Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The Tractor Photo

A couple of posts ago I mentioned a photo of me riding in my little red wagon hitched to my Grandpa's Farmall A. (click here to read the original post). Thanks to my Dad and Sister the photo has been found.

Even at an early age it is obvious I knew the hat made the man.
By the way, the tractor is still going and it has a name. My Grandpa named it Tiny. Until recently it was mowing the roadsides around my Dad's place and beyond. The little red wagon? Alas, it didn't age so well.

When was the picture taken? The early 1950's.

A postscript about the little red wagon:

Since I published this post, I've heard from both my Sister and my Dad regarding the little red wagon. I'll quote my Dad's email about the little red wagon:

Your little red wagon did age well.
A few years ago I repaired and gave it a paint job.
I use it to haul junk to the road for pickup.
 
Dad
 
When I last saw the little red wagon it wasn't doing very well, but I'm not at all surprised to learn my Dad has fixed it up.  It is what he does.

18 comments:

  1. Oh wow!!! That is absolutely the cutest picture!!

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    1. Thanks, Lori. It has been a family favorite for many years.
      ~k

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  2. Wonderful photo. Bet that was a bumpy ride, too. Must be the beginning of your love of adventure. :^ )

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    1. Martha,
      I suspect we were going very slowly. And, I suspect I was under a mother's eagle eye. Adventure? I did say to a co-worker who is into ATV's that she needed to visit my blog to see me riding my first quad.
      ~k

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  3. Great picture! Those Farmall's will run forever.

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    1. Jim,
      They sure do. My Dad still uses the 300, named Nancy, to plow snow in the winter. Yep, take care of them and they'll run forever.
      ~k

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  4. That picture is just awesome. I am glad they found it and you shared it. The feel of the wind in your hair........ It has to be one of my all time favorite pictures you've posted.

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    1. Brandy,
      I'm glad you liked it and I'm glad I was able to post for you. Even at this early age I love being outside.
      ~k

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  5. Wow, Keith, that's great. Do you actually remember the whole scene? I've seen pictures of me with my grandpa and a tractor (strange coincidence) and I only vaguely remember being there. Too bad, looked like I was having fun. Looks like you were, too. Can life actually get better for a kid than a wagon and a tractor?

    Brady
    Behind Bars

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    1. Brady,
      I can't say I remember this scene, but I can't remember a time I didn't know about this picture. I was always riding with Grandpa on the tractor. I can't remember not being on the tractor. It was the way of the farm.

      My guess is you were having fun!
      ~k

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  6. The fifties were simpler. Car seats were made like canvas sacks and had fake steering wheels, only soldiers and jet fighter pilots wore helmets, everyone smoked, trans fats and mono sodium glutamate made stuff taste good, and doting grandmothers let grandfathers tow toddlers behind farm machinery. I have fond memories of similar 1950s moments that no one in yheir right mind would let their kids do in 2012. Thanks for sharing that Keith.

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    1. David,
      Car seats? We just wandered all over the backseat or laid in the rear window, there was no restraining us. I would sit on my Dad's lap and steer the car while he worked the pedals. I can't see that happening today. Truthfully, neither of my kids got to do that. And, yes, I do remember children dying in farm accidents that probably wouldn't have happened today. And, you are right: they were great times.
      ~k

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  7. Since I published this post, I've heard from both my Sister and Dad about the little red wagon. Apparently, I was mistaken. It seems it has aged gracefully after all. I've added a postscript to the piece which includes the contents of the email I received from my father. You may want to check it out.

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  8. Sweet picture of good times long ago! I'm sure you cherish that photo!

    Kids don't even go outside anymore, much less help grandpa with chores!

    Heck, many of them don't even know their grandpas...

    On a happier note, I'm glad your little wagon is still around...

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