Heavily Modified Ford Model "A" Belt-powering an Ireland Drag Saw
As Seen at Masiker's Machinery Exhibition_2025
A book could be written on the extensive modifications to this machine; as best I can tell, it is a Model "A" Ford; but, it may not even be a Ford.
The single-bottom plow is raised and lowered manually by a long lever.
You can see the long belt, which is wrapped around the left-rear tire, exiting the photo to left.
The rear wheels, "widow-makers" which do not match, are from two different models of 1-1/2-ton truck; they have been re-drilled and fitted with home-made adapters.
This particular wheel, above, is the worst of the bunch in that, instead of having a split lock ring, the wheel separates in the drop-center and is only held together by four tiny nubs resting in little pockets; they are responsible for more deaths and maimed bodies and missing arms than Gettysburg.
If you can even use the word "safe" in any description of these multi-piece wheels, this particular style, with a single split lock-ring, are much safer than most; when they get dangerous is when those who don't know what they are doing damage the lock-ring in their misguided attempts to get it off; then, instead of replacing the lock-ring, they try to re-use it.
Although in far better shape than the left-front tire, this tire is carrying it's share of battle scars; but, what can you expect after at least seventy-five years; a modern steel-belted radial is lucky to last five years before it slings it's tread and explodes into a twisted wad of rusty wire.
Take note of the "V-8" hub-caps on both front wheels; the engine is an inline 4-cylinder; the current wheels and definitely the hub-caps are not original to the car.
The left-front tire is a testament to the integrity and longevity of good old Bias-ply Tires; it has worn through three layers of cord and is as crackled and rotten as can be and is still holding together and will still be so thirty years from now.
Visible on the right-front tire, from the 9-O'clock position to 12-O'clock, is the tell-tale break in the sidewall from an extended period of sitting flat.
When that modern computerized plastic marvel that you are driving today is 90-plus-years-old, will there be enough of it left to be put to some useful purpose such as this Model "A" has ?
910 Shop Hill Road - Liberty - Casey County - Kentucky
Saturday_04-October-2025
37°20'36.88"N 85° 3'10.30"W 1,012'
Ireland Drag Saw
Ireland Machine & Foundry Co.
Norwich, New York
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