Threshing with an A, pic

Fergus · Jan 11, 2009

Came across this pic from a few years back showing one of my favorite old timers, may he rest in peace, dressing the drive belt as the old A pulls the thresher at a back yard bee.
<a href="http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk29/MMOGTA/?action=view&current=GeorgeValentine.jpg" target="_blank">

GeorgeValentine.jpg" border="0" alt="Dressing the Belt

</a>

plow hand · Jan 11, 2009

Looks like he was happy in the end.I know I would be at that age to be able to get up and tinker with that old iron.....sorry guys especialy the green stuff.

ericlb · Jan 11, 2009

nice picture, somebody tell me more about this A it says "GP" on the tin with the model A on the fuel tank,so im asuming its a pretty early model A, but from the pic it looks like it might be a mulitfuel tractor as there appears to be another fuel tank cap just ahead of that one, or is the angle of the pic making the radiator cap look closer to the back of the hood?

M Nut · Jan 11, 2009

Neat picture. Guys like that are the "coolest" guys out there. I sure hate to see that generation of folks passing on. I don't believe we'll ever see another one like them.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 11, 2009

I drove one of them on a brand new Case wire tie baler. He burned kerosene. Then in 51 he got a new B what a difference could go from field to field fast and self start what an inprovement. But John Deere hadvalve troubles on that model and in 54 traded for a WD45.

petetx · Jan 11, 2009

fergus where was that picture taken that old man looks real familiar god bless those old gentelmen

Anonymous-0 · Jan 11, 2009

center fill gas tank and Model A on the starting tank looks like a 1934.

Leroy · Jan 11, 2009

John Deere did not make a gas only tractor untill in 1947, before that (exception might be the L & LA) they were all distelate (kerosine) burning tractors, these were built thru end of 2 cylinder production in 1960 with fewer built each year do to better gas and mower power with gas and gas also became cheaper than distelate, with needing to be started on gasoline and after being warmed up switched to distalte and before shutting off turned back to gas, if you did not turn back to gas you had to drain carb of distlate and get it refilled with gas to start. The small tank on the back was the gas tank and the cap you are questioning is the fuel, distelate tank and you cannot see the radiator cap and they did not have a turn radiator cap as you are thinking of.

fixerupper · Jan 11, 2009

Just think of the experience that man has. We had better listen to people who have made it to that age because when they pass on the wisdom goes too.

Gene Bender, the valve problems you mention reminds me of the 47 A my dad bought new. It was one of the first gas A's and had valve trouble until they put in rotators. Wish I had that tractor. Jim

J.C.in AZ. · Jan 11, 2009

Clearly produced as a multifuel Tractor. The "Model A" on the Gas Tank is some thing I've never seen before in any restoration of this Model JD.The rap around "GP" is fairly common.The "A" designation would be something for "Purists" to pay attention to.Real nice to see this activity in Photo's. I was a child in the tail end of the threshing era so I can remember scenes such as this .JC

6U684 · Jan 11, 2009

What a great picture! The old gentleman was working awfully close to the incoming belt pinch point, but I bet he knew what he was doing. Can't tell by the picture, but the throttle was wide open, so the A was working hard. Dad brought home a '39 A that looked a lot like that. Better not throw many bundles at a time as the A we had wasn't up to a load like that thresher..looks like a 24 to 28 incher. Bet the front end was bobbing up and down on the rubber tires under that load.

Fergus · Jan 11, 2009

Thanks for the commentary guys. As you can see the pic was shot in "93 and I remember the day. Event was just a backyard threshing bee at S+K Farm and Yard, south of Owosso MI. The gent pictured was George Valentine, one of the founding members of the Mid Mich Old Gas Tractor Association of Oakley MI. I knew him for over 30 years, and to me he always looked that old. He was a colorful character, always a sly remark, would grab a chew from anybody with a pouch in their pocket, and a cold brew from the nearest cooler. He had worked for years in the shop at what was then Deere dealership in Brant MI, and in his world, there were no other brands.

Leroy · Jan 12, 2009

He is probably using a tack on the belt pully to get the thrasher to correct speed

Threshing with an A, pic

Fergus

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plow hand

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ericlb

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M Nut

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Anonymous-0

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petetx

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Anonymous-0

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Leroy

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fixerupper

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J.C.in AZ.

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6U684

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Fergus

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Leroy

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