My dad and I spent many hours
operating the farm equipment. When you spend money for the
equipment, you need to keep it busy to pay for it. The
self-propelled combine was a workhorse. My dad purchased a
Massey-Ferguson combine with 13 foot grain head and a corn picker
head.
The combine was running
through the whole harvest season. First there was winter wheat and
oats. New came soy beans. Finally, corn. In those days, corn
varieties required longer growing season – so Beans were mostly
done before corn was ready for harvest.
Most of the combining was done
by my dad. The operator's platform was open. It was a dusty job,
particularly with the soy beans. The fine “hairs” of the bean
stalk would swirl as a dust cloud. The dust was having an adverse
effect on my dad's health. The answer was installing a cab on the
combine.
As I recall, there was a fan
and filter to circulate the air. No problems in Fall, during beans
and corn harvesting. Engine heat and the sun (lots of glass in the
cab) kept the cab comfortable. The problem was wheat and oats
harvesting. Hot Summer days in the fields.
During the Summer, we were
very busy. Once I was old enough, my dad taught me how to run the
combine. I am sure I was in high school (or summer break from
college). This makes it in the mid 60s.
I was running the combine. It
was a hot, sunny day. I had the roof and door of the cab open in an
effort to keep the cab temperature bearable. My mom came out to
bring me lunch. Back in the cab, the heat became unbearable.
Trying to cool down, I was trying standing up on the seat, partially
out of the roof of the cab. Suddenly, I felt cool, almost chilly.
I recognized the condition as
being overheated (heat stroke) and nothing to fool around with.
Drove the combine to the truck was parked and then drove the truck
home. My mom was surprised to see me home. When I told here what
happened, she got me cold water, started up a fan, and had me lay
down.
When my dad got home, he said
something has to be done. Can't afford missing the harvest days, but
can't have heat stroke as a common occurrence. His solution was
air-conditioning the combine cab. The local Massey-Harris implement
dealer (Pederson Brothers Implement) said they had not heard to
anyone doing this, but were interested in the concept.
Montgomery Wards had
aftermarket automobile air-conditioners. They were willing to work
with the implement dealer to design the application.
The Massey-Harris combine had
a Chrysler slant 6 engine – no problem powering the AC pump. The
evaporation unit was mounted top inside of the cab for fan blowing at
the operator's face. Wish I had a photograph of the installation.
As I recall, other farmers and
implement dealers came to look at the installation. The local
newspaper published an article and photo about the installation.
According to Massey-Harris, my dad had the first air-conditioned
combine. Wards conformed this was the first time they had installed
an air conditioner in a combine.
Typical, my dad did not look
for any financial gain or royalty for the idea or design. As I
recall, he basically let Wards and Massey have any possible
financial benefits.
