TALES FROM THE BACK 40 - What’s that noise? What’s that smell? As anyone associated with farming knows, while it takes all five senses to run a farm most efficiently, some senses are used more than others. It sometimes takes an unusual sound or smell to make a farmer aware of potential problems.
Read MoreTALES FROM THE BACK 40 - Boys and their toys. Is there anyone who grew up on a farm who didn’t have at least a few farm-related toys? Whether they were genuine replicas of real equipment, plastic knock-offs, or even homemade facsimiles, they sparked hours of imaginative play for the child who played with them. Unfortunately, those hours of play—often spent outdoors and in the sandbox or dirt—took their toll, rendering highly collectible the few toys that survived in good condition.
Read MoreTHE NEWBIE - As readers of Antique Power magazine know, one of the most interesting things about antique tractors is the fascinating timeline of tractor technology. A critical part of the tractor, however, seems to get the least mention, and that is the seat. Looking at the big picture of the evolution of tractor seats, from the mid 19th century to today, you might describe it as a journey “from pain to pampering.”
Read MoreTHE NEWBIE - Antique Power magazine celebrates the rewards of the antique tractor hobby, but any use of large and powerful machines constitutes a rollover risk. For instance, within the past week, I heard through a local tractor club that an 86-year-old tractor owner and friend to many was found dead, pinned under his overturned tractor and asphyxiated by its weight. These tragic tractor rollover accidents can happen to anyone, not just newbies.
Read MoreTALES FROM THE BACK 40 - With Father’s Day just around the corner, I have been reflecting on lessons from my dad. Most boys look up to their fathers, and I am no exception. I worked side-by-side with my dad, Bill Frankenhoff, for almost a quarter-century, until I moved away to start my writing and editing career. As I looked through family photos earlier this year, I found a few that really showed how our father-son relationship formed and grew.
Read MoreTALES FROM THE BACK 40 - Farmers can find unconventional uses for conventional equipment when a job has to get done.They say that a truck is often a man’s office. The same could be said for a tractor. While my family’s tractors and other farm equipment did serve their intended purposes, we also used them in ways that were, to say the least, unconventional.
Read More
ISSUE
