Day 168, "Every picture has a story"
This is very close to the combine we used when I was on the farm. We did NOT have the ability to cut and harvest at the same time as in this picture but the combine itself is pretty close to ours. AND we did put it with an International "M" tractor. I can tell you that the hopper where the grain came into would hold 50 bushels but if it were oats and it weighted more than 32 pounds it would be more. The story in this picture is about Dad who suffered 2 serious injuries as he used this combine. There were many gears and sprocks on the combine. Dad kept a gallon can filled with old oil on the hitch. Several times a day he would leave the combine running as we unloaded and he would take the oil can around and oil the sprocks and gears. One time he got a little too close to the gear and his index finger went between the chain and wheel. It is difficult to explain how or what happened but I can promise you do not want it to happen to you. After that he had a dead nerve in his trigger finger as the finger had been smashed. He always had to be careful after that as he had no feeling in it and it was easy to allow it to get too cold and maybe even get frost bite or freeze when he was hunting in the winter. I do not remember him going to the doctor with that but he may have. the second was more painful and more serious. For some reason he did not have a battery in the motor so he needed to crank the motor to start it. As he stood on the outside of the motor and attempted to crank the motor to life it back fired and the handle can around and hit him in the shoulder sending him to the ground. We got Mom and she drove him to the hospital and IF I remember right Dad did pass out on the way there. It put harvest on hold for some time. I don't remember how long but I do know that when the grain was ready putting harvest on hold was not a good thing!
Another beautiful day weather wise. Not so in Minnesota as I look on the computer and phone. I played tennis at 7:30 and by 8:00 I was sweating BIG time. I am on my way to drive Terry to an appt as I get sticker for the car and the beach.
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