We are a dying breed

I thought my son was more interested in Video games than mechanics when he was under 15, I tried to show him how to change belts, brakes and oil. Simple things. He always wanted to run back in the house and get back to the game. Well he is 21 now and Going to community college for mechanics. He is working for a Car Dealer and full time and making decent money in the shop. He is also currently trying to join the army. He keeps his nose clean and is respectful I am proud of the boy.
They can surprise you
 
I have not paid anyone to work on my truck,cars,tractors or bikes.....I do let them mount and balance tires on the bikes...that's about it...Same with the house...I got lucky in life......God game me a fixin brain...Don't make enough to pay anybody to fix my stuff.....Kevin
 
Would it surprise you to learn that your parents and/or grandparents were also a part of a "dying breed" of their own, and figured the world was doomed if left in your hands? Your generation figured things out and managed to get along. My generation is getting there. The next one will figure it out too.

Speaking of interest in old tractors in general, you have to consider that two generations ago a much larger swath of the population still lived on farms, so you guys got to see the equipment in action, what it could do, and experienced the sounds and smells associated. These days kids just see the tractors sitting there in a row, have never been anywhere near a farm, and we're expecting them to take the same level of interest?

I bet if you looked exclusively at farm families, the level of interest on a per-capita level is the same as it ever was. The main difference is that there are fewer and fewer farm families all the time as farms get larger and larger. Of course the interest has shifted to newer tractors. For a 70 year old guy, "Granddad's tractor" might have been an F20. For a 60 year old guy, it could be an M. For a 50 year old guy, it might be a 560. For a 40 year old guy, it would be an 856. For a 30 year old guy, it's a 1086. For a 20 year old guy, it's a 7130 Magnum.
 
Thanks to you old farts, this 28 year old was able to get the '49 FCub running like a top, as well as a IH C2 and Pennington 600 mower deck. Looking forward to getting more questions answered when I start on the '57 and lending a hand on here where I'm able. Thanks!
 
There are exceptions to all rules of course....But the odds are slipping fast....a lot of my buddies used to sleep in tents....Not so much anymore...time goes on for sure....interests change [mine have]Kevin......I still use my cubs a lot though!!!!
 
I count myself among the dying breed. I have been working around and on my '48 Cub (Work Horse) my whole life. First with my dad, who had me on it as soon as I could reach the pedals (had to brace my foot against the hood to pull back the hand lift). I now use it just to plow snow and mow 5 acres. It takes me a bit longer than neighbors with their new fancy zero turns, but the seat time on something I've been tinkering on for over 50 yrs is actually enjoyable.
Today's generation will probably never develop a relationship with a machine the way we all have, and some will never know that love/hate relationship. My Cub is more than a machine, it's a reminder to me of my father, my childhood, and simpler times. I'm not a mechanic, but learned enough to keep it going and do the repairs when necessary. It also taught me that I shouldn't underestimate my abilities, out of necessity I've repaired appliances, small engines, and other "throw away" items just because of a never say die attitude I gained from lessons taught by working on the Cub with dad.
Thanks for letting me reminisce a bit. You guys are a great help to all who ask.
Thanks again,
Hutch
 
I've heard those zero turn mowers are really bumpy and bad on the back. I think the wheels are to small.
 
Well I'm 28 but the newest tractor I own is my grandads 53 SM, got 2 48 cubs, one of which was a rescue I'm putting back together now, and a 44 H. But I do agree, very few people my age have the same appreciation for the old iron. I'm gonna teach my little.boy so hopefully he will have the same or more than me.
 
I'm in my mid 60's and didn't grow up on a farm, however my mother grew up on a dairy farm in Western Pa. and her brother took it over. My Uncle had four sons around my age and as a kid I would go there in the summers to "help out". Dairy farms require a great deal of work and a daily grind that never lets up, i.e. milking, feeding, cleaning stalls, letting cattle out and getting them back in. One's day would always start before dawn and often went on until after dark. This particular dairy had it's own processing and bottling plant and a number of home delivery routes. My Uncle kept a small fleet of Farmall tractors and the equipment that goes with haying. I would always be there when it was time to bring in the hay. There were no Cubs but he had an A and a number of H's and M's. Back then it was all smaller square bales of hay, lots of physical labor, and one still had to deal with all the daily chores noted above. He processed several kinds of milk (skim, whole, chocolate), made cottage cheese, butter, and offered eggs - all available through his home delivery service. That farm is still in business but is no longer in the family and has been reduced to wholesale milk only because of state health mandates if I remember correctly. In my opinion - that's a dying breed - men that work that hard every day for years on end. That sort of hard work had such a profound affect on my four cousins that all of them pursued "professional careers" and wanted nothing to do with farming, yet I don't think any one of them would want it any differently - growing up on a farm.

Anyway, that's where I learned to love old iron and Farmalls in general. The sights, sounds, and smells of old machinery will be with me forever. :tractor:
 
Matt Kirsch":274fd8rk said:
Would it surprise you to learn that your parents and/or grandparents were also a part of a "dying breed" of their own, and figured the world was doomed if left in your hands? Your generation figured things out and managed to get along. My generation is getting there. The next one will figure it out too.

Speaking of interest in old tractors in general, you have to consider that two generations ago a much larger swath of the population still lived on farms, so you guys got to see the equipment in action, what it could do, and experienced the sounds and smells associated. These days kids just see the tractors sitting there in a row, have never been anywhere near a farm, and we're expecting them to take the same level of interest?

I bet if you looked exclusively at farm families, the level of interest on a per-capita level is the same as it ever was. The main difference is that there are fewer and fewer farm families all the time as farms get larger and larger. Of course the interest has shifted to newer tractors. For a 70 year old guy, "Granddad's tractor" might have been an F20. For a 60 year old guy, it could be an M. For a 50 year old guy, it might be a 560. For a 40 year old guy, it would be an 856. For a 30 year old guy, it's a 1086. For a 20 year old guy, it's a 7130 Magnum.
Click to expand...

Matt hits on solid facts here. There's a newer development however, at least in rural parts of New England, and that is the growth of small to medium sized organic farms that for some 20 or so years have used affordable equipment for mostly vegetable farming. Old rototillers and old tractors enable these farmers to do more than a hoe can do. lkMany of these farms make a living out of it.

Over time larger farming efforts have sprung up and these often come with larger capital investments and the wealthier farms have contemporary tractors and such. Really large and older farms that are organic (a rarity) keep the old gear along with the smart farmhands who know how to make the old contraptions work. Lots of older hay balers, tractors, tedders and implements galore sprawl out on the large farms. Old farms that are not organic, but come from generations of a family living on the land, have barn yards that are filled with gear for gawking...mostly old working stuff...and old and young working farmers.

The guys at the IH-Case parts department could probably attest to the huge number of Cubs working on farms -- there's a good business in keeping the parts on hand. The Trailer Queen Cubs are a minority...at least I'm hoping that...since so many of the Cubs are out there working away.
 
I'm happy to say that while I agree with the OP, I have been working hard to instill the opposite in my kids (4 year old boy, 2 year old girl). At 31, I have built a mini-farm from just a house on three acres (surrounded by Amish farms) so that my kids will enjoy a farm-life foundation until I have enough money to buy a real farm upon retirement (9 years).

I pride myself in paying dearly for the Amish to build us a barn to store our tractors and other farm-related toys. The structure provides shelter and a foundation in itself to everything we are driving towards. It will give me the proper setting to work on tractors with them, have necessary life-lessons, long talks, etc.

Without getting too long-winded and cheesy, we raise chickens, pigs, and a large variety of vegetables, giving the kids an idea of responsibility with plenty of room to grow as they age.

They will learn the true definition of a quality life and not become what society is turning into. I myself was raised in a setting that wasnt farm-related but choose this quality of life as I see what we are becoming as an American people.

We need to get back to the basics and revive ourselves. We are a dying breed but we're not dead.
 
Hmm, I've been tinkering since the early 70"s when I got my first car for a buck. Yup $1.00 car didn't run, had three broke pistons and blew oil so thick it didn't have time to burn. Rebuilt the engine in a parking lot with a sears gasket kit. Got me through my sophomore year til I say that 68 mustang. Now many years later I have a Fiat spider (Yes it comes with all of the fix it again tony jokes) Well I had one of these cars since 82. Just like the cub easy to work on, parts are available and reasonable (there is even a forum - imagine that) My son bought a 79 when he graduated college and we wrenched on it while he was home looking for a job. Ended up driving that car all the way from one coast to the other. Sold it and bought a 72 (got to get past those California emissions some how) Love working on these old tractors/cars. Son is coming home next week to help paint the house and of course spend a little quality tractor time in the garage with dad. It doesn't get any better. Point is there are a new breed of hobbyist and restorers out there, but their preferences are just a bit newer than ours. Keep the faith
 
A dying breed................ stories that warm the heart. I'll be turning 55 on the 10th. Father was full Spanish. Hard worker, (foundry). Never missed one day of work in 30 years. (Unbelievable). Born and raised on a ranch in TX. The life I would have loved. His thinking was he didn't want his boys to live that life and off to Michigan for a new one. I took small engine repair courses at what we called co-op training in HS and unfortunately, in my life I pretty know a lot, EXCEPT the auto mechanic aspect and large machinery. I have a few skillsets under my belt, carpentry being one of them. I went my whole life thinking I could not have children due to what I worked around in the military. Half way out the door for Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan a little boy was born (2010) and life came to a screeching halt, lol. I didn't want to miss out on the many firsts so I stayed back stateside. At a young age, 2-3? VJ, (Victor Jr.), would grab my tools and run to do the task. HE HAD to screw the screws in with the impact drill. Move out of the way! He's got to get in front of you to do what ever you are attempting to do! I would be under and in the kitchen sink cabinet and he's got to get right in there with me, banging his head because he's trying to stand up, (not realizing why he keeps banging the top of his head, lol)

I have always loved old things and believe in recycling/reusing. Spent 5 years in Germany and would tell people where I was stationed it felt like 60 years behind America. But it was better, those men and 3/4 of the women could do just about anything. In many aspects I either believed I was born in the wrong era or I am a late bloomer......... I hope one day that I will be efficient/proficient in knowing how and being able to work on the two Cubs I just bought. As one of my previous posts stated, my time is somewhat limited but one day I hope to make them the two workhorses on/for my 4 acres. Working on them, I know VJ will be bouncing off the walls to see, touch, ride and work on them and one day they will be his. He is definitely hands on, more than I was at his age. I was destined to be a pro athlete and my childhood through HS was practice, practice, practice. And more practice. Now to somewhat relax, lol.
 
If you can work on small engines. You can work on a cub.

Check out the manuals section of this site. All the maintenance and parts manuals are available for download and are very helpful.
 
When I was buying up, rebuilding, gravely tractors and selling them, most of the buyers ran them when they were kids. I ran one as a kid too. I would spend weekends on a horse farm and drive an fcub but I never caught on. It was my first experience. Now on my cousins farm he had all international tractors I think they were H models. He had international trucks too.

I just can't bring myself to go green when all my family ran ih red it's in my genes.
 
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