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 - Thanks for posting the Vintage Photo. I really enjoy Photos from the past showing Equipment working in the field. Merton

These were taken on my grandfathers ranch. The tractor is a Holt Steamer.

Dave

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.
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 - I think the Tractor is a Case VAC. Nice Photo. Merton

Nice ones Dave. Hard to imagine combining with horses. The fuel bill must have been something.
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

Thanks for the i.d. Gene. Did you notice the wheel weights? Looks like some huge bull gears off another old tractor.

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

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

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?

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.

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!