Vintage work crew photos

[Frank S]

They are a downdraft hood. Some of the exhaust can be recirculated through the blower to increase heat, but they do extract through the floor via a ducted system.

It looks like you are correct when I blow up the picture I could see what looked like a rectangular duct going down the back of the forges

[Jon]

Threshing by steam engine on W.M. Fellows farm near Kearney, Nebraska. 1910.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...g_fullsize.jpg

[marksbug]

feeding a nation. back when people knew how to work.

[IntheGroove]

And the guy in the center is proof that there was always someone that would lounge against the machine...

[marksbug]

hes' just kicking the rocks outa the way so the guy driving has a smoother ride since this was before dampners were installed on tractors....what a nice guy he is.

[greyhoundollie]

Yep, he is a leaner.

[marksbug]

nah, he's just doing somethen sexy to atractor

[neilbourjaily]

That is a machine that was driven to a spot in the field and parked. It was not used to motor around the field. It's sole purpose was to act as a power source to implements that also were placed in the field.
More important is the societal structure that existed then. Typically, a traction engine and the implements were owned by the cooperative to which the farmers subscribed. At that time there was little of the single farmer owning a shed-full of tractors and implements. Industrial farming was barely a pipe dream. In those days, 100 years ago, there was a strong socialist streak among farmers.
It's simply incredible to contemplate how much and how little has changed in the past 100 years. 100 years ago we were in the infantile days of characterizing quantum theory. Today quantum theory is taught in elementary chemistry, no more solar system model of electrons. 100 years ago farmers were socialistic. Today farmers live a life of debt having cash only at the ends of their careers when they sell out.

[hemmjo]

There is a big difference between being socialistic and being cooperative. In a cooperative situation, both sides have something to offer.

In the last six months, I have had well over a million dollars worth of equipment on my property to do site work. There is NO WAY, I would ever be able to afford to buy or even to rent that much equipment for length of the time I have used it.

Prior to having access to this pool of equipment I have spent many hours doing maintenance and repairs to this and other equipment owned by this company. I was paid very well for that work. I made a proposal, that either of us could have turned down, for this exchange of skills for equipment. Socialism does not work that way.

It is unfortunate that so many farmers are in so much debt, but there are many farmers who are doing very well. The factors that contribute to the plight of farmers is way beyond the scope of this discussion. But is has more to do with past and present policies of governments.

John

[marksbug]

many farms have sole to big corprations that manage the farms like conagra and others. some farmers stay and work some dont.but if it's what you want to do, staying on "your family farm" doing the work you love for a corpration that tells you what and when can be a lot better than wondering if and when you will be homeless&farmless. I talked to a farmer some 18 years ago( also former pro baseball player) he was in his late 80's, he and my dad played ball& went to school togeather, best buddies. he had a big farm.then passed it along to conagra to manage was extremely proud that his family far would stay feeding america and he would stay on it. and he was quite well off before and after, more so after and big weight lifted off his mind of if&when. there are many farmers that did not know how to run a farm, just in all ventures there is a better way, a easyer way,a more productive way. and a stubborn way. and oh somany rong ways. and yes many right ways too.yes I knew that was a power unit for the equipment down field. that same unit could be used for many things as well as logging when needed. the feller leaning on the wheel was just posing with his pride and joy for the photographer.