Machinery Delivery Memory

Remember when a new or new to the farm piece of machinery was delivered to the farm? It was like Christmas. Dad would tell us boys that a new piece of equipment was coming today. When ever he said that, chores seemed not to take long. My brother and I watched the truck drive in the yard with much excitement. The driver would ask Dad where do you want it? Then the driver would flip the chain binders (chain binders were something new to us) and put them in his under bed tool box along with the chains. Then more magic, he would operate the tilt bed and slowly reverse the winch as the implement rolled down the truck bed. During this whole process, the drive warned us to stand back but it was hard for us boys because we had a new toy to explore and operate. Then finally, it was on the ground. My brother and I wasted no time and immediately checked it out. If it had levers, one of us would wiggle the lever from the operating platform and the other would be underneath to see what it operated. If it had a motor, we started it and took it for a test drive. Then we would search for all the grease zerks because we knew that greasing the machinery was one of our jobs. Sometimes I think we knew more about the machine than Dad did after only a few hours of it being on the farm.

summer of 60 i was just big nuff to run the 47 B john deere n 2 row cultivator.
was in field west of the house. seen a dark green 54 gmc truck go by.couldnt see the house or barn but after 3/4 hour a shiny new 630 johndeere and 4 row cultivator appeared in the field. the guys said we are to show you how to run this tractor. was a very exciting day i never forget. it had POWER STEERING.
the next day the ihc salesmans daughter came by to see if we could ride horses. i was in field. i said no but tie clyde up to that tree in shade n ride. she did. mom took a picture. then hour later her dad drove by backed up got her off the tractor made her go home.was upset. couple days later he cooled down.
he passed on this year but last year i had that picture blowed up large n gave him a copy.it was funny to him then. his daughter n i had coffee last week n that was discussed too

In the spring of 1966 as I was turning 11, a brand new JD 2510 showed up to replace the 50. I remember sitting on that thing at length trying to figure out the shifting pattern. One time while on it with Dad, I asked him about it. He kept silent. The tractor hadn't moved yet, and I don't think he understood it either! Finally I figured it out and showed him my discovery. He was, as usual, pretty much silent. He might have nodded. It was such a departure from the two cylinder tractor I wouldn't have believed it was made by the same company if it wasn't painted the same!

I was the only one around when the first diesel tractor on the farm, a new AC180, showed up. The driver was very upset that when he pulled in the driveway the telephone cable caught the muffler, tipped it forward a little, and put a little bend in the hood. He didn't know what to do. He considered taking it back. I didn't think that was necessary. We straightened the muffler, pulled it off and hammered on the hood a little. There was a tiny bulge just ahead of the muffler, which wasn't really visible anyhow. He was relieved, and headed back. When reported to my father, as usual, I don't recall any response.

My dad wasnt one for getting any new equipment, at least not by the time I was a boy, my dad had already decided he was entering retirement mode. And just puttered along with the old stuff he had.
Life has been much different on my farm. I have bought probably 8 tractors new, and many used. As well as everything else from ploughs to wagons. My boys didnt get near the excitement out of seeing new equipment arriving home as I might have when I was a kid. New tractors did draw some attention.

Neat story, brings back memories. Thanks for sharing

My dad was often much the same, if I asked him about something and he didnt know the answer, hed stay silent or just ignore my questions. My dad wasnt very mechanically inclined and being the youngest of 4 sons, my dad didnt appreciate my childish questions about how things worked. Fortunately my mothers brother lived next door, and was very mechanical, and could fix dads equipment. I remember him changing clutches and doing valve jobs on dads old tractors right out in the yard. He would always answer any questions I had for him. Regrettably he passed away at 58 when I was just 14, but I learned a lot from him. Particularly about water pumps and plumbing, he taught me to solder copper pipe. A very valuable life skill everyone should learn.

I was 6. In came the big truck. Off came the 1130 Massey diesel , a mighty red and gray beast. Right behind it came the tandem folding disc. It was as big as a house. It seemed so to me anyway. Then they pulled in another truck with the six bottom plow. The next day , another truck. It was a new Krause chisel plow. Itdidnt quite match , but those tines sure looked awesome. Yes , I was fascinated. It was quite a big day in my young life.

A couple that come to mind, when I was about six years old dad bought a new new idea side delivery hay rake, he brought it home unassembled in a crate and I remember him putting it together under the apple tree by the corn crib. Another purchase was a used JD 40 self propelled combine that was delivered. The dealer was taking the JD 12A combine and the New Idea hay loader on trade. He couldnt fit the hay loader on the truck and said he would come back for it, I remember the reel on the 12A spinning in the wind as he drove away. He never came back for the hay loader, it is still in the shed, hasnt been used for over 60 years. One more purchase, dad bought a new International 540 manure spreader, he ordered it without tires to save money as he had some old truck tires to put on. I remember them delivering it during a snowstorm as they were re-hooking our electric power after a four day outage.

I have good uncles just like that.

Dad bought a new '69 Ford 4000 diesel,it was delivered by train to the railhead in Cincinnati.

My uncle picked it up on his grain truck, Dad was following in his pickup.

Guy up the road from us had a ramp we could unload.

I got to drive it from the ramp to home.

I was 10, thought I was something.

This is a picture of delivery day for the new Oliver 1650 diesel. You can see that we were all gathered around for the occasion...by the way it was the only new tractor we ever bought and it's still on the farm

One of my very first memories, I was maybe 5 or 6, is sitting on my uncles Silver King tractor. I lived in the city, but most of my cousins were farm kids. My delivery memory is not long after that. Sitting in our drive way, waiting for my little red pedal/chain drive tractor. My sister, 4 years older, got a bike.

My dad made me a trailer for my tractor. Was not long before I could back that rig up as good as I could drive it forward. I loved when we could visit my cousins and work in the fields, tend the livestock etc.

When dad bought the new 870 case my brother's and I went with to the dealer. When the deal was done my older brother Jeff got to drive it home. I was furious! I couldn't see why atb8 years old I wasn't allowed to drive a tractor I had never been on home 2 miles. Lol. I still hold a grudge against my brother for that. I did get even when the new 970 came a few years later tho, that was delivered to the farm and I made sure I got in first to drive it. Wasn't as good as the 870, but close. Lol.

Several times come to mind for me but probably the most memorable moment was when dad bought a new CIH 5230 cab tractor and a Cih 3800 disk to accompany the same tractor. We had already been to the dealers lot and seen the tractor, but the dealer had to get the disk assembled and the tires switched on the tractor, along with pre delivery checklist stuff. It hit home when Mr Wayne the delivery driver pulled up in the shop driveway with it all loaded up on the Loboy and road tractor. That combination looked awesome and huge at the same time as the big tractor till then had been a IH 684. The cab on the new tractor was a welcome addition as it was the first cab tractor on the farm. I have to say that was the first time that I was glad to see Mr Wayne pulling up in that IH road tractor making a delivery as any time before on that outfit he would be coming to pick up a tractor to take back for some major repairs. The 5230, and now the same IH road tractor that the dealer had are still earning there keep here on the farm.

My cousins were dairy farmers in the 1960s and 70s just managing to get along, farming with old gray fords, 600's and 800s. well hurricane Agnes came along in 1973 I beleive and caused some damage and enabled my uncle to get a big insurance check. He went out and bought brand new a Ford 4000 and a Ford 7000 and a Rex SU silage wagon. I can still remember the day those fords arrived on the farm, huge upgrade from the old gray fords.

When I was 5, we got a new to us, (500hrs) IH340u, a plow, and disc, from the dealer. It was in the fall, and it showed up about dark time, around milking time. Dad was a little upset that they drove the tractor (wear on the tires) with the disc and hauled the plow on their truck. But it was exciting and everyone gathered in the milk house before leaving. My uncle went to put the tractor in a shed, but did not know where the starter button was (it was dark !), so I had to ask about it for him. Made me a little proud! I could not wait to sit on it by myself. About a year and a half later, I drove it on the road pulling the manure spreader.
In a few years my uncle quit farming, and Dad only ever bought 1 more new piece of equipment- a Woods rotary cutter. I was at school when it was delivered. Mark.

My Dad never farmed and I never bought much new equipment, except semi trailers, but they are not that exciting. About 8 years ago, a local trucking company went out of business, and called me to ask if I wanted to buy any of their equipment. I bought all ( 12 ) of their semi van trailers and 3 day cab semis. The previous owner said he would drop off the equipment in my yard. With a straight face I told him to scatter it around the yard so my wife will be less likely to notice it as I had not told her of the purchase yet. He had this ARE YOU KIDDING ME look on is face, but did as told. Bill

Somebody on here just a few days ago was looking for a New Idea hay loader to buy. Scarce unless you are in Amish country as they are still used by some.

Dad never bought anything new or expensive enough to get delivered. I have lots memories of farm auctions tho.

Paul