A Tribute To A Great Machine

2009 - Volume #33, Issue #4, Page #44

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Perhaps it's fitting that from its 8-ft. high perch along a busy highway, Dick Bacon's 1941 Massey Harris 21 combine can "see" a lot of country.
    That's because the 68-year-old machine also saw a lot of country in its younger days, as it made its way around Alberta and the U.S. with a custom harvesting crew. Today the combine is a unique landmark near Grande Prairie, Alberta, a sentimental reminder of three generations of farming for its owner. It meant so much to Bacon that he literally put the combine on a pedestal.
    The machine has a canvas table, a 12-ft. header, and can hold about 43 bu. of wheat, according to Bacon.
    "It still has its original drive wheels. I kept it in top notch condition and if I couldn't get parts, I made them," he says. "I built the cab and put the straw chopper on it myself."
    Dick's dad bought the combine new for $2,200, and used it on the family farm near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. When Dick turned 16, he started running the combine for his dad û doing so for 5 years until the farm was sold in 1947. At that point, Dick joined a custom harvest crew and worked the combine for 5 years from Oklahoma to Canada.
    The final leg of the old combine's work life began when Dick bought a farm near Grande Prairie, Alberta. He used it there for another 17 years, before retiring it in 1969.
    "It was my wife's favorite combine û she ran it when the kids were small. Two of my sons operated it later," he explains. "Three generations of Bacons ran this combine. The reason I put it up on display was as a tribute to a great machine. These units were very well accepted and it was the first thing the American farmers would ask youà if you had a Massey Harris, then you had a job."
    Before Bacon's combine was parked for the final time atop its pedestal (about 6 yrs. ago), he used it to cut wheat, just to show that it still worked. He drove the combine out to its final resting place on its own power.
    To build the pedestal, he drove three, 8-in. pipes 12 ft. deep into the ground, and then welded the combine to them.
    "It's not going to blow over," he chuckles.
    For interested passers-by, Bacon hung a sign on the combine with the year and model, and a few facts about its history in the family.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dick Bacon, R.R. 1, Site 27, P.O. Box 2, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada T8V 2Z8 (ph 780 532-6247; dfbacon@telus.net).

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A Tribute To A Great Machine COMBINES Miscellaneous Perhaps it s fitting that from its 8-ft high perch along a busy highway Dick Bacon s 1941 Massey Harris 21 combine can see a lot of country That s because the 68-year-old machine also saw a lot of country in its younger days as it made its way around Alberta and the U S with a custom harvesting crew Today the combine is a unique landmark near Grande Prairie Alberta a sentimental reminder of three generations of farming for its owner It meant so much to Bacon that he literally put the combine on a pedestal The machine has a canvas table a 12-ft header and can hold about 43 bu of wheat according to Bacon It still has its original drive wheels I kept it in top notch condition and if I couldn t get parts I made them he says I built the cab and put the straw chopper on it myself Dick s dad bought the combine new for $2 200 and used it on the family farm near Fort Saskatchewan Alberta When Dick turned 16 he started running the combine for his dad û doing so for 5 years until the farm was sold in 1947 At that point Dick joined a custom harvest crew and worked the combine for 5 years from Oklahoma to Canada The final leg of the old combine s work life began when Dick bought a farm near Grande Prairie Alberta He used it there for another 17 years before retiring it in 1969 It was my wife s favorite combine û she ran it when the kids were small Two of my sons operated it later he explains Three generations of Bacons ran this combine The reason I put it up on display was as a tribute to a great machine These units were very well accepted and it was the first thing the American farmers would ask youà if you had a Massey Harris then you had a job Before Bacon s combine was parked for the final time atop its pedestal about 6 yrs ago he used it to cut wheat just to show that it still worked He drove the combine out to its final resting place on its own power To build the pedestal he drove three 8-in pipes 12 ft deep into the ground and then welded the combine to them It s not going to blow over he chuckles For interested passers-by Bacon hung a sign on the combine with the year and model and a few facts about its history in the family Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Dick Bacon R R 1 Site 27 P O Box 2 Grande Prairie Alberta Canada T8V 2Z8 ph 780 532-6247; dfbacon@telus net

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