An Unusual Swather

[Farmer Fudd]

I saw this unusual swather at the Pioneer Auto Museum in Murdo, S.D. The tag said Aetna Company of Winnipeg - Fargo. It was attached to a 1930s Farmall, and other then needing reel slats and an apron it was complete and would make for an easy restoration. Has anyone seen one or have any knowledge of the company?




 

[GreenEnvy]

I have never seen that particular swather. But it doesn't surprise me somebody made a swather attachment for a tractor. Farmers themselves have done that if you read the Farm show magazine.
 

[flying belgian]

Neighbor had one that went on the back of his Ford. He backed around the field. I think it was a Dearborn.
 

[rdandersom]

I used to milk sometimes for a fellow that has one like that. I never saw it out of the shed and now the younger generation has a straight cut combine. He swathed then used his forage harvester to pick up the oats then used a George White thresher at the barn.I have seen one at a show at Caledonia Ontario years ago on a Cockshutt 30
 

[wore out]

For the period it was made there was nothing ''unusual'' about it, self-propelled swathing was a new thing, and MANY, MANY farmers, machine shops and short-line manufacturers produced all sorts of variations of the ''theme''.
 

[55 50 Ron]

Was that ground driven? Seems it would be difficult to rig that for PTO drive or flat belt drive.
 

[Farmer Fudd]

Ron, I should have also takened a picture of the rear. It is PTO driven and very securely bolted to the hitch. In its day it had to have been an impressive unit.