SEGMENT: FARM EQUIPMENT
Leland Sweatman>ISM Walk & Talk Interviews>Sweatman, Leland, Section 1
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- FARM EQUIPMENT
- One of the first gasoline engines was built by Avery in 1917. It's a gasoline tractor though it kind of looks like a steam engine. In 1917, Fordson came out with a smaller tractor than old steam engines, could turn easier. Mr. Sweatman says Fordson was very popular and in 1923, Fordson had 73% of tractors in the country and made lots of toys. Before World War II the toys had men on them, after the war they didn't. Mr. Sweatman has a replica of John Deere eight foot combine, mostly used in the West in wheat country. Not a lot in this area. A combine is very similar to a thrasher, with a sickle and a reel added to get the wheat in. Combines are pulled by a tractor. Mr. Sweatman has a John Deere Manure spreader in red, because they bought out the Van Brunt company 1930 and part of the contract was keeping the replica exact. He also has a John Deere drill that was red.
- TOYS
- Mr. Sweatman shows a Christmas present from 1934. A cast iron dirt hauler. After World War II cast iron toys weren't used anymore. He has a plastic International M made in 1950 by Product Miniature of Allis Chalmers tractor. They were very fragile and broke easy. These were the first plastic toys made. Mr. Sweatman and his son played with tractors.
- FARM PRACTICES
- Mr. Sweatman advices not to jump into something you don't know anything about. He talks about the emergence of No till practices and the need for chemicals. Today no till is a good practice. When Mr. Sweatman first started they plowed under every corn stalk.
