Farm Antiques

A vital ingredient for the "country look" in decorating is the display of old farm implements that, in their worn state, represent a nostalgia for a quieter, simpler lifestyle. Clemens has compiled a handy flea-market guide for collectors in this area, covering everything from husking pegs and dibbles to farm toys, quilts, and giant John Deere and McCormick machines. Each chapter focuses on one aspect of farm life-including dairy, poultry, bees, butchering, planting, and harvesting-and is accompanied by black-and-white photos of the tools used, suggested readings, and expected price ranges. Recommended for public library reference collections, but an additional circulating copy would be well used, too.
Joseph Hewgley, Nashville P.L.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Chuck Elsbree grew up working on the family ranch in Windsor California during the 1940s and 1950s. For most of his professional career, Chuck worked as a research and development engineer in the aerospace industry. In this capacity Chuck helped develop missiles used in the Apollo Space Flight Program. One of his most memorable aerospace assignments was program manager for developing hardware used on the Lunar Lander. Chuck later founded an electronic hardware company and has been granted six different patents. Chuck and his wife Diana now have their collection of restored and partially-restored antique farm equipment on display at their Elsbree Family Vineyard Ranch in Windsor Chuck says, By preserving the implements and describing their functional and mechanical purposes, I hope that readers, and those who tour the collection on site, will better understand and appreciate the engineering talent required to create and manufacture antique farm equipment. I also hope that current and future generations will recognize the great contributions of these engineering marvels in helping build a strong America. Those early farm tools were the prototypes of most modern implements in use today.

Spencer Yost has written several tractor-related books, including How to Rebuild and Restore Farm Tractor Engines and How to Restore Your John Deere 2-Cylinder Tractor, and is the creator of Antique Tractor Internet Services (www.atis.net), the original antique tractor website. A computer-industry consultant by day, he lives in Pfafftown, North Carolina.

www.atis.net

Farm Industry News, November 2006

“Comprehensive information on how to adopt safe work practices in all areas of the farm.”

Toy Farmer, December 2006

“The details and comprehensive information in the Farm Safety Handbook, clearly illustrated throughout, is further brought home through harrowing accounts of real-life farm accidents.”

                                                                                                              

Ottumwa Courier (IA), Sept. 13, 2006

“Kubik’s book isn’t just a series of stories to make your hair stand on end. The dozens of stories will simply help you remember his hundreds of practical safety tips. The tips, suggestions and accident stories are well illustrated with photos and organized by chapters.”

www.tractor.com, January 2007

“A wealth of anecdotes from people who collect and restore Deer tractors. These accounts give model-specific detail on what to look for and common problems. This first-hand information from experienced collectors is the kind of useful information a mere book of data tables can never provide.”

Andrew Morland is the author of Legendary Tractors. He lives in Somerset, Great Britain.

A triumph for dedicated owners and an inspiration for restorers everywhere.  Well done to Ralph W. Sanders for this remarkable and classic compendium. Tractor & Machinery (UK), December 2009

Town Square Books from Voyageur Press provide entertaining, in-depth coverage of popular cultural icons, collectibles, nostalgia, and Americana. Town Square Books have an appealing balance of lively text, crisp full-color photography, and careful reproduction of rare archival material.