Mechanized tobacco harvester • BY DICK ANGLESTEEN EPHRATA For centuries tobacco growing practices have defied mechanization. From -seedbeds and tran splanting through harvesting, stripping and baling, these practices have largely remained unchanged, keeping tobacco ranked high as-one of Lancaster County’s most hand-labor intensive crops. But a step in the direction of mechanization is now being taken with the introduction of a tobacco harvester by Hamilton Equip ment, Inc., wholesale distributors of farm equipment, of Ephrata. The harvester, manufactured by Four Star, Inc., of Tennessee, and tested at the* University of Ken tucky, will be available for the coming harvesting season. “We’ve just received one of the production machines,” David C. Rupp, assistant sales manager, said. “We’re starting to make con tacts with farm equipment dealers concerning the harvester.” Resembling a large' three wheeled golf cart vehicle, com plete'with umbrella and cooling Sealcrete can paint your farm buildings quickly and inexpensively... for 'estimate HYDRAULIC AERIAL EQUIPMENT WIC MOTORIZED SILAGE WAGON WITH HYDROSTATIC SPEED CONTROL A GREAT IMPROVEMENT ON EFFICIENCY ★ Electric of Gas Operated ★ Regular Feed Discharge or „ No Competitor Can Beat The Wic Choppers 40” High Feed Discharge For p er f ormanee And Cost fan, the harvester is designed to be operated by one person. The cutterhead is a circular saw blade located to the rear of tubular row guides. The row guides permit the harvester to self-steer, freeing the operator to handle the cut tobacco stalks with both hands. ' The operator can either impale the cut stalks on a spear-tipped lath located just to the right of the seat or place them on a sloped apron, where the plant slides gently to the ground for wilting. If stalks are speared directly on the harvester, the lath when filled can be released to stand on end in the row to await pickup. If ground wilted, the stalks would still need to be speared in the normal manner for transport on ladder wagons to the curing sheds. After cutting, tobacco is wilted to reduce leaf losses experienced when freshly-cut plants are speared. Start and stopping is controlled The NEW Hydra-static speed control gives you a choice of speeds from slow to fast. With a touch of the pedal the wagon moves forward or backward; release the pedal and it automatically brakes. You also have a regular feed discharge or a 40-inch high discharge from one or two sides. The WIC Silage Wagon is operated by gas or electric and available in 30-, 45- or 52-bushel sizes. With the 16-inch wheels it goes wherever you want to take it. ELECTRIC REDDING CHOPPER Wic also makes an electric 200 volt a c chopper or a 24 volt d c battery operated chopper mcludinj an automatic charter These two models are equipped in the factory with a manual starter panel and are protected by fuses to diminish risk of accidents Very quiet, these beddmt choppers are mostly used on small or medium sized farm As well as beinc mobile the 220 volt ac model can be installed stationary Motor 220 volt ac3h p 24 volt d c 21/2 hp arrives in Lancaster County by a foot pedal and the throttle is pre-set to the desired speed. The harvester is powered by an electric-start 12 hp. Kohler engine with chain drive to the rear wheel. There are four forward speeds, ranging from about 1 to 5 mph., and a reverse. The overall harvester is about eight feet wide and 11 feet long and can accomodate up to 4042-inch row spacing. The harvester will be demon strated at the Tobacco Research Field Day at the University of Maryland Tobacco Experiment Farm near Upper Marlboro on July 29. Also, it is expected that Lan caster County demonstration of the harvester will be scheduled when local tobacco is ready for harvest. Growers interested in the har vester should contact their farm equipment dealers. Retail cost is expected to be approximately $4,300, depending on freight and setup charges. Contact Amos Gehmcm, Salesman Seal Crete, Inc. RD2, Ephrata, PA 717-859-1127 A GREAT IMPROVEMENT ON EFFICIENCY Three-wheeled tobacco harvester has been received by Hamilton Equipment, Inc., wholesale farm, equipment distributor, of Ephrata. Features include row guides leading to cutterhead, which should self-steer harvester, and foot pedal to control starting and stopping. MUNCY This week begins Lycoming County at the Lycoming Mall, Muncy. Dairy week is being held in conjunction with the Lycoming County Dairy Princess Pageant to be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 26. The following events have been scheduled for the week, each to begin at 7:30 p.m. -Monday - The grand opening will feature the introduction of all the dairy princess contestants. Also will be a presentation by the Flutter Wheels, a square dance group from Williamsport. -Tuesday - Dairy fitting and showing demonstration by the county-wide 4-H dairy club. GAS REDDING CHOPPER The fas powered bedding chopper is the most popular on the market Its operation is >*** 'Simple and it handles easily —<. Equipped with a Honda 4-stroke ~ gas engine, the Wic bedding chopper insures maximum out f put while in use Motor 5 7 or 10 h p 4 stroke Honda Starter 5 h p manual and 7 and 10 h p manual or electric start Lancaster Farming, Saturday; June 20,1981—D17 .v \ V Lycoming plans dairy week Wic has perfected a three point hitch PTO chopper activated by the power of your tractor Easy to in stall, it is ideal for free-stalls, or in strawberry fields for mulching purposes. - DISTRIBUTOR - PAUL HORNING R.D. 1, Stevens, PA 17578 215-267-7208 County -Wednesday - Antique dairy equipment demonstrations and butter churning demonstrations. -Thursday - Fun Night Contests - Ice cream eating and milk chugging contests. -Friday - Lycoming County Dairy Princess Pageant. -Saturday - Milk Contests. In addition to the evening events, there will be dairy related displays, 4-H dairy related exhibits and milk and cheese samples. Contestants for the pageant are: Pamela Lowe, Trout Run; Lon Bauder, Jersey Shore; Marylee Hill, Jersey Shore; Darlene Hensler, Linden; Barbara Heisey, Jersey Shore. POWER TAKEOFF REDDING CHOPPER
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