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From hay to the Department Store to the atomic bomb, Louden was there We generally picture a farm barn to be a large two-story structure with the hay loft on the top floor. Prior to the invention of the HAY TROLLEY moving hay to an upper story was impractical and outdoor hay storage was commonplace. Hay barracks were introduced in the New World by Dutch. Used to cover stored hay, these simple open-sided structures consisted of four or more wooden posts supporting a roof which could be raised or lowered to protect hay stacked beneath. Some hay barracks had a permanent location on a farm, other barracks were portable, set on skids so they could be moved to wherever they were needed Hay Barracks From 1860 through 1920, there were perhaps up to 100 companies making hay trolleys in North America as small, cottage manufacturers. But, as manufacturing of hay trolleys peaked, companies were consolidated into a few large manufacturers that dominated the market by 1945. The most beautiful hay trolleys were made by small manufacturers whose names have been lost to history. Trolleys Company records indicate William Louden received a U.S. patent for the world's first hay carrier on September 24, 1867. Louden Hay Carrier In 1868, he opened his first shop to manufacture his hay carriers in Fairfield Iowa. In the early 1890s, the company opened a factory in downtown Fairfield that is still in existence and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Louden Cross draft The company expanded in the 1890s and 1900s as Louden invent new products including a flexible barn door hanger (1895), barn litter carriers and tracks (1898), all-steel cow stalls (1907), individual automatic watering bowls for cows (1912), an Easy Feeding Hog Trough (1914), and an industrial line of Overhead Carrying Equipment (1917). The company also expanded geographically opening branches in Canada (1900), Minneapolis (1903), Albany, New York (1912), and Chicago (1915). By 1915, the factory in Fairfield employed 100 men, and the company operated another large factory in Guelph, Ontario. By 1920, Louden Machinery Company had sales of $2.5 million(30.8 million in today’s money). Louden continued to expand its product line in the 1920s and 1930s, adding a wide array of products, including barn cupolas, exhaust and intake hoods and louvers, fans, valves, pulleys, power hoists, concrete mangers, a patented garage door hanger (using overhead door tracks for ease in opening and closing), playground equipment including slides, see-saws, gym sets, "swing bobs," and "whirl-arounds". In 1906, the company established an Architectural Department, sometimes referred to as the Louden Planning Service or the Barn Plan Department, began offering free "barn planning service." The company's architects designed barns "to promote more efficient use of space and labor saving devices," including the use of Louden equipment. The Architecture Department's projects include Homewood Farms for the president of Deere & Co., as well as several barns that have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Architecture Department also designed specialized dairy barns, horse stables, hog and chicken houses, and farmstead sites. The company reported that it had planned more than 25,000 barns by 1939. The department also published a catalog of barn plans, including round barns, that was published in multiple editions in the first half of the 20th century. The Architecture Department ceased operations in approximately 1947. Louden planning During World War I, Louden's monorail litter carrier was adapted to industrial uses, including the manufacture of ammunition. By the 1920s, the company earned much of its revenue from industrial applications of Louden Monorail to carry equipment in factories of companies such as Allis-Chalmers and General Motors. The company also established a Louden Engineers division to design custom adaptations of Louden Monorail in a variety of contexts, including factories, foundries, industrial dipping machines, clothing handling, bales of cotton, motion picture lighting. During World War II, the company reached record production levels, fueled by demand for the company's overhead handling equipment, including the improved Louden "Super Track" monorail systems. Military applications of Louden Monorail included its application for material handling devices used in the manufacture of the first atomic bomb at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and for material handling in a B-29 bomber plant in Marietta, Georgia. "Super Track" systems were also used by the Rocket Express Company to construct department store monorail rides for children during the mid-20th century. Rocket Express Louden monorail

Had to go rescue this 854 for a Benjamin this evening. It's a project, but I've had worse. Came with a wheel horse spike tooth harrow that bent and missing the hitch. I think the engine is newer than a 64 at least thats what the PO said.....it's free and the gears all seem to be there. Any 854 experts here wanna chime in? Probably gonna end up as a restoration!

As we all get older our mindset starts to switch gears. Most of my 'stuff' is just that.....stuff. When I'm gone folks can have at it. I'm also changing in that if I no longer use something why have it around. Why not get it in someones hands that will appreciate and use it. That was only one of the reasons I let the Indy 500 I restored go. I knew I really wouldn't use it and I also wanted it to go to a good home. The guy who now has it owns a fairly large iron works business and wanted to put it in his lobby as a showpiece/conversation starter. Sounds like a good home to me. Most likely my Suburban 400 will be in somebody elses hands by spring as well. It just sits in the barn covered up. As I sit here writing this I got to thinking about some things I want to part with. Each and every one of them means something to me. About 95% of the tools in my workshop only have meaning to me because I'm fortunate enough to still use them a lot. When the time comes that I can't it's out the door. Same goes for my firearms except for one in particular (that's a conversation in itself). Before we moved to Florida I had a 3200 sq ft building filled to the hilt with 'stuff'. I wouldn't sell a thing until we had decided to liquidate and travel in our motorhome. 20+ years can sure change things.

Rest in Peace my friend. You will be missed and it was an honor to know you and hang out at the shows together.

Received a text from @SALTYWRIGHT daughter today that Russ’ passed away. One of our oldest members at 94 years old. I had the pleasure of hanging out at tractor shows with Russ many times. He hasn’t been able to go to shows in the last 3 or 4 years, but anytime we talked he always talked about how he wanted to try to get to another one. He would meet up with @wallfish @Docwheelhorse and I at all the local shows. Driving his Camry or Lexus with a trailer and his Wheel Horse in tow. Gonna miss him….

Hoods back from my painter. One is for this tractor and the other is for a 520H I have been working on since last year. These will sit here until the snow melts and can move the tractors from the garage out back easier. That will allow the paint to dry more as well.

Russ will surely be missed! Such a great guy and truly so passionate about the hobby! Always liked to see his builds and hear his stories at shows

Russ was a 100% class act, never knew how to "give up" and I am honored to have known him. Mike (Sparky) and I had the pleasure of a few cups of coffee in his home on a few occasions. @Sparky and I took him for lunch at his favorite in town pizza joint not that long ago and i'm glad we got the chance. His electrical mods to tractors and cars are now the stuff of legends--I'll never look at anything with push button start without thinking of him. He will be missed.... Goodbye and God Speed Tony Ruggiero

Amazing what you can do with that grinder. That's what I use to hack out metal parts for many years. I do like this metal band saw I picked up at the auction a few months ago. It really works great for cut off of long stock and I made a table and it does a decent job in the up right position cutting flat plate. I still resort to my grinder to shape some parts though.

Never easy to see that title thread, and never easy to click on it to see who. RIP Russ

I know Russ was a member here for a very long time, and he will be missed. Hopefully he’s hanging out with Cecil Pond talking Wheel Horses. RIP Russ.

Got a little more done today. Wanted to paint the frame, but found it a little rougher than expected after the pressure wash. So I mounted the front tires and painted the 6-inch wheels, just for a mock up. The first pic above has the same size front wheels, so I'm making mine look the same. Only difference is mine has an 8-speed and a Kohler K181 with electric start. And for anyone who is wondering: 3.50 rib tires will fit 4.50 wide wheels with tubes. No way I'd have ever got them seated without tubes. My narrow 6-inch wheels were so rusted inside the beads wouldn't break. One just ripped the sidewall without moving, so I borrowed front wheels from a 312 I parted out years ago. I really like how this is shaping up. Hopefully this one will go quicker than most of my projects, because it's already a runner. Very few mods to deal with.

Only knew Russ through postings on Red Square but know how proud he was of the diesel 1054 you have now. If there are tractor shows in Heaven I will see him there for sure.

One positive way to stop a belt.

Ohh Wow sorry to hear that Mike. I talked with him many times but I whisked I knew him like you and Tony Walfish did. He will be missed!

Whoo Hooo!!! I was able to work on this project 2 days in a row. First up this morning was a mid mount weight bar. Did some tear out figures & learned that 7ga metal would far exceed what I planed on hanging for weight. Cut a couple hangers out of some scrap left over from making ladder bar / F-plate reinforcements. Did some measuring to figure out where I wanted to mount them on the ladder bars. Then cut a piece of 3/4" round stock to hang the weights on. There is enough rod to hang 15 of my 7lb weights on each side, Plus there is room for weight in between the ladder bars. I did a lot of deliberating on how I wanted to make the hitch. After looking at other hitches and running a few designs through my head I finally decided on how I would make it. Right or wrong, here is how I decided to go. First piece cut out of 1/4" plate & semi ready to go. Cut an opening in the back so that it could be mounted where I want. Back to cutting some more pieces out of 1/4" plate. These pieces will connect the upper plate with the original 3/4" pin hole in the tranny. Trimmed the upper plate to length, made the center plate, and the lower plate out of some more 1/4" plate. Here is a preliminary mock up. It took a lot of time to cut all of these pieces out with a 4 1/2" grinder, but Hey. If all you have is a hammer, you try to fix every thing with that hammer. Need to take the center plate to work so that I can put some bends in it, drill a few more holes and then I can start welding this thing together.

@Ed KennellEd, can totally relate. This is my Jesse I lost 3 years ago. He went everywhere with me. We did a lot of pheasant hunting. The first pic is our first bird. The last pic is the day I had to put him down. Heartbreaking to say the least. I think about him every day. Can’t bring myself to get another dog. I have his ashes that will be buried with me.

Just get another van John!

Finally got the project tractor going! VID_20240129_134344.mp4

Going thru some vintage pics and found the '41 Plymouth. Always felt they had one of the best front ends. I had forgotten I owned this beauty for several years.

Looking back thru some vintage pics of some of our pets that have passed on. These Springer Spaniels were amazing AKC pedigreed field trial animals that loved to hunt and flush ringneck pheasants. I bought them both as pups and trained them to respond to voice, whistle, and hand commands. They grew up with my two infant sons and went everywhere with us. They really enjoyed our annual vacations on the ocean. Barney Brandy Several years after these two passed, I started raising and training Beagles. Jenny and her first litter of eight pups. Jenny and Jimmy baying on a rabbit track while a few of their pups join in the chase. Sorry for the poor quality pics. Long before digital.

AMEN Brother

Hoods back from my painter. One is for this tractor and the other is for a 520-8 I have been working on. These will sit here until the snow melts and can move the tractors from the garage out back easier. That will allow the paint to dry more as well.

uhhhh thought you was quitting smoking back in aaaahhhhhh…. plow days month? What’s that, October? @953 nut Richard if I were to master sinking the bus down that deep, I’d have more storage for more Wheel Horses!

I wrote a couple of months ago about mom having a serious operation following what seems to have been a botched biopsy. She is now in assisted living and will be remaining there for the foreseeable future. As a result we are preparing to sell her house and small acreage. She used to joke that every time she went to an auction or antique store that she was leaving me something to have to deal with after she was gone. Well, she is getting to help make decisions of what to do with her stuff. As most of us know, we get attached to our possessions and she gets teary eyed--I believe it's not as much of the stuff but the memories associated with them. At Christmas, even though mom was in lockdown (and not being able to join us) because her room mate had covid, we divided up 18 quilts mom had made with her 6 grandchildren. The family heirlooms are being distributed among family members and the rest is either transferred to her two room apartment at assisted living or sold. As I stroll around mom's house and barn, I'm amazed how a woman, now in her late 80's has made a life for herself, by herself since dad died 26 years ago. She had a circular saw, drills, leaf blowers, steel post drivers, you know, the stuff to keep her farm operational. She got her ham radio license about ten years ago and I found a faraday cage full of equipment she had decided she needed protecting. She has let her CCW expire. I can relate to others that have written about culling out possessions that we have worked so hard for.

He just ain't right... glad I ain't gotta be in his body when he turns 64...makes me wanna quit drinkin n smokin so as I could live that long to say I told you so...

Not a half bad start! Even the 2 spoke OE steering wheel looks good - most don't The parking brake looks to be - elseware. If the K181 runs - great score....

@Ed Kennell I can relate to so much of this. I too had a Springer that I trained to voice, hand and whistle commands. In fact I even got paid to run my dog at two separate game preserves doing old style English driven pheasant shoots. It was truly a great experience. Watching the dog do what it was bred to do was amazing. We too enjoyed our trips to the ocean. The last picture is of me and my boy Wallace about 10 years ago at the ocean, dunes in the background. I don’t hunt the Springer I have now, we are just best friends. Thanks for posting your pictures!👍🏻

If you can find the correct one, the after market Flo Jets work well for a lot less money. https://www.amazon.com/ROP-Shop-Carburetor-Briggs-Stratton/dp/B0728CR2N4/ref=asc_df_B0728CR2N4/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=242025797701&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7927081986168102082&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1016367&hvtargid=pla-403176352311&psc=1&mcid=fb06ffe1916034ec8c4c6e8f9a52a3cd&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwJas_oiDhAMVrmBHAR0KdAsHEAQYByABEgLPv_D_BwE

Clutter chaos and disorganization is my middle name. LOL Definitely been thinking a lot about unloading some stuff and have already let some go. Stopped buying constantly. For the collectable engine stuff the fun was in the search, the hunt and the excitement when found and acquiring them. Some are one offs and pretty rare. Then having them sit on a shelf, not so much fun although they do get out for display at a show every once in a while. Working on them is still fun though! Age starts to open the eyes as I dread leaving that mess and clean up for someone else if I'm incapacitated or gone.

I never met Russ, but enjoyed reading his posts. Rest Easy Sir.

When I made the new axles for my 1960 Suburban. I set the inside up with a captured keyway and a full length keyway for the hub instead of setting them up for woodruff keys. Was easier to do with the tooling that I had on hand.

Wadda ya know about that 'Fish?!?!

Except for-- How do you seal the axle at the trans shaft? I guess the slot could be welded and turned down smooth

That there is a gen-u-ine k-nee k-nocker!!

You’re welcome Jim…I could see in your face that day that you weren’t sure you wanted to sell that 310. Patty on the other hand was delighted

I just did my driveway 2 days ago & it was about 0 degrees out, my stock headlight has led's in it but it might as well be a candle, doesn't light up anything. I solved that problem with led's on top of the cab, SUPER bright. My cab has all plastic windows though & no heat gets in it since it's a K341,C161 & the snow doesn't stick to it. Only a little frost on the inside of the windshield from my breath but hardly noticeable. I absolutely LOVE my cab! I paid my dues for many years without one, covered head to toe with snow & ice with my eyes almost frozen shut.

I missed this on Craigslist yesterday! You got ahold of them 15 min before I did lol that's awesome I'm glad a member on here got it, Good luck with the project!

You continue to inspire me to keep on truckin. I had to also spend seven weeks in hospital plus skilled nursing, but came out in somewhat better condition. When I got out, I had tons of stuff to catch up on and overdid it. Now I am trying to get my wife healed up from a marble sized kidney stone removal. I went backwards s bit, but have learned which exercise works to keep going. It's either exercise or pain, so take your pick. We all need to take advantage of what God gives and be grateful for our the spirit to continue.

Update on the compressor/ 12VDC/120VAC gen set. I decided to just use the existing intake and exhaust valves for the first trial run of the compressor. I valved off the spark plug hole that can be opened for bypass when the compressor is not in use. Hopefully air will be sucked in on the intake stroke, nothing happens on the compression and power stroke, then compressed air is supplied on the exhaust stroke. All my available tractors have plows or blowers and the mowers are in winter storage. Guess I need to get one out of storage to test the compressor. I used Johns @wallfish idea on the hitch. I all ready had a telescoping hitch that could be extended for towing. So, I simply made an adapter to turn it 90 degrees so it will connect to the attach-a-matic and lock the gen set to the tractor. The spring loaded tensioner pulley will provide tension on the drive belt.

You mean "thhoooothhh"

When you depress the clutch on a Suburban (or any newer ) the built guard catches the slack on the belt stopping it. Try mounting a piece of angel iron under the bottom belt section to do that.

RIP Salty!

I’d utilize them for the creativity someone had and run duals! If you don’t like them, I’d be glad to trade you a stock set, shipping’s on me!

Well said Don.

Kevin is an experiential learner, the more experience you have at doing bone-head things the better you become at it. He has only gotten the bus stuck once before so give him time, before long he will perfect the fine art of burying it up to the windows. Experiential learning is the process of learning through experience, and is more narrowly defined as "learning through reflection on doing". Hands-on learning can be a form of experiential learning, but does not necessarily involve students reflecting on their product. Experiential learning is distinct from rote or didactic learning, in which the learner plays a comparatively passive role. It is related to, but not synonymous with, other forms of active learning such as action learning, adventure learning, free-choice learning, cooperative learning, service-learning, and situated learning.

Didn't the 3 piece have the axles retained with a roll pin? 2 fully keyed shafts from McMaster-Carr. Drill a hole in an end for a roll pin and a keyed gear and you have instant homemade long axles

My wife works part time at a 2nd hand store that only sells donations to help the homeless. I can't donate as fast as she buys and brings home!

I'm in long term declutter mode. One trash can / recycle bin per week and / or donate. Good feeling and over due... Another thing i've done for years: one new clothing item in? Two get donated... slowly keeps the clutter down...

A good bean dinner the night before - THAT ought to warm up things !! ....