Just a thought--------------

I'm thinking of starting up a little sideline business over the internet selling pitmans for the horse drawn mowers and twine for the grain and corn binders. I may expand into used parts further down the road for the horse drawn equipment. Does anyone think there would be much interest in something like this? Sorry for asking but just wanted to test the water before I went in too deep.

Old Iron

That>Link being said, I figure anybody making a quality item for a reasonable price will get aleast some business. Are you gonna be able to live off it? Got me.

True, us hay burner fans are a bit clannish as you said but I could say the same thing for the old tractor collectors. Where we get excited talking about the different gear ratios between the regular gear, high gear, and trailer gear of a McCormick-Deering #7 mower and what size cutter bar is best with what gear ratio; a bunch of AC fans would argue the differences between the WC and the WD tractor. You are also correct in saying there are few outlets out there to get the word out.

I'm not really planning on making a living off it. I have a good job on a railroad and I'm not about to give that up. It's just that I was trying to think of a way of combining my hobby of horse drawn equipment with a way for other folks to get hard to find parts. I also figure this would be a good way to teach my girlfriends 12 year old son some business skills. I set up the webpage and the stock and he fills the orders for a % of the sale. He enjoys tearing down and re-building mowers with me now so I hope this will help to keep his interest in the older farm equipment and a way for him to buy his own video games. (Even though I play them now and then too.) :-)

Old Iron

Sorry if I came on a bit harsh. I didn't take it as a flame at all. I just have a bad habit of steam rolling to the point. I guess that's what happens after being in the Regular Army and the Army Reserves for 17 years. :-)

6 Percherons? You run them as a six horse hitch?

Old Iron

We have a few shows here in my part of Wisconsin but most of the them only cater to the gas powered horses and not to the hay burner fans like me. Most of the time you can only find parts in the flea market area for the horse drawn stuff.

I was to a show over in Baraboo going on 2 years back and only seen around 20 horse drawn items and 15 of them were on traders row.

I guess I'm going to have to buy 50 acers and start up a horse equipment only show. :-)

My 2 bits worth,

Old Iron

good luck,
Tom