Delta Dirt

My curiosity ot the best of me and I googled Teddy Blue Abbott-----found some excerpts from his book "we headed them north" (about his life as a real "cowpuncher") starting out as an 11 yr old kid near Lincoln Nebraska in the 1870s. Being that my great grampa Sheldon was living only 40 miles to the east in Nehawka, Nebraska (settled there in 1856)-----in reading Teddy Blue's accounts; I could tell he "wuz a natural asz" Bull-Shipter and had probably shipted more bull than anyone between Lincoln, Nebraska and Buttermilk Curve, Montana. Teddy Blue has to be an honorary member of our "old codgers" club also. He should have no problem passing the exam. One thing I did learn from his writings------is that the trail herds travelled close into Lincoln during the 1870----early 80s. I had never realized that. All of our family history in southeast Nebraska revolves around farming. All interesting------ DD

Tell me again who (what) Teddy Blue Abbot was famous for??? And--------how Guilt Edge got its name. Although I know that Calamity Jane sometimes got her mail at Guilt Edge????????????? May be that Guilt Edge, Montana was where Willie Nelson got confused with Blue Rock in the song "red headed stranger----from Blue Rock, Montana" ????? DD

Ol' Charlie Russell seemed to put his stamp of the viewer actually viewing the real life picture on each one of his drawings. Just don't get no better!!!!! Always keep our friend Charlie Russell as part of the old codgers thread--------mule skinning, jerklining, bull whacking and BLue Smoking sorta all travel together. ***** It ain't quite two below----in Tupelo; but it's 'bout that time of year!!!! DD

Professor--- Please explain the explain the "hinged track and split rails" on the Holt 10 ton DD

PM----Thinking back to my machinery sales days------Howard Rotavator owned a 4320 JD that was used around the country for demo purposes. We could haul the 4320 (stripped of all weights/water)plus a Rotavator weighing approx 2,000 lbs legally-----but the truck was fully loaded. With the low profile tires-----I really don't think you need the roll back cylinder and track------save some in weight. The old truck has been around Lake Village, Dumas, Mcgehee, Arkansas City, Stuttgart plenty when the rice farmers were chopping up rice straw. Don't know when you were at Arkansas City------but I remember the French boys ran some Rotavators in their rice fields during the mid 60s----early 70s. The old truck had a sweet spot at approx 70 mph. I was travelling from Memphis on I-40 one morning when I noticed a flash of light hit across my rear view mirror. It was a Charter bus and he came up on me in a hurry. As the chrome elephant passed me by-------I read a sign saying: Hank William's Jr.----Nashville, Tennesee If I wuz running 70-------the bus wuz travelling 85 or 90. He was gone!!!!!! ****** re: Trailer brakes I ran vac/ hydraulic brakes off of the Ford 600 trucks I cut down for the goose neck. Installed a spring loaded valve hitched to the brake pedal------which fed vacuum to a vacuum cylinder activating the master cylinder. Great low cost brake system-----would be better on a tandem axle trailer. Too much to explain here-------can show you this old set up if you get down this way. ******* One more low profile trailer that could be pulled by your grain semi,or smaller truck. Don't know details on brand nor brakes. Believe this was a 600 or 700 Ford hitched to it. Lots of options out there. DD

Reading Dale's post rekindled my thoughts to one more problem hauling the 1206--1486 size tractors. That is height for cab or canopy tractors. The times of these size tractors brought on a switch over with the dealers from the heavy bob trucks with roll back beds to low profile or lowboy style trailer with heavy duty truck doing the pulling. We sold the Grove bed to implement dealers in the mid-south are during the 60's-----early 70s. Used this truck as a demo and for moving Howard Rotavator equip around for demo purposes. Yep-----I agree with Mikem kn the air brakes. But you might have more versatility for use with different "pullers" with electric brakes. Come on down to see me------if you can catch me on a good day; I've got a head full of ideas along these lines. Tractors will no doubt be getting larger-------think for the future. I have a real good friend here in Greenville in the land management business---name is Charles Fuller who grew up in Mulberry. Do you happen fo know Charles-----his dad was the old shop teacher there in Mulberry. DD

Ace----- Finally found pictures of my '62 Loadstar 1600 with the 22 ft Grove roll back implement body, 10,000 hyd winch. My truck would be a procject either way------but lots to work with. 1. transfer the body to a fresher truck------preferably a tandem axle 2. convert existing body and chassis with to a low profile goose neck. Install low profile tandem axles with electric brakes-----pull with 1 ton or up truck. #2 is my choice. The 22 ft roll back as is can handle a 30,000# load (2 1206/1486s)----vehicle will be way overloaded Empty weight of truck as is -----is approx 13,000 lbs. So at gross weight of one tractor-------you are staring at the 26,000 lb figure before you get started. The bed is heavy construction-----much stronger construction than the little auto carriers. But-----with what you will want to haul-----you need the weight and strength. I like the flexibility of the goose neck------build up a good trailer to start. With some new tires ocassionally------trailer will last forever. Keep ou an upgraded puller and use it day to day. 62 1600 Loadstar: (150" cab to axle; 22 ft bed with 11 ft roll back) One of my truck frame goose necks from my farming days. I pulled these with tractors from field to bins, and with a GMC 1 ton on the road. I bought this '89 F-700 with idea of converting the roll back using the Loadstar frame--------but stayed to busy with my farmland real estate practice to ever get started on the project. Now at a standstill for anything-------get your projects done early in life. The F-700 has a 16.5 ft bed with conventional grain dump body. We need to meet each other anyway-----ride on down this way and take a look. I will buy you a burger. Call before you come. Phone or text: 662 335-5213. We are 10 minutes below Greenville bridge at Lake Village-----along Hwy 1. Anson Sheldon, Jr. Delta Dirt Avon Ms 38723

I keep having a hard time looking at the tractor from admiring the Diamond T. That Diamond T would be classy even today around my place------,-thumbs up!!!!! DD

Thangs been moving mighty slow for this old faded codger lately-----but there always seems to be something here on the Professors thread to make you laugh and reminisce. This time the Professor and his line up of cell phones. Lots of changes along the way. I swore the last phone I bought would be my last------now looks like I am gonna need one more. Just about the time I learn all the tricks------phone goes on the blink and you start over new with the next one!!! Good thing about the scoop-------same old process through the years (just keep on huffing and puffing!!!!). DD

Several years ago there was an ongoing thread on Anartica on the ACMOC (Antique Caterpillar) forum with some of the boys that were there and who had been there. Was always interesting-----good luck in your searching. DD

Thumbs up; thumbs up!!!!!! From one old codger to another. (be 79 in April)-------wishing I felt that young. DD

Roger---- The orange flagging tied onto the little Adams grader indicates that it is a keeper for my son-in-law and grandson (BoogerBear). They are attracted to steel wheels and open gearing as yard ornaments. If......IF, for some reason they change their mind-------I will let you know and you can bring your AutoWagon down to START negotiations !!! I will take more pictures------am thinking the linkage (or part of) for the front steering is missing?? Glad to know your dad was a combination "skinner" -----bet he could teach both of us a few "tricks of the trade. DD

Ace---- 1962 Loadstar 1600 single axle; V304 engine; 4 speed w/2 speed rear axle; vac/hyd brake with a 22 ft Grove Deluxe roll Back implement bed. (Tilts and rolls back to a 11° loading angle-----with hyd winch----all steel body construction) Quit running truck because of brakes----now engine is seized??-----needs tires. Body and glass in good shape--------probably total mileage in 130----150,000 range. Empty weight @ 13,000+/_lbs. We sold the Grove bodies along with Howard Rotavators-----used truck as demo and moving Rotavator around. W.B Loyd (Lake Village) ran one on a tandem Loadstar. Will send you some pictures in a couple of days. I am on Hwy 1-----about 25 minutes from Lake Village. DD

We could add my Adams "Junior" road grader to the Professor's hitch and turn the road county into an Interstate in short work. (Triple Hitch) May be their 32 hp rated Reeves was a truer hp rating than everyone thought???? I have pulled the little Adams with my Kubota L2850 (28hp) before on a similar dirt field road. Re-school us on more info on the early HP ratings (nominal, belt, drawbar......). And that's one of my Regulars sitting in the background. Here is a close up showing the LP conversion that we mentioned several pages back. We cranked on gas-----switched over to LP: I never ran this tractor after a tornado blew my implement shed away in 1975. Had a belt drive Lincoln welder mounted on her most of my life time. Always loved to hear the bark of the little "pot style" muffler (all 28hp ?). when burning a big rod. Can remember my dad saying: "don't need to inspect that weld-----I could hear it burning in-----that's the way it is suppose to be done!!!" For ease of cranking------I switched the welder over to a pto trailer mount and used it mostly on a 9N Ford. The little Ford was definitely short a few hp vs the "mighty Regular" when burning heavy rod. DD

Give us his phone number and e-mail address SandHiller. I've got a handful ranging from Loadstar with Grove Rollback, TD-14, Farmall Ms, F-20s and Farmall Regulars that I am ready to move. Central Nebraska is probably too far away for freight to make it practical-----but he might know someone closer by. I am in the Mississippi Delta. Avon is 12 miles south of Greenville-------150 miles south of Memphis. Thanks. Where is picture of your F-20 loader??? DD

Won't be long TwoStep-------and those little girls will be asking ol' PawPaw to teach them the TwoStep.!!! No great grandchildren here. Our oldest granddaughter just graduated from nursing school-------to wake up with her second case of COVID Christmas morning. And----she had been vaccinated twice??? It's not that I am running too slow. The world is just spinning too damm fast!! ...........another year showing up just around the corner. DD

Merry Christmas to ya'll !!!!!! DD

I always heard that "like minds hang together"????? UhUhhhhhh------------- --------I am wondering if instead of "a one room school in Montana" if; it might should have been called "a one room asylum" in Montana!!!!! DD

Live and Learn-------a must have for the old codger from Mississippi. I have a high pressure 12V compressor for my vehicles--------but it won't make music!!! DD

Thanks Mac----- "red-headed stranger------from Blue Rock, Montana" I am thinking ol' Willie said that Blue Rock was on outta Guilt Edge aways--------way on beyond Buttermilk Curve, Montana. I ain't never been no musician nor played an accordian-------but could pat my foot while drinking "a cold-un"-------------all while listening to Willie Nelson!!!!! DD

Quite a rig you got there RonDiesel!!! I always figured the reason you "bull shippers" drove so fast was to outrun the smell of your cargo. I feel confident that the light dose of Blue Smoke I might have with me would not be noticed!!!!! Truth of the matter is that I have let my getting out and around health slip away to the point that making most any trip not feasible-----I just missed a local doctors appointment Wednsday. Not very dependabe on keeping appointments anymore. THANKS A MILLION-----what a great idea!!!!!! Keep us posted on some of your runs-------they are always interesting. Tell us about your truck. DD

Professor------ Your above P&O plow advertisement would have been ideal to illustrate yours and Wrangler's vertical exhaust system for horses and mules. Wrangler sez that tractors would have never been invented if somebody had just come along with the vertical exhaust system for his ancestors. Looks as if the unusually clean cut gentleman riding this plow would have definitely have been a buyer!!

TwoStep---- Sure would have been great to have met you in your crude oil hauling days while loading a tanker off of our family farm. I always heard how profitable growing "Texas style" 2x1 skip row cotton was--------(2 rows of oil wells x 1 row of cotton).!!!!!$$$$ Very little production here in the Delta------mineral values are minimal. DD

once a Marine------always a MARINE!!!!!!!!! Be careful where you spill those polka dots. DD

I dunno TwoStep-------I didn't recognize the Professor without his trademark polka dot cap. My friend Wrangler researched his library going back to the steamboat days-------saying he had alot of colorful pictures even of steamboats; but saw nary a polka dot cap in any of the historic and colorful pictures. DD