Malcolm,

Thanks for posting the pictures, looks like a very nice collection! Bet you felt like a kid in a Candy store..

Such a nice warm day here today so I thought I would try out one of my Massey Harris Implements as it is that time of year again. Seemed to do a better job this year, I think it is because the corn is much dryer this year. It seemed to do a better job of getting the husks off this year.

Joe

It looks like you have much drier conditions in Minnesota than we do here in Lincolnshire Joe, for almost two weeks we have had rain every day with the ground currently saturated, it cannot take much more.

Pleased to see your harvesting in true M-H style, hope you have your M-H stalk chopper ready for the field? I have never had the opportunity to try my two row yet, I would like to find a single row horse drawn one some day.

Malcolm.

This implements thread has not seen much activity recently so it's revival time.

Seen on our trip to Holland last summer time a very unusual machine with M-H connections,  I heard my dad talk about them during the Second World War here in UK but I had never seen one.

I look forward to the replies and memories of them being used in an unusual crop, which we still see grown today occasionally.

What is it ???

Malcolm.

Malcolm.
              I'm not entirely sure, never having seen one before, but it looks very like a Flax or Hemp cutter.  they used to dump the bundles in the pond to 'rett' it, which allowed the fleshy surrounding part of the stem to rot away and leave the stringy centre to be collected for the manufacture of coarse material or twine, Sisal,  in other words!. On the other hand I may be very wrong!!!!.

                                                Jack

Well done Jack you are spot on it's a flax binder. Thank you for your memories of the process to "rett" the bundles in the pond, I had never heard of that before, but I have heard of some horror stories in dealing with harvesting and cutting both flax and hemp, the stalks are like wire. We grow flax today not for the fibre just crushed and processed for the oil.

Are there any flax binders in North America????

Malcolm.

Malcolm  Jack

When I first saw the photo I thought it was a Swather but it's obviously not that. I had never seen a Flax Binder before.

What factory or factories made M-H equipment for Holland. Was it made here or France or did it come from Canada? Just be interested to know.

Alan

Malcolm,

Wow that Flax binder must be a pretty rare duck.. I've never seen one or even heard of one before. I've heard of Flax but I just assumed they ran it through a Combine or in earlier years just a regular grain binder.. Looks like a real finger getter as it takes three people to ride on it and one to pull it, must have to make sure it feeds in right.

Weather here has not been normal for this time of year, I got to go Cultivating this morning with my 36 Challenger...

It has been raining on and off for the last couple days so the ice is about 4 inches thick in my driveway, I had to shimmy to the shed and fire up my 36 Challenger to see if I could chew up the Ice. It worked really good with the steel wheels pulverizing the ice and the cultivators busting it up. After getting it all chewed up I bladed it with my big loader and snow blade. Now I am back down to the gravel, I guess this is a duel purpose  Massey Harris Implement..

Joe

Its been a while since I have been in here but it is great to see all these implements showing up.  I might have to get a picture of my potato spinner sometime and post it!!

I love your spreader Alan. That isa great restoration.  Does it throw muck out the back end?  Doesn't look like it has been tested yet!!

Malcolm I loved th flex binder.  I doubt if you would find any over here.  I would love to see how it works. Like Joe said I am sure operators would lose some fingers, hands, arms in that thing. I too noticed all the seats mounted on the binder.  I am sure it was not the most3 pleasure thing to be on!!

Great job sharing guys!!  I will do better!!

Gary

Gary

We are looking forward to seeing some photos of your Potato Spinner.

Thanks for your kind words about my muck spreader. It would have thrown muck out of the back end but I'm not intending to do that although the mechanism all works.

Alan

Alan,

I am pleased you found the flax binder interesting, with regard to your question of manufacture I must say from my own personal observation on the day I get the impression the bundling and tying mechanism is possibly all from a M-H grain binder and wondered if the remainder of the machine was locally made or farmer  / blacksmith modified, so not sure if the entire outfit was produced by Massey, never the less its a very interesting machine and quite a contraption to operate as both Joe and Gary point out, it would certainly not fit into todays Health and Safety standards of "Safe to operate"
As I know how difficult that crop can be I am sure it kept all three operators busy keeping the wheels turning.

Joe,

I think you have found a new Custom Enterprise there in MN, I am sure you would get plenty of work ice breaking with the Green Challenger, maybe best to head north rather than south and your custom list might grow, a bit like the harvest brigade, working in different temps and the opposite direction.
I am sure those old design shop guys in Racine would be proud to hear their old machines have a new found alternative use in these modern times. Does it shine the lugs up any faster than working in soil??

Well done and please keep the ice and snow  your side of the pond, we have only had one small dusting of snow which lasted for one day so far this year.

Malcolm