May2014_SAMFORD MUSEUM NEWS
A truly educational and fun day occurred recently at the museum when we happily hosted pupils, teachers and some parents from the Dayboro State School. Approximately 45 boys and girls dressed in gorgeous school uniforms enjoyed our demonstrations of timber production, blacksmith shoeing horses, the old school room, toys of bygone days, very old telephone shared party lines, and browsing through our many and varied static displays.
Chatting and listening to these energetic, enthusiastic and well mannered young people is a wonderful experience for our volunteers who all agree that events such as these are so rewarding and beneficial to all who participate. The year 2013 saw over 700 children visit us and we look forward to similar numbers in 2014.
The 1938 Farmall F-14 has recently experienced the completion of a total repaint and restoration by volunteers at the museum.
The tractor was purchased in 1938 by Mr Joe Skerman of Samsonvale. Around 1954 he sold it to Mr Bill Herron of Closeburn. It was acquired in 1956 by Mr Harry McDowall of Yugar. He used it producing pineapples as well as cutting wood and driving a chaff-cutter on his property.
International Harvester of Illinois USA built 27,401 units of the F-14. It was powered by a 1.9litre 4 cylinder gasoline engine which produced 11.2 KW (14.84 horsepower) at the drawbar and weighed 1224 KG (2,700 pounds). A belt drive pulley and Power Take Off drive came as standard equipment and starting the engine was done by hand-cranking.
Our tractor came with 4 steel wheels where the rear drive wheels had steel grips bolted to the rim to give plenty of grip when pulling implements. We often start and drive this now beautiful unit at the museum.
