General News
26 March, 2024
Rare combine back in shape
Two Wimmera men say their McCormick-Deering Number 61 combine harvester is the sole one in Australia.
Two Wimmera men say their McCormick-Deering Number 61 combine harvester is the sole one in Australia.
And at the Quambatook harvest rally next year it will be in full working order and able to demonstrate its grain-harvesting ability.
Dunmunkle Sumpoilers members and keen machine restorers, Gordon Mills of Kalkee and David Williams of Nhill own the harvester and have repaired and restored it.
By chance they came across one part in the Western District that was originally from that machine.
The combine harvester was built in the 1930s and used by US grain farmers.
It was considered an all-crops machine and was used to harvest many seeds, including alfalfa, ryegrass, barley and other cereals.
The combine is believed to have been imported to Australia by Ralph Falkiner of Conargo in NSW and later acquired by his friend Bill Hermiston, who used it at Wandock near Deniliquin until it was set aside to make way for a bigger implement.
Eventually it was given to engine enthusiasts Mr Mills and Mr Williams.
One part was found discarded in the Western District, and the pair also drew on illustrations and measurements from old implement manuals when making other parts.
Thanks to many hours of labour, repairs, reconstructions and innovation, the header is finally back in working condition.
Mr Mills and Mr Williams are now concentrating their attention on restoring a rare Oliver combine which once worked on a Callawadda property.
They say they hope to have that also in running order for Quambatook.