Hay Carrier Collecting Catches On

Hay Carrier Collecting Catches On BALE HANDLING Emil Hecksel has collected more than 70 historic hay carriers over the past 10 years He began with a few spare parts and a functional but thoroughly burned Louden Junior salvaged from a cousin’s barn fire in 2008 Hecksel says he started collecting carriers because he’s always been interested in farm memorabilia though not necessarily for a monetary investment “They’re beautiful pieces of workmanship when they’re all restored and painted to their original colors They’re devices from our past that should be preserved ” One of his prized possessions is the carrier from the barn on the farm where he grew up Even though that yard site had been sold 30 years earlier Hecksel was able to convince the owners to let him rescue the old Hudson trolley from the barn He and his son-in law worked 7 hrs to remove it and when they were finished he had the carrier a piece of track and some of the original rope that his dad had used to operate it The Hudson is especially nostalgic for him because Hecksel remembers as a youth driving an old Farmall tractor pulling slings of hay into the barn with the carrier He’s restored several trolley brands including King Clover Leaf Eagle Porter Starline Ney a Myers Cross-Draft a Myers Sure Grip a Boomer and two Leaders He has sling and fork trolleys pull hooks sling pullers new and used pulleys from several brands of carriers and a point-of-purchase display for Starline which years ago built several types of livestock and farm equipment Some of his carriers ride on short metal tracks attached to sturdily built racks he’s made to display them One of his trolleys rests on a wood support similar to the greased wood beam where it used to glide with a sling of hay Hecksel shares his joy of trolleys with others who are members of the National Hay Tool Collectors Association which meets annually www haytrolleyheaven com “Those events are a great place to meet other collectors see what they have and look for items I might want to add to my collection ” Hecksel says He also finds carriers at auctions estate sales flea markets and swap meets All the items in his collection are carefully cleaned restored and painted He says most of the time a good soaking in a special solution gets parts moving again though sometimes he needs to heat the wheels and pulleys He’s constantly on the lookout for missing parts such as trips pulleys catches and pulling hooks Sometimes he makes wood pulleys to replace those that are broken worn or missing He says his hobby is a time-consuming but satisfying endeavor especially when he can get a prized trolley back into working condition Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Emil Hecksel Coopersville Mich lhecksel@aol com

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