1930 Ford Model AA "doodlebug"
Jim Phillips, the owner of this unusual piece of rural history, shared this VERY interesting piece about it. It is long, but well worth reading!!!
"Doodlebug --- A homemade tractor made from any parts you had or any parts that you could scrounge or barter. All were built as cheaply as possible."
They were popular during the Thirties and Forties. During this time tractors were hard to get, because money was scarce after the Great Depression. During WWII most industries were switched over to making war vehicles and products. Very few tractors were being made. Most young men were called to war, leaving farmers to keep all farm work going by themselves. Doodlebugs took the place of a horse as they could drag logs out of the woods, pull a trailer, plow, rake hay, disc and use most horse drawn equipment. Farmers did not have to spend eight hours a day walking behind a horse. After the war, most doodlebugs were not used because tractors became plentiful and were affordable. Most were scrapped or parked in the woods to rot.
Folks think the AI is new, but in fact it has been around for many years. Back then, AI stood for "American Ingenuity," and there was nothing artificial about it. It means to creatively adapt available resources to overcome challenges. That's a doodlebug.
This doodlebug started life as an example of FORD's largest truck for 1930. It had bigger wheels and tires than Model A cars and small pick-ups. Stronger frame with 4-speed transmission, with dual wheels in the rear end. To make a doodlebug you get rid of all parts not needed like body, bed, fenders and running boards. Basically you end up with grill, radiator, motor, transmission, frame and rear end. Next step is shortening frame as much as possible so turning radius is as tight as possible. This vehicle has front axle installed upside down to gain ground clearance and largest 20-inch tires that were available then. The hood is home made from a metal barrel and side panels are home made along with a small wooden bed on back. Loader on front of the vehicle is raised and lowered by a 6 V starter motor and pulley system. Bucket on loader is from an old horse drawn dirt pan. Many old roads were made using horses and dirt pans. They would scoop dirt up on top of a hill and drag it to the bottom, sometimes for 8 hours a day. The scoop will not hold much material, but it sure beats a wooden boom, blister causing sweat machine. (A shovel.)
Talk about surviving, this is a true survivor, been around 95 years and still going strong!
137/365
Found at the annual Farmers Fest, in Mount Airy, NC
1930 Ford Model AA "doodlebug"
Jim Phillips, the owner of this unusual piece of rural history, shared this VERY interesting piece about it. It is long, but well worth reading!!!
"Doodlebug --- A homemade tractor made from any parts you had or any parts that you could scrounge or barter. All were built as cheaply as possible."
They were popular during the Thirties and Forties. During this time tractors were hard to get, because money was scarce after the Great Depression. During WWII most industries were switched over to making war vehicles and products. Very few tractors were being made. Most young men were called to war, leaving farmers to keep all farm work going by themselves. Doodlebugs took the place of a horse as they could drag logs out of the woods, pull a trailer, plow, rake hay, disc and use most horse drawn equipment. Farmers did not have to spend eight hours a day walking behind a horse. After the war, most doodlebugs were not used because tractors became plentiful and were affordable. Most were scrapped or parked in the woods to rot.
Folks think the AI is new, but in fact it has been around for many years. Back then, AI stood for "American Ingenuity," and there was nothing artificial about it. It means to creatively adapt available resources to overcome challenges. That's a doodlebug.
This doodlebug started life as an example of FORD's largest truck for 1930. It had bigger wheels and tires than Model A cars and small pick-ups. Stronger frame with 4-speed transmission, with dual wheels in the rear end. To make a doodlebug you get rid of all parts not needed like body, bed, fenders and running boards. Basically you end up with grill, radiator, motor, transmission, frame and rear end. Next step is shortening frame as much as possible so turning radius is as tight as possible. This vehicle has front axle installed upside down to gain ground clearance and largest 20-inch tires that were available then. The hood is home made from a metal barrel and side panels are home made along with a small wooden bed on back. Loader on front of the vehicle is raised and lowered by a 6 V starter motor and pulley system. Bucket on loader is from an old horse drawn dirt pan. Many old roads were made using horses and dirt pans. They would scoop dirt up on top of a hill and drag it to the bottom, sometimes for 8 hours a day. The scoop will not hold much material, but it sure beats a wooden boom, blister causing sweat machine. (A shovel.)
Talk about surviving, this is a true survivor, been around 95 years and still going strong!
137/365
Found at the annual Farmers Fest, in Mount Airy, NC