Hello Guest

Harvest 1957

  • 11 Replies
  • 17942 Views
*

RG8800

  • *****
  • 607
    • View Profile
Harvest 1957
« on: August 15, 2009, 04:49:22 PM »
Thought I'd post this vintage harvest photo a friend sent me. His Dad and brother riding the John Deere D pulling a Case model K combine. Harvesting spring wheat most likely in September or late August of 57. This would have been a fairly typical harvest outfit in those days although there were plenty of self propelleds around by that time too .
Ralph in Sask.

Harvest 1957
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2009, 12:33:24 PM »
Ralph - Thanks for posting the Vintage Photo. I really enjoy Photos from the past showing Equipment working in the field. Merton

Harvest 1957
« Reply #2 on: August 20, 2009, 04:30:14 PM »
These were taken on my grandfathers ranch. The tractor is a Holt Steamer.

Dave
Dave E

*

RG8800

  • *****
  • 607
    • View Profile
Harvest 1957
« Reply #3 on: August 20, 2009, 11:14:13 PM »
Quote from: DaveErnst;765
These were taken on my grandfathers ranch. The tractor is a Holt Steamer.

Dave


Nice ones Dave. Hard to imagine combining with horses. The fuel bill must have been something. :D
Heres one I consider a classic family shot. Friend of mine in it back in 1957. Bindering oats with a little Case of some sort. Not sure of the model.
Ralph in Sask.

Harvest 1957
« Reply #4 on: August 21, 2009, 10:31:15 AM »
Ralph - I think the Tractor is a Case VAC. Nice Photo. Merton

Harvest 1957
« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2009, 06:50:48 AM »
Quote from: RG8800;766
Nice ones Dave. Hard to imagine combining with horses. The fuel bill must have been something. :D
Heres one I consider a classic family shot. Friend of mine in it back in 1957. Bindering oats with a little Case of some sort. Not sure of the model.


The Case is a VA. Has 24 inch tires and short, non adjustable axles... Gene

*

RG8800

  • *****
  • 607
    • View Profile
Harvest 1957
« Reply #6 on: August 23, 2009, 01:43:14 AM »
Thanks for the i.d. Gene. Did you notice the wheel weights? Looks like some huge bull gears off another old tractor.
Ralph in Sask.

Harvest 1957
« Reply #7 on: August 25, 2009, 05:55:19 PM »
Up until 1966 we were pulling a John Deere #36 hillside combine with a Cat diesel 50.  We had to use something that heavy to hold the combine when going downhill. We were dry farming 2,200 acres back then. In 1966 we purchased a Harris self propelled hillside machine new for $16,000. Talk about instant modernization! I still have the original owner/operators manual for that John Deere. Everytime I see it the memories come flooding back. The header was a flat canvas belt style with a wooden reel. Took 30' wide cuts. Most fields were 320 acres, 1/2 mile wide and a mile long. We were lucky to get 4 rounds the first day. That is one of the same fields in the picture I posted with the horses pulling that combine.

Dave
Dave E

Harvest 1957
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2009, 03:52:11 PM »
Quote from: DaveErnst;765
These were taken on my grandfathers ranch. The tractor is a Holt Steamer.

Dave


Dave,

You might want to check that picture again, sure looks like a Daniel Best steamer rather than any Holt steamer I've seen.

Nice pictures!

George

Harvest 1957
« Reply #9 on: August 27, 2009, 09:47:00 PM »
Quote from: DaveErnst;771
Up until 1966 we were pulling a John Deere #36 hillside combine with a Cat diesel 50. We had to use something that heavy to hold the combine when going downhill. We were dry farming 2,200 acres back then. In 1966 we purchased a Harris self propelled hillside machine new for $16,000. Talk about instant modernization! I still have the original owner/operators manual for that John Deere. Everytime I see it the memories come flooding back. The header was a flat canvas belt style with a wooden reel. Took 30' wide cuts. Most fields were 320 acres, 1/2 mile wide and a mile long. We were lucky to get 4 rounds the first day. That is one of the same fields in the picture I posted with the horses pulling that combine.
 
Dave

Just out of curiosity, do you have any ideas what the yields were back when they were using the horses?

Harvest 1957
« Reply #10 on: September 03, 2009, 10:22:59 AM »
George, you're right. The back of the photo says its a Best.
John, the crop yields in that area depend upon how wet the spring months are and the timing of the rains. I've seen as little as a half ton per acre to as much 3 tons.
Dave E

Harvest 1957
« Reply #11 on: September 03, 2009, 09:39:22 PM »
I know we typically focus on what was taking place with the harvest equipment, but imagine the logistics it took to haul away and store the grain---especially using horses!