Corn Harvest 2021-Part 3: Picking Ear Corn!!!! Oliver 88 and #5 Picker

I’m Ross aka “The Oliver Man”. I farm with Oliver and White tractors here in beautiful Southern IN. I have over 30 Oliver and White Tractors in my collection (plus a few other colors). Please Like and Subscribe for more Oliver and White Videos!
Follow Me on Facebook: / rieckersfarms
If you wish to contact me, send an email to: [e-mail]
If you wish to send me stuff, fan mail, or more likely hatemail, send it to:
Ross the Oliver Man
PO Box 81
Brownstown IN 47220
Thanks for Watching!

[@DS-nw3xg]

Two stories come to mind when I see corn pickers working. First, when I was very young, I remember Dad pulling a single row Oliver corn picker similar to yours with his 80 row crop then later with his Super 88. He didn't have a gravity wagon to load the corn into so he used a hay wagon with 12 inch side boards on it. On the corners as the rig turned the elevator misaligned with the wagon and threw the ears on the ground. After the field was picked I took burlap bags into the field and picked up the corn on the ground. I got to sell that corn and it amounted to my allowance for the year. The second story occurred before I was born. My Dad as a young man trained as a Navy fighter pilot during WW2. For a time he was stationed at Gross Isle Navy base which was located in the Detroit river south of Detroit. This is very near where He and my mother grew up. There was usually a family gathering every Sunday at my Mom's parents house and while there he overheard that my Grandfather and two of my Uncles were going to hand pick the outer two rows in a cornfield on one of my Uncle's farm the next day. This farm and cornfield was located right next to the the DT&I railroad tracks that ran from Detroit to Toledo. Being young and full of bravado my Dad decided to pay them a little visit with his F4U Corsair while they were in the field. He started over Detroit, located the RR tracks and starting a long dive south toward Toledo. When he arrived at the cornfield he buzzed so low in that field that he was lopping off the corn tassels with the tip of his 14' diameter propeller. He scared my Grandfather and Uncles so much that when I asked them about it years later (I was verifying the story as my Dad was known to tell a tall tale or two) they all reacted to the memory like it was happening again right then!

[@rosstheoliverman]

That’s so cool! There’s a guy around here who was a military pilot and he has some vintage planes and he’ll “buzz” over certain people If he sees them outside. One day the neighbor had the Deere dealer over to work on his combine and here comes the plane flying low and I guess the mechanic jumped out of the combine onto the ground and yelled “He’s gonna hit!” They just started laughing because he does it all the time.

[@oldtruthteller2512]

Great story. 😂

[@iowaoliverguy]

Love to see the old pickers at work. I found an antique harvest show that allows participants to use their equipment. Got to run a #4 picker mounted on an 880 in the fall of 2021. Last year the 880 didn't want to run, but was able to run a 74 on a 1600 - so much fun. From the late 80's to the late 90's I picked most of the corn on our farm with a 74 and 1600, mounted and unmounted it every fall. I have videos of both on my channel.

[@rosstheoliverman]

That’s cool! I wish more shows would have working equipment.

[@brianhayes7618]

This brings back memories I remember riding in the gravity box as my father was driving our IH 460 pulling a New Idea 1 row picker like yours. I would watch the ears fly off the picker into the wagon simpler times.

[@rosstheoliverman]

Those are happy memories for sure!

[@jeffgrudosky6084]

You're like me more projects than time. Neat seeing the picker work.

[@rosstheoliverman]

Yes, I keep telling myself I need to get everything I have going before buying more, but sometimes you have to get them when they’re available! Most of the stuff I buy is either I buy it or it’s going to scrap and I hate to see that.

[@hacc220able]

thanks for sharing

[@rosstheoliverman]

Thanks for watching!

[@JohnBryant-qc5zg]

The 88 is making short work of that corn !!

[@JohnBryant-qc5zg]

That conveyor is gonna need some pattles before long!

[@dankreoger611]

Totally cool dude. Love watching the old equipment working.

[@rosstheoliverman]

Thanks! I enjoy using it!

[@weedeatnogreweo7574]

To this day think it is neat how Oliver levers have and resemble gear shifter knobs

[@rosstheoliverman]

Yeah, they were good about not reinventing the wheel. If you already have a part that will work, use that! Saved the customer a lot of money in the long run.

[@ctfarms6471]

Nice looking picker

[@rosstheoliverman]

Thanks Pal!

[@tomharrington1393]

👍👍

[@michaelsheeder148]

Hi Ross, maybe you should get the Oliver 770 out this year. I always look forward to watching your videos. Thanks Michael

[@rosstheoliverman]

I like that idea! It’s been a few years since I’ve picked with it.

[@oldtruthteller2512]

Uncle Lester had an Oliver 88 he bought new.

[@rosstheoliverman]

Cool! The 88 was a pretty good sized horse in its day.

[@alan-dr8uo]

1:11 just found this sight do you know the last year olver was produced

[@rosstheoliverman]

1976