http://www.agsem.com/200710-dennyd.html David Denny Index

David Denny photo by Greg Hayden

Except where otherwise noted, all words and pictures by David Denny.

AROUND AND ABOUT JUST BEFORE AUCTION TILL-

As those of you who attended realized, the auction was small but successful, we moved out a lot of ‘stuff’, several good but excess pieces went out. How many ensilage cutters do we need in the Museum building? A couple of engines (nothing rare) went on the block, lots of rust in the form of discs and other parts and pieces left, no trucks of ours sold this time, however.

The consignment pieces were varied, ranging from dishes, and tables and chairs, tractors, covered wagons, Model ‘T’ Fords, and ? Truly, there was something for everyone.

The food place shades were set up again. Cheeeese burgers, hot dogs and other goodies, including, sodas and bottled water and a surprise breakfast for early birds. It was good, too! Even if I did offer insults about it, I have to admit it was good.

A couple of sour notes noted around and about the auction: the museum members going around to trash cans picking the aluminum cans out and keeping them for themselves. Also, the unknown person who picked up and departed with the post drill purchased by member Kent Graham. Thievery is still thievery no matter how it is done. Let it be known, when the trash is dumped it is gone through, and we claim recyclables as part of Museum income. These people must be very proud of themselves!

By Wednesday August 1 the most of the sold items were gone. I did not envy the gent who hauled the big, heavy, rug loom loaded on one side of his trailer, to keep things from sticking out in traffic but it sure looked ‘lop-sided’ to me.

Next thing on the agenda is the semi-monthly Bob Morley work weekend. A small but good group responded, and started right in on the things to be done Friday. First chore was beginning the disassembly of the Auction set-up. The grandstands were removed, shades disassembled some put away, some just moved. Tables folded and palletized, and ‘bull pen’ taken down, and palletized.

There is more to setting up and tearing down the auction than just bringing in material. It takes just as much preparation for a small auction, as it does for a big one, as we have to prepare for the big one, whether it materializes or not.

All of the unsold items were segregated and stacked together on pallets in the south end of the campground site. Also the few items waiting to be picked up by purchasers were separated and moved over by lot number.

The biggest chore, not heavy work, was picking up all the trash scattered all over the place. The grounds were then smoothed off by use of the small drag.

I have to offer Thanks to the ladies for making hot lunches for the assembled group. Our junk tire pile took a serious ‘hit’ Saturday. About 30 old tractor, truck, trailer, and a few car tires were removed from rusty wheels, and made ready for disposal, soon, we hope. There were some very tired and sore arms and backs when this job was completed.

Back we go to our usual summer hot days, but we have a respite from the high heat, it has been warm and sticky heat. Hawaii weather, I am told. We have to start preparing for the Summergrass bluegrass festival, in a couple of weeks. Remember: when August finishes up, we will have the Fall Parts Xchange in September and the Fall Show in October. Let’s make ‘em good ones!

Saturday Aug.11, the Bluegrass group held a session to teach the volunteers how to man the gate, and park cars. Also they had a burger and things cookout, a jam session followed. Altogether, a nice Saturday happening.

Moving along—we received the donation of a Case LA wheel tractor seemingly in fair shape, it runs if the choke is pulled 3/4th the way out. Cecil Morton has the carburetor removed and boiled out. He informs me the magneto needs work, also. I hope someone takes pity on this machine, for it appears to be painted a faded out Oliver green and cream color, not Case orange. Bob Morley hauled it in before taking a few well deserved days at home.

Virgil and Sharon White are in for a day or so, before taking a short trip into the cool state of Arizona, they returned here for several days, pulling a new gooseneck equipment trailer. Sharon is spending some time helping out in the office.

Robert Richardson picked up another donation, a real solid Caterpillar 20. The tractor seems to be solid to the excess in many of its joints. Virgil is working on several needy projects, including the pre-1925 five ton Holt Caterpillar. This tractor looked to be in running condition when it arrived from donor Tim Rice, but we had not done much in the way of trying to start it before.

Checking the oil level showed oil and several gallons of water. The decision was made to raise the right track about a foot, put timbers under it and drain everything out, starting with fresh oil minus the water.

”How to lift it? Just back ol’ rusty, the Euclid to it, hook up the cable and lift”! A couple of counterweights were added to the front bumper to keep the front wheels on the ground. And up comes tractor, timber put under tracks, counterweights step off bumper, and gently it sets down. Containers were placed under drainpipes and large lumps of oil-water mixture resembling an unmentionable substance plopped out. It was left to drain overnight.

The carburetor was removed, stuck shafts and parts removed, cleaned, lubricated, reinstalled, new gasket installed, and put back on the engine. The tractor was lifted, leveled, and new oil put in the crankcase. A small gas tank was hooked to the fuel line (don’t trust old un-cleaned fuel tanks) the starter (crank) was turned, and it started up, running on all four cylinders!

“Shut it off, put water in the radiator”. Crank it again, it starts right up, running on three cylinders this time, water leaks out number two cylinder exhaust. The thoughts by experts were—-head gasket leaked (they wish and hope!) It gets dark, so to be continued another day.

In the meantime, Bluegrass music lovers filled the main campgrounds with motorhomes and trailers, the lower campgrounds were filled with motorhomes and trailers, up in the threshing area add motorhomes and trailers, the showgrounds were filled with motorhomes and trailers, and add a few tent campers here and there, and call it a full house!

There many good groups, excellent groups and bands, literally from all over the world! Many of the camping units contained musicians and instruments of varying talents and ages, all here to listen to, and make bluegrass music. Us jazz lovers kept a mighty low profile!

Sunday morning, it happened,---RAIN! The spirits were dampened slightly, I hope no expensive guitars or banjos got wet. The Sunday morning devotional was held under the parachute sunshade. The sound system was unavailable because of electrical shock hazard. Their spirit didn’t get dampened anyway!

Virgil White and Yours Truly took refuge in the Steam Tractor building, and just watched people scurry around on foot and in carts, wearing plastic trash bags for raincoats, throwing muddy trails behind. When it was all over, my rain gauge showed .3 inch including dirt and a spider web. My un-educated guess was about ¼ inch, and I didn’t miss it by much.

As the time for these music makers to depart, a problem arose, in all it’s smelly glory, the drain from the trailer dump station stopped up. It appears to be a job for a backhoe operator and some helpers, all with strong stomachs. As it turned out the do-it-yourself mentality we have here failed, and we did what any other sensible organization would do--- we called Roto-Rooter. Two guys, two trucks, and two trips later the power snake went through, the video camera went through, some $$ changed hands and the problem was solved!

The heat has been sufficient to dissuade anyone from excess labor in the sun. All work seems to be better performed in the shade, with lots of cool water handy. A week is almost past since Bluegrass and I have to say they have been very good about returning tables and things, to where they found them, we still will have to put the bleachers and shades away, but that is forklift and tractor work.

Saturday morning a group consisting of Gary Clare, Larry Thompson, George Bohn, and Kent Graham conspired to put the door on the machine shop. A lot of grunting and groaning, lifting and forklifting and the door was slid over raised onto the forklift forks. Kent went up on the scissor lift platform hoisted up and slid the door wheels into the track. The shop now can be closed. A lock comes next.````````

Next Item: Thursday Morning (August 30th) we seemed to have acquired the donation of another piece of equipment! Quite unwanted we received a Quicksilver 500 small airplane, the hard way. It is on top of a disc plow against the Massey Harris seeder. I have a feeling the pilot did not wish to make the donation, either!

The airplane is bent right aft of the cockpit. The right wing is twisted so the leading and trailing edges point up and down instead of front and rear. However, the engine and 3 blade propeller seem to be OK. The plane is a kit built pusher, with the engine and prop behind the pilot. The inside of the pilots area does not seem to be bloody, so evidentially he, (or she) was strapped in securely. Everyone who has looked at it has decided they were glad not to have been in it, when it “landed “!

Rod Groenewold called a representative from the Federal Aviation Agency and a couple of ‘investigators’ came out along with an investigator from the S.D. Sheriff’s department and took pictures, decided to follow up on it. The next day a very serious FAA investigator arrived, took more pictures, took unknown samples from the inside of the cockpit, took more pictures, and announced they had found the owner.

It was stolen from Anza 4:18 AM last Thursday morning, and the owner was notified. The FBI was also notified by the FAA, but the FBI did not show up! Friday the owner arrived along with two friends, two pickups, and an enclosed trailer, and took more pictures!

With help from Cecil Morton and the gang here they took the wings and part of the tail off, picked up other removed pieces, (some removed during the landing). Dar Jewell got a forklift and they stuck the plane into an enclosed trailer and then closed the door. The owner shook hands all around and they departed for Anza! All this time I rode around taking pictures! The owner said he would return with it someday and make a proper landing out here.

As a final note. I had another small article to insert here, but I was requested not to do so, and not by the Museum staff or the Editor. I was told by the participants “it could and would cause a ----- load of trouble and $ if I did so!" So if you wish to know about it just ask me at the Fall show about “to the rescue”. I will tell you in private!

We have received word the Buffalo Pitts Steam Roller is ready to return ‘home’. Robert Richardson will try to pick it up Thursday or Friday, and bring it here for the weekend. Now, will come a serious job of re-piping then all the work of making It ready to roll, then cosmetic beautification. Good luck Steam Team!

This session is now ended, so thanks to all, See Yu. David

Return to October 2007 Table of Contents