Toad Hollow Photography

The number one way to get me to stop dead in my tracks is for me to catch a glimpse of the beautiful Mrs. Toad from across a room.  That’s followed by Corvettes, muscle cars, motorbikes and tractors.  In pretty much that order.

I grew up in your average middle class house.  My parents were incredible people who left me with an admiration for those who strive to do right, and a sense to follow my dreams and passions.  Every day I awake and thank them both for all their sacrifices and for teaching me the lessons they have left behind…  it’s what makes me who I am.

Now, with all that being said I really missed out on something as a little boy.  I always wanted a ride-on tractor.  Never got one.  As it turns out, as soon as you get to be over a certain height and weight, the option of riding around on one of these fabulous tractors becomes impossible.  Bummer.

All of this has left me with a truly unhealthy love for farm tractors.  I can literally sense them from miles away and am attracted to them like the proverbial fly to the light.

On a chilly day driving home from a family Thanksgiving get-together we came across this antique beauty.  After letting the smoke clear from pounding on the brakes, we set out to capture a short series of shots.

In the late 1800′s James Cockshutt opened shop.  Originally the company intended to produce farming implements of the highest quality and over time became one of the most successful companies in this market.  Due to prudent management practices and a superior product, they managed to weather the financial storm that came with the Great Depression.  In the early 40′s as things improved and the need for great farming utensils came back to the forefront as the rebuilding process was underway, the Cockshutt Plow Company set out to design and build their first powered farming tools.  Many of these early tractors are still in service today.

Our research shows that today these tractors are highly sought after by collectors.  Entire websites are dedicated to the company and the equipment they manufactured; if you’re interested in the details behind this story, this site has a great history page.

This particular tractor has the best color combination and most beautiful lines I’ve seen on a tractor in many a year.  Sure, she’s got a few dents and dings, and the paint has smatterings of grime on it, but I’ll bet she flashes right up.  It’s pretty easy to imagine me riding down our street on this baby waving my hat in the air and shouting “Woohoo!!” at the very top of my Toady lungs.

This is simply awesome.  It beckons to me.  Sure, the fenders are far from new, but you have to admit they are full of great character.  Each mark, each dent, tells a story.

What a fabulous instrument cluster.  As with most active farming equipment, these units focus on function more than form.  Through this singular focus comes character.

How many times has this tractor brought its farmer home after a long day in the fields, safe and sound?  No doubt as the years went by it became more than an implement, it became part of the family.  A tool to facilitate earning a living to care for a family and a trusted friend who can be counted on.

Each piece was carefully crafted to perform some form of a function, yet through this all a piece of art was brought to life.  It can be admired from any angle, no matter how you face the tractor there is something interesting to take in and enjoy.  At this point I’m not going to say “they sure don’t make them like they used to”, I’ll leave that up to you to decide.

Thanks very kindly for taking the time to visit us here at The Hollow today, we really appreciate it!  As always, we encourage everyone to leave us any comments you may have as we love to hear from all our visitors.