Steam Tractors

[canonloader]

Took these last summer, and just found them again. I thought they were pretty interesting. :)

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/transport/steam2.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/transport/steam4.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/transport/steam7.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/transport/steam8.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/transport/steam9.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/transport/steam10.jpg

[memorex88]

Nice shots Mitch! Interesing indeed. Wonder how many miles those wheels are rated at lol.
Hey, is that an Eagle in the 4th pic?

[canonloader]

Hey Marco, yeah, I think it is an eagle. :D

I thought those rubber tires were recaps, kind a neat adaptation and proof that recycling goes back a long way. ;)

[Belmondo]

My father worked for the J.I. Case commpany over 80 years ago. When I saw this model, I had to buy it. It currently resides in my library.

http://www.onlinephotographers.com/gallery/albums/Hot-August-Nights/Case_Tractor.jpg

[RadAL]

wheres the display case for dust protection?

[canonloader]

Wow, nice model, looks very close to the real thing. I love how that power steering works. :)

[Belmondo]

wheres the display case for dust protection? Dust here in the desert is insidious. It's everywhere, and things in closed cabinets seem to get just as dusty as things left out in the open....and they're a lot harder to clean.

[tom1s]

Great photos and you have to love the chain steering linkage!

[canonloader]

Thanks Tom. That chain steering was interesting to me too, so I took some closeups of it. ;)
http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/transport/steam11.jpg

[PhotosGuy]

The first shot reminds me of Rube Goldberg's cannon? My father worked for the J.I. Case commpany over 80 years ago. When I saw this model, I had to buy it. It currently resides in my library. :D Tom has outed himself as a closet Pentax user!

[Curtis N]

It's interesting to see those steam tractors work. One of these days I'll get to another show where they are running. Lots of shows like that in Wisconsin.

When you see how much effort was involved just to get them going, you understand why tractors didn't replace horses in farming to any great degree until the internal combustion engine came along.

[marie]

:)

all are really nice

[canonloader]

Thanks Frank, Curtis, and Marie. There was a show last summer near here, but it got rained out. There'll probably be another one this summer which I'll have to check out.

[Woolburr]

Growing up, there was a huge show of these wonders every summer in Canandaigua, NY called the Pageant of Steam. Love these machines...and was fortunate that my grandfather did too.

[mntbikejack]

I can’t get enough of looking at old machinery. These old steam tractors are amazing.
Were any of them in working condition?

[canonloader]

I don't know if any of these still work. I know that several years ago, on this same lot, they had either some of these or others they brought in, working. I didn't stop at the time as there was no place close to park. They are amazing though. :)

[Mike Reynolds]

Dust here in the desert is insidious. It's everywhere, and things in closed cabinets seem to get just as dusty as things left out in the open....and they're a lot harder to clean.

I can tell you about dust in your town especially today the wind was hurling like I've never seen. My windshield got sand blasted as I was driving up Indian. good thing my camera was safe though.

[Belmondo]

I can tell you about dust in your town especially today the wind was hurling like I've never seen. My windshield got sand blasted as I was driving up Indian. good thing my camera was safe though.I had to drive into Palm Desert today, and the wind is usully not that bad there, but today is was downright vicous.

Speaking of Indian Avenue, I took these (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=2781231&postcount=24791)yesterday right off Indian Avenue at the windmills...

[marie]

I had to drive into Palm Desert today, and the wind is usully not that bad there, but today is was downright vicous.

Speaking of Indian Avenue, I took these (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=2781231&postcount=24791)yesterday right off Indian Avenue at the windmills...

eek
love the shots Tom

hope your gear didn't suffer
all the little nooky places where sand can creep in .........
also ....your eyes :eek:

[ajbalazic]

Great shots. I also love the mechanics of these machines. The gears, worms and worms wheel how they applied them to steer and run the machine. Thanks for sharing.

[canonloader]

Thanks Alan. It's pretty evident, they were built to last a lifetime, unlike the junk coming off the assembly line these days. :mrgreen:

[ajbalazic]

It's pretty evident, they were built to last a lifetime, unlike the junk coming off the assembly line these days. :mrgreen:

You aren't far off the truth.

Living in southern Ontario we build a lot of machinery (cars, presses, machines...) but they are a hodg-podge of components from all over the world. An engine from Japan, bearings from China, castings from India, and result in a cheap, poorly made machine. (Not to mention all the job loss for North Americans). Too bad company's like Case International, John Deer, New Holand, etc., are "Made in America" anymore.

[canonloader]

Don't give up hope. There seems to be a trend here to end the Free Trade Agreements which aren't working and caused all this trouble to start with. ;)

[Belmondo]

Just a reminder, gang. Before we get too far off topic, lets remind ourselves that we don't allow political discussion. Any talk of trade agreements has little relevance in a discussion of photos of steam tractors.

Another time. Another place. Okay? Thanks.

[Mike Reynolds]

speaking of getting off topic as I'm doing....great sand shots I felt the screaching pain as I can imagine where that blowing sand penitrated.

[Belmondo]

speaking of getting off topic as I'm doing....great sand shots I felt the screaching pain as I can imagine where that blowing sand penitrated.Thanks. I just realized today that my windshield is pitted on the car. Not terribly, but noticeable enough from certain angles. If I didn't have a 1-series body, I'm not sure I would have been out in those conditions.