Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 269, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 November 1917 — FORD TRACTOR IN THRESHING [ARTICLE]

FORD TRACTOR IN THRESHING

PROVES SUCCESS AS POWER PLANT FOR DRIVING MACHINERY. ; r Vale! the portable threshing engine. The Ford tractor, hailed as the farmers’ substitute for draft-horses, now proves a probable successor to the portable and traction engine in furnishing power for farm machinery. During this week, under the inspection of experts from Port Huron factory from which the grain separators were purchased, employes of the Henry Ford estate? have been threshing the product of approximately 1,000 acres of wheat harvested, Ford tractors furnishing the motive power for the work. Attachment is simple. After setting the separator, the tractor is anchored by dropping the wheels into the ground, thrown out of gear, the belt attached to a pulley on the driving shaft and to the thresher, and the engine started. The result surprised the experts, who say the tractor supplies a steadier power, permitting of better results than any portable engine they know of, and 100 bushels of grain an hour is not a large task for it. The revolution in threshing may be appreciated by considering the fact that the tractor will operate with a minimum of attendance. Instead of an engineer and fireman to keep it Tn motion, it needs only-be started.

The necessity of waiting to get steam up is avoided. . Turn the starter crank and power develops on the instant. There is no lumbering fuel wagon, no clumsy water to follow the separator over roads and through fields; the tractor carries its own supply-of fuel oil—-enough for the day’s work —with it. There is no more need of “setting” the threshing machinery where the wind will not carry sparks from stack on barn—the danger of fire is practically nil with the tractor humming away. Others advantages will readily occur to the mind that make certain the revolution of this department of farming when the tractor shall have reached the commercial market. Production at the plant is gaining in volume and frequent shipments are being made from Dearborn. Besides, parts are being shipped direct from many accessory factories to Manchester, England, for assembling.