Old pictures of ingenuity

[Wild Bill in VA 1,452]

Years ago, a Wheel Horse dealer make a parade set up using 4 Wheel Horse tractors without drivers to pull a parade float. It consisted of 1 hydro tractor and 3 manual transmission tractors. The steering was mechanically linked together, and the hydro was the only tractor running and thus pulled the manual tractors along with it. I had gone to the dealer who had the set up and tried to purchase all the mechanical parts, but I did not find everything and decided to pass on the sale..

 For the local Christmas parade almost 20 years ago I thought that i will just build my own driverless parade unit. I made a test run with a model 753 and some rope controls and thought hey this will work. A model 704 was used due to the 2 spoked steering wheel that the reins (ropes) tied to each steering wheel spoke could easily operate the steering. The starting and stopping was controlled by a lever operated cable that pulled the clutch brake pedal from the back downward. The clutch had to help back with the level, and I had to shift into second gear and leave in gear. And yes, there was a safety cut off switch wired in just in case something happens. The sleigh was built on top of my 4 wheeled wagon. I drove this set up for 2-1/2 hours during the parade and received many remarks from kids who thought it was magic that there was no driver on the tractor, women who thought it was romantic and wanted a to ride in the sleigh and men that said, "That guy is good".

Wild Bill in Richmond VA

[ohiofarmer 3,265]

  Well, this is just a thought for now, but I have a White mountain electric ice cream freezer and the motor is really tired.  i found a hand crank unit on Marketplace for ten bucks when all the rest were 75 and up.   White mountain plus a cute little 8 horse.  Just an idea for now, but I hope it works.

 

  Mom told us they used to jack up the old model t and place the crank handle in the spokes

[953 nut 55,223]

Model "T"s and "A"s powered saw mills, and winches to move incredibly heavy loads. They could also be fitted with a flat belt pulley to power any kind in stuff on the farm.        Imagine an OSHA inspector showing while this was going on.     

[wallfish 16,997]

That's awesome! Thanks for sharing.

Your neighbors must have the same look on their face as mine do!  "WTF is that guy up to now"?

[SylvanLakeWH 25,557]

8 hours ago, 953 nut said:

Model "T"s and "A"s powered saw mills, and winches to move incredibly heavy loads. They could also be fitted with a flat belt pulley to power any kind in stuff on the farm.        Imagine an OSHA inspector showing while this was going on.     

And ski rope tows…

 

 

[sjoemie himself 3,068]

8 hours ago, 953 nut said:

OSHA inspector

Well back then most people were smart enough to not stick their finger where they would'nt stick their 'bratwurst'..

Nowadays people stick their pet in the microwave and blame the company that made the microwave that the pet died 

[cod 120]

14 minutes ago, sjoemie himself said:

Well back then most people were smart enough to not stick their finger where they would'nt stick their 'bratwurst'..

Nowadays people stick their pet in the microwave and blame the company that made the microwave that the pet died 

How true. Went to a local steam fair a few years back and there were "belts" running everywhere. Neat to see how things were done years ago but wickedly dangerous if one was not paying attention. Glad that all of the milling machine and lathes I worked with had their own motors.

[Retired Wrencher 5,454]

6 hours ago, wallfish said:

That's awesome! Thanks for sharing.

Your neighbors must have the same look on their face as mine do!  "WTF is that guy up to now"?

Jhon, you mean! 

[hcminis 1,556]

18 hours ago, Wild Bill in VA said:

Years ago, a Wheel Horse dealer make a parade set up using 4 Wheel Horse tractors without drivers to pull a parade float. It consisted of 1 hydro tractor and 3 manual transmission tractors. The steering was mechanically linked together, and the hydro was the only tractor running and thus pulled the manual tractors along with it. I had gone to the dealer who had the set up and tried to purchase all the mechanical parts, but I did not find everything and decided to pass on the sale..

 For the local Christmas parade almost 20 years ago I thought that i will just build my own driverless parade unit. I made a test run with a model 753 and some rope controls and thought hey this will work. A model 704 was used due to the 2 spoked steering wheel that the reins (ropes) tied to each steering wheel spoke could easily operate the steering. The starting and stopping was controlled by a lever operated cable that pulled the clutch brake pedal from the back downward. The clutch had to help back with the level, and I had to shift into second gear and leave in gear. And yes, there was a safety cut off switch wired in just in case something happens. The sleigh was built on top of my 4 wheeled wagon. I drove this set up for 2-1/2 hours during the parade and received many remarks from kids who thought it was magic that there was no driver on the tractor, women who thought it was romantic and wanted a to ride in the sleigh and men that said, "That guy is good".

Wild Bill in Richmond VA

Wild Bill

Believe you are talking about the stage coach hook that I currently own.  Was allowed to get the setup from the old Franklin, IL dealer several years ago. Unfortunately the stage coach that was on a 4-whee wagon was destroyed from being left outside.  Have a YouTube video that I will try to link for you to view

 

https://youtu.be/zAaeTlgBYwU

 

 

[sjoemie himself 3,068]

Extremely cool! 4 horse drawn coach 

[WHGuy413 2,683]

That’s awesome. Love how the wheels are always turning in some of your heads 

[wh500special 2,179]

I assume that 4-horse hitch was from Christiansen’s in Frankfort, IL?

I have a couple of the signs they had on their building.  When I was up there godknowshowmany years ago I saw it but regrettably passed on it.  Nice to see it survives!

steve

[hcminis 1,556]

On 9/6/2022 at 8:14 PM, wh500special said:

I assume that 4-horse hitch was from Christiansen’s in Frankfort, IL?

I have a couple of the signs they had on their building.  When I was up there godknowshowmany years ago I saw it but regrettably passed on it.  Nice to see it survives!

steve

Yes that is from the Christianson’s dealership