I seen that video when it was less than an hour posted. Immediately caught my eye as I check for Allis-Chalmers 11B most every day. Couldn't stop watching if I wanted as the sounds and clanging around are so much like my own tractor. I am always impressed by an operator that knows the limitations of his machine and doesn't cross that line unnecessarily demanding more.
That recession you mention I lived through also. Times were hard on a young guy with a young family thrust into the unemployment roles. Fortunately, I then had, and still have no debt and both time frames were by choice. "Then" because I couldn't afford, now by choice of remembering "then". However that economic downturn took me out of the job scenario I was apprenticing at completely with no return. No where else to go as jobs simply did not exist to apply for.
Always enjoy listening to most any diesel engine, and flathead gasoline engines come up on load too. Something soothing about it and sounds you just don't get to hear much of any longer with all the insulation and ergonomics incorporated into today's modern machinery. As I've aged the noise just isn't as loud as it used to be either.
I like your explanation of "rightful frame of mind". There is no better reward to me than being able to do something yourself, no matter the task. Never have ran an excavator myself but have plenty of TLB work so kind of near the same in a way. Repaired a lot of bulldozers, but certainly am not an "operator" by any stretch.
The video shows property very much like our own. We, (son and I) will be doing much the same this gent was with the trees and leveling. Our goal is not clear but the land needs to be productive for some unknown, or finalized purpose yet. Kind of a big training scenario for us but there is reward in that.
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