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The John Deere Model D was one of the most popular and versatile early tractors. This "spoker" model was donated to the Manitoba Agricultural Museum by early supporter Dan Campbell of Chater, Man.
Country Crossroads

The John Deere ‘spoker’ Model D tractor

This tractor had an epic production run of nearly 30 years and is the first tractor of many farms

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The Manitoba Agricultural Museum has a number of John Deere Model D tractors in its collection ranging from a “spoker” Model D to late-model-styled Ds. John Deere built Model Ds over an astonishing production run of almost 30 years, beginning in 1924 and ending in 1953. After assembly line production had ceased, there were still
Some 100 years after it was constructed and 80 years after it was abandoned, the Bergen Cut-Off rail bridge remains spanning the Red River. The photo shows clearly the swing portion of the bridge which has been left in the open position so as to allow vessels on the river to move through. However, it has been a number of years since any vessels big enough to warrant the bridge being open have operated in this area of the Red River. Given it has been probably decades since the bridge saw any maintenance, 
it appears to be in good condition and is a tribute to the contractors who built the structure.
Country Crossroads

The Bergen Cut-Off

A long-abandoned rail bridge is one of the few remaining artifacts of a forgotten grain line

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While crossing over the Kildonan Settlers Bridge in Winnipeg, if you look south, you catch a glimpse of a disused railway swing bridge perched on its pier in the middle of the Red River. At this point, many readers will be thinking, “My sainted aunt! Writing an article about an abandoned bridge in Winnipeg! How
The Manitoba Agricultural Museum’s Goold Shapely and Muir “Beaver” tractor. Goold Shapely and Muir were a very early Canadian manufacturer of tractors, having begun to manufacture the “Ideal” line of tractors in 1907. In 1918 GS&M replaced the Ideal line with the Beaver tractor which used a Waukesha engine and a friction drive transmission.
Country Crossroads, Local news

There are at least 150 reasons to visit the Manitoba Agricultural Museum

In celebration of the country’s anniversary, the MAM has gone through its collection and made a list

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The year 2017 is the 150th anniversary of our great country. In celebration the Manitoba Agricultural Museum (MAM) decided to identify the top 150 artifacts in the collection. This list is too long to be published here but the list can be found in the MAM website under the button marked “150 Reasons.” One problem
We’ll never be sure what occasion afforded these pioneers with the opportunity to have a brief break and socialize.
Country Crossroads

When the week’s work is done

A chance to pause and rest was a rare thing for the region’s early pioneers

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In the Black family photo collection at the Manitoba Agricultural Museum, there is one of some of the family members gathered around a Ford Model T car, sitting on the running board or on the grass, relaxing and chatting. The week’s work is all done as most of the people in the photo are well
The McPhail Sawyer Massey thresher in 1919. The machine does not appear to be running as there is a man on top of the machine bent over doing something, perhaps oiling the bearing on a shaft. The spokes on the pulleys are visible which indicates the pulleys are not revolving. If the pulleys were revolving the spokes would not be visible. In addition, the man on top of the machine would have been foolish to get close to moving pulleys and belts as projecting keys and metal belt lacing possessed the terrible ability to catch clothing and pull the person into the machinery. While oiling the babbitt bearings in use at the time needed to be done on a very regular basis, long spouted oil cans allowed the operators to remain as far away as possible from revolving parts. All the same, in the Pioneer era, missing fingers and limbs were common as a result of farm machinery accidents.
Country Crossroads

The McPhail outfit circa 1919

Once again a historic photo gives us insight into a world long past

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Among the photos donated to the Manitoba Agricultural Museum is a series of photos taken on the Archie McPhail farm northeast of Brandon sometime around 1919. The photo seen here shows the threshing machine in use by Archie McPhail at the time, a wooden Sawyer Massey. The other photos seen in the series show the
The Canadian-made Sawyer Massey kerosene-burning tractor, pulling a five-bottom 14-inch Powerlift Cockshutt engine plow at the 1916 light tractor demonstration in Brandon.
Country Crossroads

Winners and losers: The Brandon light tractor plowing demonstrations of 1916

Canadian manufacturers always struggled to maintain relevance with their smaller market

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There’s little doubt the 1916 Brandon light tractor plowing demonstrations were important in their day and perhaps nothing underlines this than the fact it’s taken three instalments to fully examine them. Sawyer Massey (SM) entered its 16-32 tractor. It was a major Canadian manufacturer of steam engines, threshing machines and other implements and got into
Pioneer sale offers historical insight
Country Crossroads, Our History

Pioneer sale offers historical insight

Farmer and politician William D. Staples sold up in 1916 due to the war

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The ad seen here appeared in a fall 1916 edition of the Canadian Thresherman and Farmer magazine. William Staples, Dominion grain commissioner, was selling his farm equipment as his son was on active service with the Canadian military. Staples senior therefore needed to discontinue his farming operation. William Staples was born at Fleetwood, Ontario on
Early tractors like this Waterloo Boy 12-24 attracted plenty of interest at the 1916 Brandon tractor demonstrations.
Country Crossroads, Our History

Conventional tractors attracted attention too

Success or failure in Western Canada for early tractor makers appears to be linked to their distribution networks

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The 1916 Brandon tractor demonstrations attracted a lot of conventional tractors along with the three wheelers. Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Company (MS&MC) brought its Twin City 15-30 tractor. MS&MC started operations by providing structural steel in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Between 1909 and the mid-teens MS&MC supplied tractor engines to Reeves & Company, manufactured the 30-60 Case
The record-setting Harvesting Hope event at Austin July 31, 2016 raised $134,000, which is being split between the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and the Manitoba Agricultural Museum. Barbara MacDonald director of international programs for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, (right) accepts a $67,000 contribution from Elliot Sims, one of the organizers of the July 31 event, Harvesting Hope: A World Record to Help the Hungry. Also pictured (at left) is Harold Penner, Canadian Foodgrains Bank regional representative.
Local news

It’s official — Manitoba set the antique harvest record, Guinness World Records says

The event raised $134,000 to be split between Canadian Foodgrains Bank and the Manitoba Agricultural Museum

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Manitoba can officially claim the world antique harvest record, according to Guinness World Records. That organization has officially sanctioned the Harvesting Hope: A World Record to Help the Hungry, held July 31 at the Manitoba Threshermen’s Reunion & Stampede in Austin, as the largest-ever simultaneous operation of vintage harvest equipment. More than 8,000 people witnessed
A class at the Manitoba Agricultural College (MAC) posing with a 30-horsepower Big Four tractor. One of the college’s engineering courses trained people in the operation of steam and gas engines. There was a great demand for trained operators at this time. The photo also demonstrates how large a tractor the Big Fours were. The rear wheels dwarf the students standing beside them and one of these students, the man on the ground at the rear of the wheel, is over six feet tall. If you recognize any of the men in this photo, the museum would like to get their names and any history you are able to provide.
Country Crossroads, Our History

Agriculture engineers in the early years

The Manitoba Agricultural College was the first of its kind in Western Canada 
and aimed to equip farmers with the latest knowledge

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The Manitoba Agricultural Museum holds in its collection the photo seen here, which is thought to show the students of an engineering course at the Manitoba Agricultural College. Manitoba’s rapid growth at the turn of the century prompted the provincial government to support agricultural research and education. The Manitoba Agricultural College (MAC) was established in

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