I remember my dad telling about a day in the late 1940's, he was working on his farm in rural Bloomfield, Missouri when he heard a strange noise. World War II was just a couple of years in the past and the United States was still a little jumpy.....
Dad said he could tell the noise was coming from near Castor River which bordered his farm, so he walked down to the river's edge. As he neared the area he saw a mighty tree come crashing to the ground just as the noise went away.
Dad stumbled upon a two man crew cutting logs on the banks of the river and saw a chainsaw for the very first time. Chainsaws had been around for a couple of decades but it wasn't until after the war they began to be common place.
I remember the look in dad's eyes when he talked about seeing a chainsaw that first day. He looked at me and said I knew right then when the crop came in, my first purchase would be a saw. I still have that saw, it is little more than a boot anchor, but it reminds me of days spent with dad working in the woods.
Dad spoke of many items invented, or maybe improved during his life (1918 - 1997). He then laughed at people that collected antiques, saying "....they can have that old shit, I grew up struggling to survive with that old crap. No, sir......give me the modern stuff that is easier to use any day of the week."
I wonder how many people don't know what the picture is with this story? I know, because they lasted forever......and we were still using one as late as 1980. (washing machine)
Note the rollers on top that were used to squeeze water out of the clothes once they were washed...... Hurt like hell when you got your fingers rolled up those torture devices....... you only let that happen once, trust me!
How about you.....do you like the antiques, or do you want the convenience of our modern world?
