Metal Models Educate About Early Agriculture

Metal Models Educate About Early Agriculture FARM HOME Miscellaneous John Poch admits that he started making metal models for a simple reason “I ran out of shed room ” he says after collecting/restoring 30 full-size tractors including 22 steel-wheel tractors “Models don’t take up much room I enjoy putzing around and I like to stay active ” Since retiring in 2010 the New Holstein Wis resident has created 100 models that replicate a variety of equipment built in 1930 and before “I started with 20 Case items because I followed a book that had measurements ” he says “It’s stuff most people don’t remember because it’s 100 years old ” His favorite piece is a 110-hp Case steam engine because the real ones are so rare and massive Poch built his model at 1/8-scale so it is 21 in wide 33 in long and 19 in high He made models in a variety of scales starting out big at 3/4-size with his first model of a McCormick-Deering W-30 he made in 1988 followed up by a McCormick-Deering No 8 plow Because of the space they took he only made eight large models before gradually moving down to 1/16-scale Most of his 72 models are in his favorite 1/8-scale They don’t take up much space but aren’t so small that they are difficult to make he explains Poch uses 1/8-in steel and 6/32 bolts to piece his models together along with some welding Those pieces can add up like the 97 pads he put on a chain for a crawler model “I do it to my own standards ” he says and estimates measurements from photos and based on models he’s already made Initially he painted them but now he prefers to keep them in their natural steel state which reminds him of black and white photos of old equipment The models are neatly displayed in a couple levels of his 24 by 40-ft barn that also includes a 12 by 20-ft workshop Poch cuts all his pieces except for the wheels which are shaped by Schuette Mfg and Steel Sales where he buys his steel “I like to share the hobby Most people don’t remember early powered agriculture ” he says so he enjoys having the opportunity to educate them through his models He invites people interested in his hobby to contact him Contact: FARM SHOW Followup John Poch N892 Co Rd HH New Holstein Wis 53061 ph 920 898-4054

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