Hi, ROME K/G.
Man, yer gotta git yer comparisons correct - "Slower than COLD molasses."

But I suspect that you might be right. Those old combines didn't have the throughput capability that the modern ones have.

Just my 0.02

Ha! yea it's a wonder what they got done back then, but it was a big improvement over horses.

Hi, ROME K/G.
That said though, they also didn't have the crop yields per acre that they have today either. I can remember at the Best Show Harvest Spectacular at Woodland, CA., in 2011, even with a 33 mule team and flat ground, they could still only handle about half a machine width of cut on the combine or it would choke, even at the speed that the mules were travelling - - which had three tortoises and a snail behind them honking to get past.

Just my 0.02

Best Show Spectacular - Woodland , CA 7-1-2011

Of the multitude of photo's I took of this show - one certain individual is missing - how that happens I can not explain
Usually always noticed, flip flops, lime green shirt and shorts!

Those mules on that Holt Combine had not worked as a team, took a lot of effort just to keep everything headed in the same direction. Dodge was tied to the rear of the combine as a safety measure, only brakes there were to halt that team.

CTS

Hi, CTS.
The master of disguise strikes again.

That was a pretty good show. I got to take the #111 for a lap of the display area, had a couple of BBQ dinners with the mule skinners, worked till 9.30 several nights to get things done and hadda lotta fun in the sand pit.

Funny thing - mule teams don't seem to come with a reverse gear.

Just my 0.02

Looked like third gear to me, that farm is just north of Moscow Idaho. Helped harvest there about 25 years ago with 1470.

Hi, Mschwartz
Dang me, but it'z hard to hide anything on this forum. Seems almost every time, somebody knows 'sumpin' about it.

Thanks for information.

Just my 0.02.

Well I say just keep on finding and posting stuff. Love looking at old pictures and hoping I know something about them. Thanks again, Mike

Hi, Mschwartz.
This one might be a little out of your back yard:



Likewise with this one:



Try to enjoy anyway.

Just my 0.02.

Hi, Folks.
This one would have to be right up there with the deepest excavations to get to bedrock of any concrete dam construction anywhere - Donnell's dam - nearly 200 feet below the river bed,



Just my 0.02.