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The Haas Atomic Tractor Hundreds of tractor brands have come and gone over the years but one of the most elusive is the Haas tractor. Only a few hundred Haas Model A, B and D tractors were produced between 1949 and 1951. As World War two approached manufacturing in the United States transitioned to support of the war effort. Ed Haas, the owner of Metal Parts Corp., a machine shop and foundry, began manufacturing aluminum aircraft cylinder heads for Warner Aircraft and Continental Motors for use in the P-51 Mustang fighter. As World War II came to an end, Haas kept his plant busy by subcontracting to other firms. He also began producing a line of bacon griddles, electric mixers, aluminum skillets, deep fryers and other cookware under the Star Glow brand. With the experience gained manufacturing aircraft engines, as well as parts for International Harvester, Allis-Chalmers, Case and Massey-Harris, Haas saw an opportunity to manufacture his own line of tractors. In 1949 the Haas Atomic A was introduced to America. The Model B was basically the same tractor with an additional transmission, thus giving it twice the speeds. A and B tractors were powered by a Haas Model 6-12 air-cooled engine rated at 12-1/2 hp at 2,400 rpm, internal parts of that engine were identical to Ford Model A parts still available today. A Borg-Warner T-96 transmission similar to those used in wartime jeeps, Fords and Studebakers indicated that the transmissions, like the tractor’s jeep wheels, were war surplus. A considerable amount of brass was used in the steering arms, final drive gears and the hand crank, suggesting use of war surplus (brass shell casings) for those parts as well. Both the Model A and B tractors had Ross steering, adjustable axles, pulley drive and a swinging drawbar as standard equipment. A starter/ generator and the pulley were factory options. The larger Haas Model D competed with Ford, Ferguson and other low profile 3-point hitch tractors. The “D” used the Continental F-140 (140-cubic-inch) gasoline engine. It was also offered in a kerosene version with a 162-cubic-inch engine The tractor featured a Rockford clutch, B.F. Avery transmission and Ross steering. Weighing about 3,000 pounds, the Model D was among the first to feature a live hydraulic system and 3-point hitch, with a lifting capacity of 1,500 pounds. No one knows how many Haas tractors were shipped overseas, although some Model D’s are known to be in Germany and Asia. Many Haas tractors were use in orchards and truck farms in Michigan and the upper Midwest. Some Haas Atomic A’s were used as factory mules to move heavy loads in the plant where they had been built.

I consider myself to be very fortunate. I had a job that I hated but the pay was good enough that I was able to retire early enough to help others. My job wasn't my identity, it was just a path I followed to get to a place I love. I volunteered with Habitat for Humanities for about twelve years and the satisfaction I felt watching a person use a ramp to access their home safely or a new first time homeowner walking through the door of a house they helped build was overwhelming. I can't do the physical work anymore but I do have a couple of friends who's wives have recently passed away that I visit or have lunch with frequently because they need some conversation and companionship. That seems to help keep "the old man" away from their door.

I retired pretty early, 51 years old. After 30 years as a beat cop I was ready to hang up my cuffs and kick back. I'm 58 now I can honestly say I've never worked as hard as I do now, I know the old body ain't as strong as it used to be but that aside, I still put in a good shift most days. I do yoga twice a week in classes and can beat most of the lithe young ladies when it comes to bending and stretching. Mainly because I belive I can do it and don't tell myself I can't like they seem to do. The main thing that bothers me is when I cut myself in my youth it would be healed by tea time, now I can nurse a cut for weeks before it properly heals up. I miss that. But knowledge and experience are my tools now rather than the super strong arms and hands that are now weakening to my shame. I can still do the work, but I seem to work smarter if that little bit slower. My relationship with my wife is better than it ever was. We are close, but give each other space. We discuss more, I lecture less, we laugh a lot. Her dad lives with us, he's 30 years older than me and he often exasperates us with his cranky and selfish ways. I can see he let the old man in a long time ago and I determine not to let that happen for us. Her mom was taken early from us by dementia and we often say if she had been spared, not him, she would have lived a far more fulfilled life. But that may be unfair, he's had to live these last few years without the rudder she provided, so maybe we need to cut him a little more slack. I can see the sand running out the glass these days, when I didn't even know there was a glass in my youth. The trick is not to try and stop up the hole; it's to make sure you use every grain of sand you can. The old man will always get in, and some day I'm sure I will welcome him with open arms. But for now I'm content to watch him walk by , just wave or nod, and carry on living. Bless each and every one of my Red Square friends, long life and good health to you all. Mick xx

I've been told that age will eventually affect your memory, but I can't remember who said it... What were we talking about again?

Unlike the rest of you I have become sweeter and kinder as I approach 60. If you’ve met me and you disagree … well prepare to have your dang Red Square account stomped on and deleted! RS is no place for anyone that disagrees with me ! Just messing! I’m feeling the effects of age, especially when I’m driving and some whippersnapper feels the need to tailgate or pass me at MACH-1.

I turned 71 in December. In my early twenties, I had a premonition that I would live to be 84 years old and die from lung problems. I have lived with that in the back of my mind ever since. I've not told anyone this-even my wife- until I write it this evening. I told my Sunday School Class this past Sunday that I have been fortunate that I have not been overnight in a hospital in over 50 years. (That was because my brother ran over my foot with his car.) I retired this past summer. After working 52 years most of them in construction, I felt the time had come to hang up my hammer. While unloading the tools and supplies out of my truck, I was somewhat overwhelmed with a feeling of loss/change. It was as if the "old man was loosing his identity/self worth." One of my points of change is that I've volunteered my experience and labor. I've converted a brand new motor home into a mobile unit that is used to go to towns in our area to help pregnant women. Now, I am helping rebuild a bathroom at a church office and awhile back, I lead a team to build a wheel chair ramp for a needy woman. I'm staying a busy as I want. I've never heard of the song "Don't let the old man in" until I watched it a few minutes ago on this thread. There's a good deal of truth to it and I'm convinced that hobbies such as wheel horse, model trains, music, camping, fishing and hunting, as well as the many others hobbies/interests that you all are involved in help keep "the old man out"

Same. I can set a wrench down, and spend the next 15 minutes trying to remember where I put it... Long term is somewhat better, but not great. My wife says so anyway. I think that's just a tool she has for unwinnable disagreements. I believe women have a rulebook somewhere with all that stuff in it. Kept in some top secret library that is off limits to males. But that is another discussion!

You all can learn the same way the deer do. Touch it once - lesson learned. When I was young it was great fun to talk my younger nephews & nieces into touching the fence, the same way my older brothers did to me. Ahhh yes, good times.

I just started some squash and blue lake string bean seeds this week. My garden got a layer of horse manure last fall and a layer of lime last month. I also deposit all my wet garbage and some wood ashes. After the last snow threat, I'll remove the snow plow blade from the 312H and install the front tiller on the plow frame. Then till it all in and install the rabbit fence.

Some days I do well remembering that, others not so much. Excellent advice there.

I’m not sure why, but since retiring I don’t have the same sense of urgency to speed to get somewhere. I am puzzled why I ever did. They say memory is the first thing go 😬

I’m 65 and mostly feel great. Three back operations, and feet that need special inserts in the shoes. Still, not bad. I have some minor limitations that cause me to be more creative in how I go about things. As an example, I was very happy to sell my 2-stage snowblower to @ebinmaine. Damn near killed myself moving that thing around. Like @Ed Kennell, I started school at a small schoolhouse - 3 rooms - first, second and third grade. There was no nurses station, just a cot in the hallway for if you had a headache or stomachache kind of thing. You did not want to be laying on that cot when the recess bell went off, it was a flurry of kicks, punches and insults as the kids went by! It was great! Every first day of school my mother put a letter in an envelope to give my teacher. It was a note saying that if I misbehaved they could punish me. As I get older, I find I have less patience but more gratitude. I’ve seen so many family, friends and acquaintances leave the party through death or dementia. I’m much more afraid of the latter. My grandchildren are a great joy and keep me on my toes! My work is still mentally challenging, so that helps. And working on my tractors keeps my mind engaged. I like to be learning something new everyday and I’m convinced having a sense of curiosity, and humor, keeps you young and interesting to others. I’m inspired by people on this site, who are older than me and still sharp as a tack. I’m often in awe of the clarity and precision of comments/suggestions/how-to’s written by@Ed Kennell, who I don’t personally know and think, man, maybe 80 ain’t that scary! Paul

I said my next post would have more to it, but that isn't the case. The only fabrication I needed to do on this machine was to change this L-157 center console over to one that matches up to a R/E 32, 33, or 34 type so as to match the fender and toolbox. So I had to convert what I had. Here's the first side: And for the record, I hate welding sheetmetal!

There are permanent solutions to the deer population problem and I might add, they taste quite good... I have deer in my suburban back yard every day, even with a 100 lbs labrador... who they think is a friend... 14 pointer an 8 pointer and their 6 girlfriends... Can't hunt them here, and there is no way to keep them out of a garden... unless it's a greenhouse...they walk over 5' fence and easily jump 6'. Here's Denali chatting with the 14 pointer...

The one I had trouble with was kinda like that. The rubber just wouldn't go into the tube right like it was swelled a bit or something. If that's what you have, I cured the problem by removing the plastic tube from the trans and using a step bit to ream some material off. Do just a little then test fit, little more each time. Rinse and repeat as necessary.

It took about an hour to get the old Jeep to fire, but it was a great day! 38 mph or less, to prevent horrific death wobble!

Like Toby sings " How old would you be If you didn't know the day you were born". I'm a 55 yo that happened to be born sometime during WWII.

Just sayin'...

Not a lot has changed with me. when I was young I had to take care of a large house and property my self. Changed the Tecky's out when they wore out and kept our large carriage house barn clean and organized .Had my own "Tool room" at 10 yrs. old. Same thing today. I try to keep stuff somewhat neat. If it gets late I will clean up the next day. When I started at Napa I started to have "Zero Tolerance Fridays" Still have them now once and a while. Kind of frustrating now that all the boiler rooms and AHU's that I kept clean and neat look like crap now. I don't say a thing being a part timer and it aint my job anymore. Don't want to step on any toes. In about 10 month's or so we're all retiring the same day!

I wanted to post something short and to the point, but Eb beat me to it. Have to say this perfectly says what I wanted to post. I was immortal for 40 years. Then my body taught me different. I was convinced even then that I would bounce back 100 percent. Then I settled for 70 percent. Now I want to cling to 60 percent....

Mark Twain When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.

@JoeM when I first got the change of age , added , thin foam mats to floor work / also roller dolly's, had always just gone to the floor like at work , today its also cutting back on much of what I used to do . my wife and I also , turn it around on the grandkids , on issues , WHAT WOULD YOU DO ? talk about it , break it down , support / realize the situation , no sarcasm , insults , just a back and forth for the answer. we do that very often , the kids like that way of problem solving . they also like making the food recipes , that grandma gives them , keep changing with your life , every day is different , pete

Following my stroke my wife had to assume the duties I had always done in addition to her regular tasks. At first I was very frustrated by the fact that some things weren't being done the right way (read that as being done MY WAY). Within a few weeks I began to mellow and have adopted the belief that most of the things we do differently aren't so important after all. Showing mutual respect and loving each other is all that matters. I am now able to do most of the tasks my wife took over but I do some of them her way because I never understood how MY WAY bugged her so much. I never balanced the check book to the penny, I always rounded up or down when entering payments (drove her crazy) and I would always sort the recycles as they were taken to the garage, now we just hold of until the day we make a run to the drop-off center, no big deal. I have become a bit more mellow and appreciative of what I have left rather than becoming frustrated with the loss of what I had. I didn't realize how I had become "that old man", glad to say he is gone.

I had my soil tested last year. I figured I should see where it's at since it's been 5 years of the garden. I took samples to my county farm bureau. It was $23 cheaper for members and $20 to become a member so I joined and saved $3. Plus my dad was a dairy farmer for 1/2 his life and hobby Hereford beef farmer for the other 1/2 so I thought joining would make him proud. They do have some discounts at local stores and restaurants and do have good way to get locally grown and processed meat. Anyway, my soil was actually about 1/2 a point too neutral or base and they recommended adding elemental sulfer in the fall to get it a little more acidic. I heard it's more difficult to go from neutral to acidic than the other way. We shall see. I don't plan on testing for another 5 years or so. I also planted garlic in the fall and am trying to start a strawberry patch. Garlic is covered for the winter with fallen, mulched leaves and strawberries are covered with chopped ornamental tall grass that basically looks like straw after i run it through a chipper. It's been such a mild winter here except for those 5 days about 3 weeks ago that the garlic is starting to poke through the leaf mulch. I've had good luck in past years growing garlic this way, but if it hard freezes again I may lose some this year. For the rest of the garden, I planted 3 to 1 mix of winter rye grass and crimson clover. I've never really done cover crops before, but these are good nitrogen fixers and am hoping it does well for the soil. I will weed wack it probably 1 month or so before I plan on planting and and plow it under. Here's some pics from around the end of October. It did grow a little taller before the cold temps set in. An added winter bonus is I can look out my back window and see green when the rest of the lawn isn't so green.

Uh Oh I can tell @Sparky hasn't gotten any for a while! Even a snickers bar ain't gonna help him.

I think I paid $2-300 for mine, I honestly don’t remember. It didn’t work, I knew that when I brought it. I took it apart and found it had a broken yoke in the wobble box. I welded it up and it is good to go. Leaks a little bit so I might reseal it or just fill it with cornhead grease. It took a little bit of adapting to make it work on my C-121 8-Speed but now it works fine. I have absolutely nothing to cut with it, it’s just one of those attachments as a Wheel Horse collector that I had to have.

Great Thread !!! I learned a valuable lesson in about my middle age years -- what you do ( for a "job" ) is not who you are -- it's what you do. You could be a heart surgeon, a plumber, carpenter, truck driver, police officer, nurse, teacher or whatever - or maybe a wheel horse mechanic ?? Hopefully people have a wonderful satisfying work life for many years. But those "jobs" are what we "did"............ I learned an important perspective many years before I retired from my high profile leadership position -- therefore, I was well prepared after I retired for the "adjustment" to not be what I was during my career. I am constantly asked by people if i miss it? Meaning my career? My answer is ...I miss the people and those I worked with doing great team things with great results -- but most who ask that question to me they really are meaning... do I miss the high profile? The answer is "not really" !! I had a wonderful career and job with great satisfaction -- but it was what I did.. not who I was. So for those who have left careers and found greater or more fulfillment, and good friendships, and satisfaction with your new role or phase in life... I say good for you - - because your "job" was what you did - hopefully fun and rewarding. Now you get to do more of what makes you who you are... family time, volunteering, helping neighbors, being charitable, etc . ENJOY it !! We all know it goes by real fast !!

The deer must also pass this lesson down to their younguns. For many years, corn and soybeans were grown on the farm next to me and there were always deer in the fields. When the Amish bought it for a truck farm 6 years ago, the first spring he put up a single tape like electric wire about 3 ft. off the ground and placed a dab of peanut butter on the tape about every 4 ft. It was only up a couple months. I have never seen a deer in his fields of sweet corn, melons, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. The groundhogs required a different plan. He asked for my help and I removed around 20 every spring for the first 3 years he was here. Now I only trap 2-4 per year.

I used mine to file down the drag links on my Chain saw. It's the only file I have that will cut them.

Back in ellie-meh-tary skool there was a horse pasture bordering the VERY large not well watched playground. One o' the more adventurous young "dudes" (yeah I made a horse pun) decided to test the old wives tales about ummm... relieving one's self on an electric fence. I'd bet everyone can imagine just precisely how that went.

Oddly enough, my long term memory is excellent. It's actually fairly simple. Rules as follows: A. She's right. B. You're the opposite of correct. 3. See #1 which we all can clearly see isn't there. Section 7.b/eleventeen80. ... see "A" ~Fin.

Venison is great, high quality protein. I have neighbors around so for safety only a bow can be used. I use a trad bow but only saw them once the three month bow season. Had bear get my corn two years ago, they ate well.

I had my fence on a timer 9pm to 7am. solved all the issues including myself forgetting to turn it off. Nice Had one strand 4 inches off the ground for the hogs, one at 18 for the smaller dear, and one at 36. Ran an additional ground in between the 18 and 36 inch hots. This was the only thing that worked.

Ha,that's funny stuff. I had 2 older brothers growing up so the same type of thing. I even did the grandkids with the garden hose. "Hold this and look inside there so you can tell me when the water starts coming out".

Hardwood (all that I burn) ash is a low grade fertilizer containing potassium and calcium. It has a liming effect raising the Ph and neutralizing the acidic horse manure.

We also find the shifter boot to be a big culprit here. Seems the vast majority of these tractors are stored outside for Large portions of their lives and the rain runs down the shifter right into the transmission.

Not until @TJ just posted it. But there's millions of artists out there and back in the day and there wasn't anyway for most to get recognized except for the radio. Now, with the internet many more can get exposed. Never heard of this guy either but the youtube feed just keeps on feeding incredible talent !!! There's no doubt Blues paved the way for rock n roll

Wait until you hit 75 years I will be 76 in June. You want have to worry about that anymore. You just set down and close your eyes and when you wake up you didn`t even know that you went to sleep and when you wake up you wonder where you have been.

When I'm 80 90. Don't let the Old Man In.

As I've crested 50yrs old a few years ago I'm slowly becoming the grumpy old man. Lol. I just wanna be left alone to play out in my garage. Fortunately my girlfriend who's 39 has some sort of social anxiety or something I guess. She doesn't like big crowds of people. Small social events with people she's comfortable with is fine. She does her thing in her she shed & I'll be out in garage. We enjoy spend time together. I can drag her to any car show, tractor show, etc. Sometimes she asks if theres a show! We barely watch tv- especially the news, makes me angry. Both us stay off social media. Except me on this forum. My kids are 17 & 20. My daughter graduates this year. She intends to follow a career in real estate as my mom did very successfully for 45yrs. She's smart, takes no crap (cause I raised her that way) & has social skills. My son tried college & hated it. I was ok with that. He spent a year doing carpet/flooring work. After the year he determined that was not how he wanted to make a living. Sometimes gotta let kids figure things out. I told him if he wasn't interested in going back to school or a trade to seek out a civic job- state, county, city, govt, etc. Unknown to me he actually listened. In January he started a job w/county as a waste water treatment operator. Great pay, benefits, retirement (30&out!) His supervisor told him that he wishes he was my son's age when he got hired. Remind him daily how lucky he is to landed that job. Proud of both my kids. I pretty much raised them while my ex drank & partied etc. I admit I was tough on them & I still am. My son already thanks me & says he doesn't know how I managed it for all those years.

When dad passed and I had to clean out his garage/shop. Lot of thoughts on why he was keeping bent nails and screws with stripped heads. Finally figured out his dad went through the great depression where new nails cost money they didn't have. Can only guess that's why. Now I look around my shop and have no idea why I keep such stuff.

What do you guys do to prep your garden? Have anyone started with any preparation? I winter fertilized with a basic 10-10-10 fertilizer. Started some pepper seeds indoors. Also trying to decide what all to grow this year.

Sounds like you got a peek at the "book of secrets"...

They bring a fairly shiny penny. I've seen them from $500 to $800 depending on the model of mower.

@elcamino/wheelhorse You need to tell me what sandwiches you want to pick up at the SHEETZ when I stop for gas in Mansfield!

I'm more modern. I use peanut jars with lids, because I can see what's inside, and keep the moisture out. But I have six shelves full of jars, more than my dad ever had. Have saved myself many trips to the hardware store with those jars. I had to downsize quite a bit, but my family can deal with the jars when I'm gone.

Toby Keith...RIP old soul. So much wisdom in this thread..... My grand dad was a farmer and blacksmith and had baby food jars with the lids tacked to the beams in his blacksmith shop. He would be able to see what was in each one and unscrew the jar as needed. They were filled with odds and ends of screws, used nails, etc. Still carry on some of his habits today....just no reused nails.

Excellent memories!!! Fixed it for ya'...