Things found in the field

[IslandTractor]

It hasn't started in at least 10 years but there is evidence of new hoses on the engine so I suspect it has been running not too too long ago.

The farm where this was used was also the island junk yard for old cars. It was such a hassle getting cars on to the island (one car per ferry max and only with the right tide and wind conditions) that old vehicles were never taken off the island. They collected in the junk yard and I think the farmers cannibalized them to build various farm tools as well as to keep other cars running.

 

[woodlandfarms]

It hasn't started in at least 10 years but there is evidence of new hoses on the engine so I suspect it has been running not too too long ago.

The farm where this was used was also the island junk yard for old cars. It was such a hassle getting cars on to the island (one car per ferry max and only with the right tide and wind conditions) that old vehicles were never taken off the island. They collected in the junk yard and I think the farmers cannibalized them to build various farm tools as well as to keep other cars running.

So how did you get your tractor and implements over?

 

[ultrarunner]

Here are a few more photos with a view of the springs. I don't have one of the rear springs directly.

I'd say 1928-29 Ford ton and half chassis... probably 1929 from the disc rear wheels.

Front wheels are early Ford V8... maybe 34 to 1935. 16" tires were easier to get during and after WWII.

Check the oil for water... clean the points and crank her up with a shot of starting fluid to see if see "pops"

I had a home built sickly bar mower that was made using a model A. For extra low speed a second Model A transmission was connected directly behind the first one giving 9 forward speeds.

 

[IslandTractor]

So how did you get your tractor and implements over?

New bigger ferry No problem driving vehicles on and off the island now.

 

[IslandTractor]

I'd say 1928-29 Ford ton and half chassis... probably 1929 from the disc rear wheels.

I have no idea what the model is but here is a shot of the engine if it helps. Pretty clearly not a V8.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Not to diverge too much but I have always thought it would be cool to live on an island. But then I realized that I would have to change the pace of my life to accomodate shore transportation... Lost its luster then for sure.

 

[Soundguy]

While looking for a lost mower blade (see thread Todays Seat Time ) found another horse shoe.

I find those alot.. usually with my rider mower!!

soundguy

 

[sandman2234]

I can add to the "lost Stanley thermos" story. I left out one evening, with two standard stanley thermos' filled with coffee. I got a few blocks up the road and hit something in the road, that I didn't see. (bump like a pothole) After about 30 miles, I reached down to get my thermos off the floor where they laid to pour a cup. They are gone!!! Then I remembered that I sat them on the step before getting in the truck and called the wife to go check on the road where I hit the "bump". Sure enough, found one, never did find the other. The one I did find was still hot two days later when I got home. Stanley wouldn't warranty the thermos, as it was flat from being driven over with 80,000 pounds.
Only reason I didn't keep it was the lid wouldn't screw in or out after I finally got it out the last time.
David from jax

 

[sunnyside360]

I find those alot.. usually with my rider mower!!

soundguy

Yep, same here. I've found many old rusty horse shoes over the years. Few years ago, I rototilled several acres on this old farm instead of plowing and ran into two old horse shoes and head of a small hammer. I suppose the hammer was used for repairing shoes in the field. Rototillers are good for finding things like that. Makes one sit back and think about how much rougher farming was years ago.
We've got it made with these modern day tractors -- cab, A/C, heat, radio. etc, etc..

 

[IslandTractor]

Not to diverge too much but I have always thought it would be cool to live on an island. But then I realized that I would have to change the pace of my life to accomodate shore transportation... Lost its luster then for sure.

Just think of an island as a boat on a mooring that cannot sink. Yes, the ferry schedule determines a lot of decisions but I have grown to love the idea that once the last ferry leaves in the evening that you are isolated and cannot just run down to the supermarket or hardware store to do an errand. You bring with you what you need until it is time to leave again. Very interesting impact of this on community relations (we help each other all the time without question) and we learn to make do with what we have rather than running to home depot to get exactly the right piece. No one throws stuff away as you never know when you'll need a broken gizmo to fix something else and everyone chips in to solve problems. Kids are free to wander around safely. Everyone waves at everyone else. Island life has it's issues but it is a great respite from the urban rat race.

 

[SailorBob]

I ran over an armadillo with the brush hog once. I don't know if it was alive or dead when i hit it but, it made one heck of a racket. It sounded the hog was coming apart but no damage.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I ran over an armadillo with the brush hog once. I don't know if it was alive or dead when i hit it but, it made one heck of a racket. It sounded the hog was coming apart but no damage.

Armadillo = Texas speed bumps.

 

[Soundguy]

Armadillo = Texas speed bumps.

Last time I went mowing I -almost- hit 2 birds.. both buzzed thru the op platform area and right beside my head... talk about scare the heck out of ya... just setting there mowing open pasture then .25 seconds later, black object buzzes your head...

Also, one time i was mowing in thick weeds with my 8n.. had a black snake ( I think ) come up over the right running board, over top of the trans.. we both panicked, and then he went off the left running board.. probably took all of 1/2 second.. but after that I switched to the larger/taller op platform area.. tractors for mowing that piece.

soundguy

 

[LBrown59]

New bigger ferry No problem driving vehicles on and off the island now.

We have a ferry that crosses the Ohio River between Sistersville, WVa.and Fly, Oh.
It's been in operation since I was a Kid back in the early forties.
I think it wil carry 6 or 8 cars.
I uesed it to get across the river when I was working for a guy that owned an LP gas business .
I drove a 1 ton1960 Ford Truck delivering 100 pound Propane tanks in 1962 and 1963.

 

[LBrown59]

I'd say 1928-29 Ford ton and half chassis... probably 1929 from the disc rear wheels.

I have no idea what the model is but here is a shot of the engine if it helps. Pretty clearly not a V8.

That building in the back ground.sure seems to look way too good to be an old abandoned structure .
L B

 

[IslandTractor]

That building in the back ground.sure seems to look way too good to be an old abandoned structure .
L B

It is an antique milking shed that somebody slapped some vinyl siding on. It has a very interesting interior setup that someone with dairy experience might be able to explain.

 

[ultrarunner]

I'd say 1928-29 Ford ton and half chassis... probably 1929 from the disc rear wheels.

I have no idea what the model is but here is a shot of the engine if it helps. Pretty clearly not a V8.

It looks to have a 33-34 Model B engine... at least the cylinder head is with the 3 bolt water pump.

A "B" cylinder head increases compression giving 50 hp vs the Model A 40 hp.

If the block is also a Model B, it will have a boss cast on the other side of the engine for a fuel pump... Model A's are gravity fed and the later B's had fuel pumps.

The later engines are more desirable because the crank and rods are beefed up to handle the 25% increase in horsepower. Probably very salvageable unless there is freeze damage or something like a thrown rod.

 

[IslandTractor]

If the block is also a Model B, it will have a boss cast on the other side of the engine for a fuel pump... Model A's are gravity fed and the later B's had fuel pumps..

I'll try to remember to check this weekend.

 

[Yankee Clipper]

It is a dooblebug - a Model AA Ford truck cut down into a tractor - lotswere done in the 40s and 50s, I am told.

Sometimes they would put two transmissions in series so it was powerful and very s l o w. Used to find them up in New England for a couple hundred bucks in the 60s.

 

[slaveToHorses]

We found an old car once. Buried in blackberries. Have no idea what kind it was. I was just a rusted carcass that looked like a sedan. A small very rounded one. No trim markings remained and nothing was usable. Just a framework for a Pacific Northwest jungle.

My neighbor played with it for a while with his D8, then got tired of the sport and reduced it to a manageable mass of rust.

Other than that, just the usual field gremlins like metal fence posts, bailing wire,...