Antique weeding and cultivation tractors

Today I went to the Missouri River Valley Steam Association Fall Show and had a real nice time. It's held each year on the weekend after Labor Day. It's a great day trip for anybody who enjoys machinery and history. There are lots of pictures below.

Besides steam engines, there is a huge showing of antique tractors. Being in the business of selling weeding tools, like our Hoss wheel hoes, I got to noticing the special tractors that were built for weeding and cultivating row crops. Back before herbicides, these machines were busy all season keeping the weeds under control. Most put the weeding attachments in front of the driver, which makes it much easier to steer and control the machinery. And some moved the driver's seat off to one side so that the engine doesn't block the view. It seems that modern tractor companies are missing out by not making this type of tractor for today's organic farmers...

Thanks for reading!       by Greg Baka

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Allis-Chalmers G: rear engine & belly mounted tools for superb control.

 

Allis G with belly disc: perhaps for hilling potatoes?

 

 

Very low slung Allis: Not sure of the purpose. Tell us if you know!

 

International Harvester with both engine and seat offset for good visibility.

 

 

Oliver crawler: imagine this straddling long raised beds.

 

Front mounted cultivators on the Oliver. The only front mounted arrangement I saw.

 

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Advance-Rumley steam engine

 

Close-up of the Advance-Rumley

 

 

Baker steam engine running a thresher

 

A well-named Harrison "Jumbo"

 

 

Case steam engine

 

A small Reeves steam engine

 

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True "garden tractors" from Wheel Horse

 

Wheel Horse with single bottom plow

 

Wheel Horse with a sickle mower