that it's still doing what it was designed to do. But what runs thru my mind when I see something like this goes back to the day that it was purchased off the showroom floor. The family that bought it must have been thrilled to take delivery of such a piece of equipment. This was a major purchase that was well thought out and discussed. Probably saved for quite a while to be able to afford this item, even if they did help fund the purchase with a trip to the bank. (I don't think people were as quick to impulse buy, or go with "no payments for 5 years" back in the '30's and '40's as they are now). This was something that was going to make life good. They didn't have to feed it, water it, and carry a shovel around with them to clean up after it. Didn't have to hitch it up, brush it, rub it down after a hard day in the field. Of course, it was capable of doing more damage and causing more injury in the blink of an eye than old Bessie. You probably knew when Bessie was having a bad day and didn't get too close to either end, the one with the teeth or the one with the hoof.

Think of the hours spent behind some of these machines. Might have been the main means of support for their owners working their ground. Fed their family and were productive enough that there was produce left over to sell to the folks from town, so as to be able to buy stuff out of the Sears and Roebuck Catalog. They were taken care of and built to last. Stayed in their original family for years, generations. Weren't traded in next year for the new and improved version that'll "turn on a dime and give you 9 cents change".

Used to be every family pretty much had to be able to grow/raise enough food to survive. Then, with proper equipment, each farmer could feed 3 or 4 other families. Then along came tractors and equiment such as this. Raised that capacity even more. And when tractors could finally bend in the middle, that number really grew.

Well, that's my early morning thoughts for today...

[Drawbar]

Not bad thoughts.

I know for years we had a Ford 900. It was not much of a tractor when it was scrapped in 1999, but in 1958 with its all hydraulic bucket, people came from near and far to see it work. It had a diesel engine to boot, a rare thing in those days on a small tractor and probably the only reason they made 1500 of them.

Just keep in mind in the old days things were not always so rosy. Since 1994 the allowable bacteria in milk has been reduced by 1/3! I just get a kick out of these people that think farming was so much different back then. It was a smaller scale but it certainly was not better. From the 50's to the 70's most corn seed was dipped in Stricknine to keep the crows from eating it...or at least eating a lot of it. People worry about the ONE gene that makes Round Up Ready Corn immune to Round Up and 30 years ago they dipped bags of corn seed in Stricknine without a thought that if it could kill birds, what did it do to the plant and the animal eating the plant that we got milk from?

(Sorry about the rant but I just read Doc Holiday's post on Farm Crops which got my blood boiling only to find out after 7 pages of reading the thread had been locked.) :(

[Ingersoll444]

You know, Brad... I have thought that alot also.

I have a 1944 Gravely in the shed.. there was a LOT going on in the world in 1944!!!!! Wonder what they were thinking? How much they must have thought about buying it. Uncertin future...World in turmoil.. The thing has seen very little use. I always wonderd if the owner used it for a year or so, went to war, and never came home.. Probably sat in a barn for 3-40 years after that.

[draddogs]

It's sad to realize the way of life has evolved to the point that we are almost in the same boat as were our ancestors of the fortys. The economy the loss of work the war and the slowing flow of extra cash seems to me that we are in an era now much like those who planned, spent money for equipment that did more than keep us inside watching the the boob tube.

Life was very demanding back then and is turning that way today just that the equipment is cheaper built so our dollar wont get us as far as it did when life evolved around each family raising crops for their familys use to survive.

I just hope that we have the resolve that those of our past had to make it thru these troubling times with the inferior craftsmanship of today.

Thanks for the great look back Brad.

[jed12674]

We must all be on the same wave length here, cause my thoughts are the same.

[Ingersoll444]

It's sad to realize the way of life has evolved to the point that we are almost in the same boat as were our ancestors of the fortys. The economy the loss of work the war and the slowing flow of extra cash seems to me that we are in an era now much like those who planned, spent money for equipment that did more than keep us inside watching the the boob tube.

Life was very demanding back then and is turning that way today just that the equipment is cheaper built so our dollar wont get us as far as it did when life evolved around each family raising crops for their familys use to survive.

I just hope that we have the resolve that those of our past had to make it thru these troubling times with the inferior craftsmanship of today.

Thanks for the great look back Brad.

You know, this just may be what it takes to turn us away from the throwaway world we have now. It may take a wile, but when money gets tighter, people may learn that something that cost more, but also lasts, is the better value a lot of the time.

[stonykill]

same thoughts here. Good post Brad.

I just had a conversation with a nieghbor. He lives about a 1/2 mile up the road, has a small farm, and is our town super. I've known him my entire 41 years. A down to earth honest hard working guy. We were talking amungst other things small farming today, and where it is headed. The conversation linked into the sorry sorry shape our economy is in. We both know, not felt, but know its much worse than anyone is telling us it is. So he says to me "Tom, you and I will get thru this, we live a simple life everyday, aren't afraid of hard work, and want for nothing, except equiptment to do the job at hand. It's all the other types that won't get thru this". That stuck with me the last few weeks. We both felt there will be a resurgence of either small farms or garden markets, people buying local, and an awful lot of bartering going on. Not that different than it was when these old 2 wheeled units were 1st built. And you know what, I WELCOME IT! Too many people today are rude, disrespectful, dishonest, hateful etc, etc. The times I see coming will humble those people, if they survive at all.

[Brad]

same thoughts here. Good post Brad.

I just had a conversation with a nieghbor. He lives about a 1/2 mile up the road, has a small farm, and is our town super. I've known him my entire 41 years. A down to earth honest hard working guy. We were talking amungst other things small farming today, and where it is headed. The conversation linked into the sorry sorry shape our economy is in. We both know, not felt, but know its much worse than anyone is telling us it is. So he says to me "Tom, you and I will get thru this, we live a simple life everyday, aren't afraid of hard work, and want for nothing, except equiptment to do the job at hand. It's all the other types that won't get thru this". That stuck with me the last few weeks. We both felt there will be a resurgence of either small farms or garden markets, people buying local, and an awful lot of bartering going on. Not that different than it was when these old 2 wheeled units were 1st built. And you know what, I WELCOME IT! Too many people today are rude, disrespectful, dishonest, hateful etc, etc. The times I see coming will humble those people, if they survive at all.


You and your neighbor sound like the type of people that see someone next door digging a flower bed or building their deck you grab your gloves and shovel or hammer and lend a hand. That's a nice environment to live in.

[sabrinafree]

Funny, I looked at a picture of some rusty old thing* on here this morning, and wondered about the original owners and all that machine had been through since.



*(that is said with love, ok!)

[Rodney in VA]

Brad:

Thanks for the "early morning thoughts." I think that kind of thinking may just be a major part of the invisible thread that draws us all here to MTF. I think we all possess that “hunter-gatherer” gene that inclines us towards dirt, machinery, family, animals etc. I think many of us have often thought along those same lines as you did this morning. Thanks for sharing… :fing32:

[stonykill]

You and your neighbor sound like the type of people that see someone next door digging a flower bed or building their deck you grab your gloves and shovel or hammer and lend a hand. That's a nice environment to live in.


it is a environment to live in. We leave each other alone unless someone needs a hand, then we are there. It's the way it used to be most places, and still is in some places.

We don't know what the other neighbor is doing unless a phonecall is made or someone stops by. We are spaced that far apart. He is only 4 houses down but a couple hundred acres separate us.

[Tractor-Holic]

In a way,I think the dowturn in the economy isn't all negativity--I think it's about time the world slowed down a bit,we stopped using up all our resources at an alarming rate,and we take time to "stop and smell the roses",instead of rushing off to work,work work,and never have any time for family and friends,or ENJOY any of your time here on earth..there IS more to life than just working your life away and making money..the world has been spinning a bit too fast lately, if you ask me..why the big hurry all the time?..

Too much emphasis is put on MONEY,instead of family,morals,manners,and self reliance nowadays..it seems like if your not well off,your doomed to a life of poverty and hard work,and little chance to realize the "american dream "anymore..and those on the lower end of the income scale seem to always get treated poorly too,like they are less of a human being ,just because they aren't well off..

A favorite artist of mine has a song called "You Don't Know How Lucky You Are"...it tells how most people use MONEY to measure success--the big car your driving,or the price of your dress..but if somebody loves you,your richer by far..and that is so true!..most people could care less about others,they are more worried about how much CASH they have..like money has replaced LOVE,as a way of life..like they can BUY anything,including love,devotion,or respect..

Someday,our money may be WORTHLESS!..maybe not as far off as you think too!--it will be our survival skills and hard labor that will enable us to live on,not how much money you have stashed away in the bank, or your mattress..

Too many poeople look down on those not as well off as they are,not realizing at any time THEY could just as easily be the ones in need..and someday,those who are well off might not be,and have to rely on those of us who KNOW how to survive with little or nothing,having done just that most of our lives..now that the economy has finally tanked,I bet many of these people wish they had prepared beter for the years they'll face now, without the comfort of being well off..some of them wont survive..

...like Stonykill said,those who are rude,disrespectful,hateful,and have a "me first and screw everyone else" attitude, will be eating humble pie soon,and personally,I think it's about time!..the area I live in is full of people that act this way,and I've had enough of it!...

Our parents,those of "the greatest generation",seemed to grow up with good manners,morals,and have happy childhoods,and survived,despite the "Great Depression"..goes to show it's not how much you have in life,but how you use WHAT you have or can get that gets you by in life..like they say,whatever doesn't kill you,only makes you stronger..

I think in many ways,we americans have been spoiled for far too long..and take our rights and prosperity too much for granted..maybe if we could live in some third world country for a month or two,we'd see the world through different eyes..maybe we soon WILL become another third world country??..it appears we may well be,so now is the time to get ready for it..but many of us wont make it,the ones who have never had to be self reliant ,will be in for a rude awakening..and they will find it diffucult to find any friends among those they treated like dirt in the past,who will now have the upper hand,due to their survival skills..

At any rate,it's the guys and gals like us,who can grow crops,or build things out of junk and rubbish,that will survive the longest!..I had quite a conversation with one of the junkyard owners I buy stuff from often,and he said "I hope if things get REAL bad,you realize a guy like yourself who can take something like an old electric motor or altenator and make a generator out of it,will be in very high demand!"..he's always amazed at the things I buy from him, and what I make out of them,but to me ,I'm just copying someone elses idea I saw online!..

He's right though,he realizes just because he's a millionaire today,doesn't gaurantee his money will be worth anything in the future..and it will be up to those of us with the skill and knowledge to build "something out of nothing" that will be here the longest!..(and the guy who has the biggest junkpile to pick from!)..

I think going back to the old ways of days past,wouldn't be so bad--if more folks had their own gardens,grew their own food,raised a few chickens or cows,stayed "home on the farm" instead of commuting 50 miles a day,the USA would be a better place to live..people without a big bankroll have always helped each other in tough times,and got along with their neighbors instead of being at war with them all the time over issues like noise,property lines, and tresspassing,etc..people back then HAD to be nice to each other,and that aint a bad thing,in my opinion..It would do the world good to slow down some,we're in too much of a hurry to be "wealthy" lately,to have a "Life",and that can only lead to our ruin..

Well,that's my morning babble--hope it made sense to some of you,it's not easy putting my thoughts into words,especially before the coffee kicks in!..

Robert

[Rodney in VA]

Tractor-Holic:

It does us all good to rant about our feeling sometimes. I’m sure your rant was the same that a lot of good honest hardworking citizens are feeling. I sure do agree with one thing… this world needs to slow down. :fing32:

[bontai Joe]

I sometimes am overwhelmed by these same thoughts as I walk through an antique tractor show, looking at machinery that's 50 to over 100 years old still working, still capable of doing what it was designed for. I often wonder what stories these machines could tell, did they help win World War II by growing the food used in K-rations? did they save a family farm when they replaced the horse? How many harvests have they seen? How many gardens were tilled? Much of that old machinery is pretty simple, designed to be repaired by the owner. Watching the antique tractor pulls, I see tractors from the 1940s and 1950's competing, some driven by people not yet born when their tractor was built, and some still driven by the original owner. For me. I've spent enough time around so many old machines that I feel they almost have a personality, I can tell from the sounds they make if all is well, or if it's groaning under protest of a hard job. And watching an old saw mill work and seeing how many people it takes to slab a log into usefull lumber or split into shingles makes me appreciate what it took to build the old homes and barns that are still in the area. I guess the saw mill connects me to the process of turning a tree into a house, good to be reminded that lumber didin't ALWAYS come from the home center. My mom's dad was a carpenter during the depression, and my mom tells the story of her straightening bent nails with a little hammer when she was a kid so her dad could use them the next day. Imagine anyone being that frugal today? Saving some produce from the garden for it's seed to be used next year? Keeping chickens and a couple of goats while living in town like my great grandparents did? These are things that we all may be needing to do again and soon I'm afraid. Skills of the past like machines of the past should be preserved. And a lot of the folks here are well equipped to take care of themselves, as well as share that information with others that are interested. I think that's one of the important things that have allowed this forum to grow so fast.