Here are ten photos from today's show:
They feature a different manufacturer each year - this year was John Deere
The clubhouse for the Tractor Association is a replica of an old John Deere dealership complete with many of the old tools
A meadow full of Allis Chalmers and Massey Ferguson tractors
Not only were tractors used for work in the field, they were also sources of power for other machinery - here is one driving a sawmill.
There were also a lot of antique engines running on gasoline, diesel, kerosine, propane - if it burns, you can build an engine to run on it.
Here is a very big steam tractor - rated at 35 horsepower in the true sense of the word. It would equal 30-35 horses in tandem harness. I was writing yesterday about how the torque is in the boiler - here is a perfect example. You have a tiny engine running a huge machine - the total volume of the cylinder (red cylinder to the left with a white crank-rod at an angle) is about that of a large watermelon yet it can provide the same pulling power as 35 horses.
Only three blacksmiths there today - usually a lot more and I usually know a few of them. Introduced myself and we talked for a while.
Here is a washing machine designed to be driven by a small motor - you would have a little motor (two horsepower or so) that could run a lot of different things at the farm. A generator for evening reading or listening to the radio, a pump for irrigation or potable water, a washing machine. High tech living in those days.
And last but not least - here is the precursor to to today's chainsaw. This replaced the two-man "misery whip" or bucking saw.
All in all, a fun day (except for Thunderbunny's air conditioner failing). Working at home tomorrow and Friday. Pot-luck for a friend who is moving away on Saturday.
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