[Jay]

We have a #6, #7 and #9 that we use here on the farm. My understanding is that the #6 was made from about 1914 to 1932. The #7s started in ’32 to the early 40s and the #9 began in the early 40s through the early 50s. The big#6 has wheels that widen the wheelbase a bit(perhaps close to what the #9 has). Both the #6 and #7 track 54″ and the #9 tracks about 59-60″. The #6 has all bushings and oil cups and the gears are all open – i.e. don’t run in an oil bath. The #7 & #9 have bearings and replaceable bushings and their gears run in an oil bath in an eclosed gearbox. I haven’t yet found a bearing or bushing on the 7&9 that isn’t still available, where as the 6 pitman bushing is not available as I understand it.
I have rebuilt several 7s and 9s and they are a wonder of simple elegance in design. I havemowed all my hay with a #7 for 25 years and in my experience they are every bit as dependable as a #9. Either makes a fine mower.
The #6 if you can find one with tight bushings is a fine mower too- it’s just harder to find one that isn’t worn. Even if the pitman bushing is a bit worn, it makes a fine pasture clipping machine as the bar and cutting parts are all replaceable. I’m putting a #6 pasture mower together for this spring and also a couple of #9s. Hope this helps. Jay

[Jay]

Glad you and your critters are ok. That’s the most important thing in my book. Take care all. Jay

[Jay]

We’ll be there. Hoping to see many of you.

Jay

[Jay]

Thanks for the pictures. They are wonderfully illustrative. Jay

[Jay]

Along with Donn’s efforts, I am rebuilding mowers- so far mostly McD but will be doing a JD this winter also. I have some parts and put on a rebuild workshop in the spring and fall. Have a couple of #9’s ready now. I have most parts and can get others. Does your mower hum like a sewing machine?

Jay Bailey
513 Upper Dummerston Road
Brattleboro, VT 05301
802-254-9067
fwj2bail@sover.net

[Jay]

I echo all of what Don H has said. It depends… I have rebuilt half a dozen mowers now and seen several that had been “rebuilt”. Some were pretty good and some less so. Slop in the front end of the pitman shaft means that it needs a new bushing and seals there at least and most likely a number of other work in order to run WELL. On the high gear, the knife runs back and forth a bit faster at any given ground speed than the regular gear. Jay

[Jay]

We do sleigh rides at by reservation, some at night. In geteral I don’t go out at night unless there is a moon or snow. With the snow I can always see, though I am working with my horses on my trails. We don’t use lights – they only let you see where the light is aimed. I’d rather be able to see everywhere. I very much enjoy the experience of night driving and agree that it is a great experience for any teamster when it can be done safely. One thing that helps me, I think is that when young, I did alot of walking at night on paths and I got used to watching the trees silouets against the stars and also for the lighter patches ahead that were openings, etc. etc. It is a neat thing to be able to do. We have some good snow now. Jay

[Jay]

Thanks for this leed. We put up our hay loose and I have several odd pieces that I wasn’t sure just what they did and now I’ve got a better idea. Also more ideas of what I could do. thanks, Jay

[Jay]

In my experience the Dring harness only holds up the pole with a team of 2. If there are three, then unless there is a neck yoke attachment for all 3, the pole of necessity has to hang from the necks of the 2 who are on it. Out at the B-Bar ranch a few years ago I saw a set up with a long straight neckyoke and 2 poles on a forecart they use for pulling a baler so that all 3 horses could help holding back the load. I’d like to try it sometime, but haven’t gotten there yet. Jay

[Jay]

I use a set of triple lines for driving 3 or 4. I have an extra set of long cross checks (12-18 inches longer than the regular cross checks on my team lines) I ad on to a pair of regular team lines behind (closer to me) by about the same distance as the cross checks extra length. For 4 horses I use “short cross checks”- about26-30 inches from the inside bit of each outside horse to the hame ring of the next horse. The “straight through line” (from your hand all the way to a bit ring) goes to the out side of the out side horse on each side, just like in a team of two. This way you have at least one line to each horse and the precision in driving that is possible makes it worth while for me anyway. I like it so well that I now have a set of tripple lines that I use only for 3 or 4. With this set up I feel confident with a greenbroke horse and I don’t have to worry too much.

[Jay]

I came by this song from Gordon Bok who learned it from the fellow who wrote it and was on the last drives. I under stand it was in 1976. Jay

I’d like to tell you the story boys, about takin’ down the drive.
Our forman’s name was Buster and he also does reside,
On the banks of this river, in Skowhegan Maine
But when the rear gets in this year, we’ll never drive again.

Oh, this mighty Kennebeck, she’s something to be seen.
From her head waters up at Moosehead down to Merrymeeting and the sea
With islands, back channels, white water and dead,
With Great Eddys and great remedies for a river driver’s head.

There’s Buster and Jerry Bigelow, them Sanapass boys and me,
George Water’s and my father rave about days that used to be.
The Messer Boys are hung over, they’re prayin’ for a head wind
So we can hitch her up at noon time, an they can start right in again.

We hang the booms in the springtime, we sluce in the summer time
They’re rafting wood across the lake 5000 cord to a time.
When the fall is coming on, it’s time to take the rear
Better get up to that cut off, get old McLaughin’s butt in gear.

From Indian Pond down to the forks, it’s white water most of the way,
Ridin’ them leaky batteaus I don’t think it’s worth the pay.
From the forks down to Caratunk and we’re over the Wyman dam
By the first week of September and we’re headed for the Solon dam.

From Solon down thruogh Libby country and we’re on into North Anson
Those ox bows they don’t slow us up and we’re down into Skowhegan
Send Dennis up to the Greenfront and head for Shawnut shoals,
By then it is November, goddamn it’s getting cold

We’ve been driving this old river boys for two centuries and a half
Just to get the wood down to the mills but now it would make you laugh.
Some educated fool from god knows where desided it’s should end.
So that outfit down to Augusta says we’ll never drive again.

Finally we do get her in and we’re all feelin good
Have us a little gatherin’ and forget the goddamn wood.
Some smokin’ and some drinkin’ and some bullshittin’ all around.
But everyone of us knows we’ll never drive again.

[Jay]

Get him Bill.

[Jay]

He is a Suffolk. We raised him from a foal, he was our stallion for 6 years, working the farm with our mares here in Southern Vermont. We gelded him 4 years ago and he went to work at our daughter’s farm the next year, where he did most of his single work. He worked well except occasionally went lame (once a year or so) usually after running around in his pasture (on the steep slopes of their farm). On those slopes it proved hard for him to heal. Vet has checked him and we took exrays just to be sure and those came clean. The steepness seems to be the issue. He is sweet and willing. He is Back here at the farm. He is about 15 hands and weighs about 1400. Thick and wide.

[Jay]

He is not lazy or clumsy in my book. He’s been lame in L front this fall from which was on steep land. He has been fine now for a month with rest, level ground and no-one pushing him around in the paddock (which had reinjured the sprain). He has pulled lots of wood, sugared, spread manure, cultivated, all single and done all parts of haying as part of a team. He has much to give in the right situation.

[Jay]

Yes, read it fine, tonight. Jay

[Author]

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