328 W. Chestnut Freeport, Illinois 61032
A picture of a threshing scene taken at my farm in August 1969.
I raise three acres of oats every year just to have some to thresh.
The rest of my acreage is all in corn. The picture shows my 1927
John Deere ‘D’ Tractor belted to my 28′ x 48′ Belle
City Separator. This is a late model machine, as it has Timken
Roller bearings and grease zerks.
It is interesting to note that the picture shows the first model
John Deere tractor and the last of the two cylinder models, as the
730 shown was purchased new in 1960 after the 6 and 4 cylinder
models had come out.
That is my mother pitching bundles. She is as interested in old
machinery as my Dad and I. This past fall, she bought a 1915 Case
20-40 tractor. We are now in the process of restoring it. It was
one of the first gas tractors to be bought in Stephenson County. We
have it running, but all the tin on the cab must be replaced and
then it must be painted.
Our collection also includes: another ‘D’, a 1935 Oliver
Hart-Parr 28-44, six gas engines and a McCormick binder.
In February of 1970 a group of us organized the Stephenson
County Antique Engine Club in Freeport, Illinois. We are going to
have a threshing show on July 25 and 26 at the Stephenson County
Fairgrounds. We will have four or five steam engines, twenty
antique tractors and several hundred gas engines on display. We
plan to thresh, bale with a 1895 hay press, saw wood and have the
steamers and tractors on a Baker Fan. We are also planning a horse
and pony show and a display of antique furniture, radios, and etc.
There is a covered grandstand, plenty of shade and plenty of
parking. There will be camping, free, for anyone who wishes to stay
overnight.
