Another Minneapolis Moline Addition ~ A Wheatland G1000

My son has added a larger tractor to his collection - a G1000 Wheatland Minneapolis Moline...  And of course, I found out about the eminent purchase about two hours before it was driven home!   My only slight clue to the fact that another deal was in the works came from a conversation that I had with my Mom.  She had a visit from my son, who had mentioned that he was looking  at a tractor to purchase.  When this was mentioned by her in a conversation with me, I told her he must have been referring to a tractor that he purchased a few weeks ago.  (Oops,  I will have to put that one up on the blog, too!)  She seemed sure that Farmer Boy had said that this one was in the works... Hmmm.  

Being busy with my new schedule played right into my Hubby and son's plans.  On my arriving home from my job on Saturday, my son and hubby said that they were going to visit a farmer.  I thought it was about picking up some more Minni parts.  Upon their return, they let me in on their day.  They had located a "must have" tractor.  Aren't they all?? ;)  After a few hours of explaining... or justifying the need, we were on our way to watch our son purchase his latest addition... I am not going to lie.  I was a little taken back as we pulled into the farm and the size of this tractor met my eyes.  The only words that I managed to say were, "Oh my..."  

  

It wasn't long, and my son was motoring down the road at 20 mph.  I was thankful that it was a beautiful evening for a drive.  The gentleman that sold the tractor was kind enough to follow behind my son's  journey to our house, just in case he should run into troubles.   It gave us the opportunity to drive ahead and get some photos of the tractor en route to our house.  I noticed mid way home that my son began to push open a few windows.  Apparently, the cab area was starting to get a little warm and toasty. :) 

The G 1000 arrived safely to our house without any cause for worry.  There has been some conversation, since its arrival, about removing the cab.  My son has decided to leave it on for now.  He would like to get a building to store it in before taking the cab off, since it protects the gages from the rain.  I heard talk about pulling with this one, too.   Considering the weight, it would probably be for local pulls.  Although it seems enormous compared to his other Minnis, I have to say that it makes the least noise.  The UB Minneapolis Moline that he purchased a few weeks ago can get really loud.  And to think, it wasn't that long ago that my son was collecting miniature tractors from Ertl... Glad he got out of the Thomas the Train phase!

Plowing the Cornfield with the Minneapolis Moline Z

With the temperatures flitting between the high 70's and low 80's,  my son broke out with a bad case of garden (or in his case field) fever, hitched the vintage International 2 x 14 pull type plow on the back of his Minni Z, and began turning over rows for this year's sweet corn.  (You do remember the 37 quarts from last year?  If not, I posted about it here.) Lucky for Farmerboy, we acquired a lot on the other side of our small town with nothing but one tree on it.  Aaaah... Land for the taking or plowing anyways! ;)

I love the smell of newly turned soil... Mmmmmm...

Farmerboy has huge hopes that this year will see the last of the big pieces of rock finding their way to the surface! :)

Aaaah...   Tomorrow, the International 8 foot disk will come out of storage to smooth out this rough field.

**Just a little note**  The photo below reminds of the famous quote from Peanuts creator Charles Schulz... "A Boy and his Dog".   Except in this case, it is "A Boy and his Tractor".  :) 

I must admit that it has been a pleasure having all that sweet corn from last fall in the freezer.  After being heated, the corn tastes the same as when it was harvested from the field... even without the pesticides, added sugars and preservatives! ;)   

Remember how I complained last fall about the over abundance of sweet corn piled in my backyard?  Well, this Mom isn't too proud to say that she was wrong.  I could have stood to process quite a bit more than the 37 quarts.  That's the great thing about life.   It is constantly teaching us lessons along the way. :)   

Thrifty Find ?? ~ Rusty Minneapolis Moline Z Antique Tractor ;)

Here it comes... the next Minni Z into the fold.   As you can see by the leaves on the trees, this Minni Moline arrived at our house at the end of September.  I know, I am late on posting this!  But as the guys were working on it last night, it dawned on me that I had forgot to put it up on the blog.  Just to busy trying to do too many things at once and forgetting half of what I am suppose to be doing! ;)

I am waiting to see what will leave out of my backyard to make more room...Hmmmm....

Have no fear, it is suspended with the chain from the wench! ;)  This beauty didn't come home in running order.   The last month has been spent in disassemble mode.  A list has been formulated, and the guys will be leaving on a parts road trip to find out how much it will cost to get this old machine in working order.  
  

My Farmer boy has decided that he will probably let this one leave the fold.  Depending on the cost of parts, he will either get it running or sell it as is.  Could this be true??  The possibility of actually letting one go???LOL  

Edgerton Thresheree ~ Labor Day Weekend

I know this is a late post, but here are some of the happenings at the Edgerton Thresheree on Labor Day weekend.  This is an event that we attend every year.  The weather was absolutely perfect.  We even had a slight chill to the wind... That's a first!! ;)  The flea market was the best variety of vendors that I have seen there in a while, and the machines displayed and in use were a pleasure to view.   So just in case you are thinking about attending next year, here is a little glimpse into this years festivities...

 
Here are some attendees entering the thresheree.  The field to the left of the road is busy being plowed and picked with vintage machines.  There are also tractor drawn "people haulers" to get spectators to the gate. :)

Some vintage threshing equipment on display.

This machine was a such a blast to watch.  I would love to get one for my kid.  You put the stalks of corn in... and the machine separates the ears from the stalk.  The little conveyor to the right is where the ears ride up and into the wagon.  I tried my best to capture one on its travels but as you can see... I missed! :(

Displays like this are set up all over the grounds of various machines.



Did you really think that my hubby wouldn't find the Minnis?? ;)

How would you like to have to crush rock this way?   And I thought some of the jobs that I did were dirty...  Yikes!

Have you ever seen a belt that long?  This machine and that extremely long belt run the saw mill blade.  It was a pleasure to see this working mill in action...

Love the old logging machine! :)



Cornmeal and Buckwheat flour for sale!  The cornmeal and buckwheat are donated by local growers and are ground, bagged and sold here.



This gentleman is grinding the cornmeal.  They had a vintage machine for the buckwheat too, but it was vibrating like crazy and creating such dust that I didn't get a photo!

 

Have no worries...  I may have not got the second photo, but I did get my cornmeal and buckwheat.  The bags are complete with recipe cards! :)



I had to make a few purchases from the flea market. ;)  Some rooster hangers that I just fell in love with... and a vintage copy of Gardner's book  "Art Through the Ages".  This was the book that was a thorn in my side during Art History class.  Ughh... memories!  I sold it back at the end of semester and years later- wished that I hadn't.  I figured enough time has passed that its pages would be more appreciated and maybe easier to understand! LOL 

     

Oh... And this year, they also had a tractor pull!  Yay! 

It's hard to believe that another thresheree has come and gone... *sigh*   If you are ever in Edgerton, WI on Labor Day weekend and are interested in flea markets and agriculture, this is truly terrific event to attend.

Trio of Vintage Minneapolis Moline Tractors ~ Park Days Vintage Tractor Pull

I feel as though I should grab one of my pitchforks and start singing, "Green Acres is the place for me..."  My son and now hubby's obsession with pulling vintage Minneapolis Molines has reached a high, and I fear is going to go higher.  As you all know, my son purchased a Minni Z that started this antique tractor hobby rolling.  Then my hubby found a Minneapolis U that worked on LP that has some serious pulling power.  That is when I felt the need to step in and remind the two of them that these tractors make for some large yard ornaments.  But they were happy with their two Minnis and assured me that their dreams of two pullers were complete.  Now here is a game reminiscent of Sesame Street ... look at the pic below, how many Minneapolis Molines do you see??  I know... I think that they must have found a way to multiply, since heaven knows, my two guys assured me that their world was complete with their two golden nuggets!!

Apparently all is well in their world NOW that they have the three tractors, or so they pleaded their case to me.  Since the other tractors were pullers, my son evidently needed a regular tractor to pull his carts and do the small plowing and grating on our empty lots.  Hmmmm.  Are you all buying into this line? ;)  So, here are the two caught in action when they brought home the gas driven Minneapolis U. 

As we were driving behind this tractor coming home, I could not help but wonder where I had lost control of this situation. ;)   I was so thrilled when my hubby freed up space in my back yard by selling his extra bucket truck from the tree business.    And I know how driven he can be about a competition of any kind, so I have to keep him in check, or I'll lose my whole back yard to this new found passion.  There is a thread of truth albeit a very thin thread of truth to their argument, so... I caved and welcomed it home to become part of a trio.  At least my hubby's parents are thrilled, since something in the Minni Z runs on the frequency of their cable and knocks out their TV interception whenever my son drives it past their house! LOL

On the tractor pull front:  We had Park Days here in our small town, and our volunteer fire department hosted a vintage tractor and truck pull.  Here is my son hooking up with his Minni Z.  Until there is a larger trailer purchased, this pull and the one in a neighboring town will be the only two pulls for the Z this year.

The little Minni Z pulled its way to a  First Place win in the 5250 pound antique farm and two - Second Place wins in the 4500 and 5000 pound antique farm.  In one pull, he came in second by 7 inches!  It was an exciting day of pulling for the Z in front of the hometown crowd.  Very respectable finishes for the little tractor.

Then it was time to bring out the big bad U.   It won First Place in the 7000 and 7500 pound classes.  I know my son would like to give it a paint restoration, but money has to be saved up for that first.  I always quote one of his fellow pullers that always tells my son, "A fancy paint job won't make it pull any farther!"  ;)

One more pull and their tractor pulling fun is over for the year.  My son and hubby were sitting last night in the living room.  I overheard something about my son locating another  Minni Z and possibly making a modified tractor.  Aaaaagh!  I reminded my hubby that they already have two pullers.  Then he told me how it would be a great project for him and our son to be able to build a custom puller.  He also started listing a few things that they were willing to sell in order to work on the project.  Another words, setting me up for a trade off.   Well... I suppose there are worse things that the two of them could be up to!! ;) 

Second Antique Tractor Pull for the Minneapolis Moline U

See the hazy look to this picture... It wasn't just due to the fact that I was shooting into the sun.  It was hot and humid at the tractor pull in Elizabeth.  It definitely could have been worse.  Thankfully,  the pull started at 5 pm.  This is the first one that we have been to that began in the evening, but as you can see, the sun didn't set until around 8:30.  My son competed with his Minni U that runs on LP in the 6000 and 6500 farm class.  Due to the lack of trailer space, the poor Minni Z hasn't seen a pull yet this year.  But I am sure, it will make it to our local pull. ;)  

The Minni has a lot of power.  There is plans in the works for a front bracket to mount more weights, but it didn't seem to hurt the pulls this weekend.  The decision has been made to compete in heavier classes the next time.  I think that they are going to try 6500 and 7000 or 7500.  The heavier she is - the better she seems to pull.

This is what happens when the kid finishes to close to where Mom is standing.  Yikes!  It is the only time that I have seen this tractor with its tires up.  These photos were from the 6000 class.  The sun set on the 6500 class, and I did not have my camera set for it.  Rats!  It made for some very dark shots. :(    Live and learn...

How did the kid do?    Well, there were 15 tractors in the 6000 class, and he wasn't in the top three.  We actually lost count on his standing in that pull.  In the 6500 class,  there were 13 tractors,  and he placed third in a tight top three.  So now back to the drawing board with plans on how to improve the weight issues before the next pull!

First Antique Tractor Pull for the Minneapolis Moline U

Northern Illinois is getting hit with some incredible heat index numbers this week, just in time for the county fairs.  My son has been waiting for the Antique Tractor Pull to try out the Minneapolis Moline U that runs on an LP tank.  Due to the high temps, I almost bailed on this one but couldn't miss the U's debut.  Thanks to the generosity of the announcing staff, that let spectators sit up on the large roofed stage, it wasn't too miserable.

Here is my son going for his weigh in.  He entered in the 6200 and 6600 pound farm class.  For those not familiar with pulls,  the tractors have weights hanging from the front, sides, and back to make their pound total.   The competitors shift them to different weight brackets on the tractor to get better traction on the track. 

Here is his first pull with the Minni U.   I was so happy to see it out and pulling.  There has been many a night and weekend spent getting this tractor ready for this moment, and so many great friends made along the way.  :) 

Captured in mid pull... He has to lean on the throttle while going down the track.   What can I say?  The kid lives for this moment.  ;)

The moment of truth... when that green flag is about to go red as the tractor digs into the clay.  With the Minni Z, the front wheels usually rise a little to give a sign that the show is about over, but this heavy girl stayed stuck to the ground.

And the finish...   I was thrilled for my hubby and for my son.  He placed third out of 8 tractors in his class.  Very respectable for his first pull.  In the 6600 class, he finished second. Yay!  My hubby was already making mental notes of where the weights have to be placed for the pull that takes place this coming weekend.   Thank the heavens that pull is suppose to be held at night.  No burning hot sun!  :)

Thrifty Find ~ Vintage Minneapolis Moline Tractor Items

I need to catch up on my traveling posts!  Well... my hubby had me all excited to go to this large flea market in Baraboo, WI earlier this month.  He neglected to inform me that it was mainly (by mainly I mean 99.9%)  men stuff.  Did this stop me from shopping??  NO WAY!  I just switched over to looking for items for my son.  Hubby walked right by an older gentleman's booth that had this wonderful Minneapolis Moline tractor umbrella.  It was taken off of a 1938 tractor and was in nice shape for its age.  Now... I love my son, but some of these umbrellas can go ridiculously high in price.  (Rediculous in this case can be 200 bucks or more!)  I figured the picture would be the only way of my son ever seeing one.  My poor hubby didn't even want to ask about the price.  It wasn't marked... translation... It must be really high!  After scoping out a few more items, the dreaded question was asked.  The response... 85 dollars. 

Do you suppose that it was my weary stance that conveyed the miles of walking through aisles of rusty men's junk, or perhaps the troubled look on my face realizing that my son was going to get a big treasure and I was going to get zip, that made this kind man have pity on me...  I will never know, but that was nothing compared to what was about to happen.  As I stood there contemplating whether I loved my son enough for an 85 dollar purchase (his birthday isn't until October),  the gentlemen keenly sensed that my son could lose out in this scenario and started to sweeten the deal.

He threw in this PTO cover that my hubby had been looking at for the Minni U.  (The cover that my son was outbid on eBay for at $33.00 without shipping added.)  At this point, it was probably a good thing that my hubby was positioned behind this guy.  Because there I stood,  for some unearthly reason that even I cannot explain, still thinking whether my son really needed that umbrella.  It probably took all my hubby could stand not to intervene.  Imagine his disbelief when all I said was, "I just don't know."   I think at this point even the gentleman wasn't sure what to think.  So he went in for the kill...75 dollars for both.  My hubby's eyes were huge at this point which snapped me out of the fog.  We took them both.  

As we began to walk away, the gentleman handed me this tool bag that I had been looking down at during my contemplation.  He told me to take it as part of the deal.  Lord bless him for being such a sweet man, even after dealing with me!

My hubby went back later and bought a Minni wrench from the same man.  My son was beyond thrilled with his items.  And no, I did not get one thing for myself out of this trip, but it was worth it to see the surprise on my son's face.   And to make the week even better... hubby, son, and our local small engine mechanic got the U to breath life.  Yep, they did!  Now the mad dash for new front tires...  :)

UPDATE:  My son got back a few hours ago and has been working out back with my hubby.  As I was finishing up with my post, they yelled at me to bring out my camera.  They are mounting the new tires as I type.  Here is the photo of their progress.

I have a feeling the Minni U will be running around town real soon! ;)

Minneapolis Moline U Comes Home to Pull with the Minni Z

There is nothing like rusty gold to light up my son's face with a big smile! ;)   This month will forever be remember for his newest purchase a Minneapolis Moline U farm tractor.  No more gas here folks... This tractor runs on propane.  And as you can see by the picture, a little work is needed, but my son and his dad are up for the challenge.  My hubby likes to build racing sleds but has graciously switched to restoring tractors with our son during the summer months! ;) 

A huge amount of thanks goes out to my son's friend.   He made the trip possible by bringing his truck and trailer to haul this antique gem home! 

I know that I have mentioned my son's love of farming (he is currently working on a degree in Ag), but did I ever mention that he participates in antique tractor pulls?  His first pull was with a friend's vintage Farmall H.  After that experience, the tractor pulling bug bit, and he dreamed of owning his own.  My hubby located a Minneapolis Moline Z in a neighboring town, and a few weeks later, my son was parting with his hard earned cash.  A Minni Z Tractor Puller was born! 

Many weekends have been spent watching him pull and compete against other wonderful vintage farm tractors.  I know one day he would love to have both of his tractors completely painted, but as the gentleman that he bought the Z from says, "Paint don't make them run any faster." LOL

Here he is hooking up for a pull last summer.  For those that have never been to a tractor pull, the tractor is hooked up to a weighted sled, and it is pulled down a dirt strip.  The different classes of tractors compete to see who can go the farthest. 
  

Here he is starting the pull.  Normally he doesn't lift the front of the tractor, but it did make for a cool pic!  ;)

My son has been blessed with the friendship of tractor pullers of all ages.  The knowledge that he has gained from working with his father and our friend at our local small engine shop will stay with him forever.  I couldn't have picked him a better hobby.  Although sometimes I wish they didn't take up so much space.  Grrrrr!  LOL 

For those that haven't been to an antique pull, it makes for a fun afternoon.  The time can be spent viewing all of the wonderful vintage tractors.  Equipment in farming has changed so much over the years.  It is nice to see these tractors being restored to be shared with future generations as a piece of our farming heritage.