Oran: 1942 and Now

From old WWII newsreels Oran is black and white like most of the history then.  GI photos were the same; carefully screened by official censors allowing only nondescript pictures of self with or without buddies.  My first impressions of Oran, Algeria where Operation Torch captured this strategic port in North Africa, are the same – black and gray.  It reminds me of the San Diego naval base without the color.   I noticed from the government photo that there was a “wet side” and “dry side” separated by the usual utility road.  There is an oil depot, several warehouses, lined up deuce-and-a-half trucks, and regulating (track cluster) train station.  What’s barely shown in the photo are the steep cliffs surrounding the waterfront.  Dad spent two years in North Africa and Oran arriving there with the D+3 convoy on November 11, 1942.  His discharge citing Departure November 1 and Arrival November 11 indicates he was on this 41 troop ship convoy from Britain. When he arrived he said bodies were still floating in the harbor. 

Other than the landings to the east and west and the harbor assault to neutralize the French fleet little is known by the public of anything else although Oran became the Cam Ranh Bay of its day.  Trucks, equipment, and supplies were landed at Mers-el-Kébir, Oran’s smaller sister harbor to the west.  A Provisional Ordnance Group (POG) made mostly up of the 87th Medium Maintenance Battalion and 55th Heavy Maintenance Regiment had custody of the trucks and maintained them.  The Transportation Corps under the Mediterranean Base Section (MBS) soon assigned their missions.  Because of theft, Oran’s blocked harbor had only one road: entrance and exit. 

In 1942 Oran had a cosmopolitan population of Spanish, French, and impoverished Arabs who were hired to help off-load the ships.  Old photos from the time aren’t kind to Oran.  Of course, there was a war going on with its inherent destruction, disease, and vice.  I’d read descriptions of North Africa from travel and history books written before the war, but I never appreciated the scenery until I started surfing You Tube to see what Oran looks like today.  It’s amazing.  I know there are always old and dingy parts to every city, but Oran seems to be a surprisingly beautiful and modern city.  Maybe it’s French money, but what You Tube reveals are long expanses of clean modern highways with grassy mediums, road-side palm trees, skyscrapers, cranes, modern cars, beautiful pastel colored apartment building, tastefully done cultural centers, and I saw only one stop light. I’ve included the best You Tube video of Oran I could find: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtJ3lbpSOmQ.  Halfway through the video you can see Ft. Santa Cruz (WWII stockade), on the mountain west of the harbor.  It’s in the drawing and is now a favorite tourist destination.

Obama's Gamble

Now that the election is over and President Obama has nothing to lose, he is reaffirming his intention to legalize millions of illegal aliens - among other things.  Republicans who view them as natural Democrats voters are in a panic.  They want him to accept the election results as a Republican mandate, co-operate, and “stop playing with matches.”  Republican leaders are threatening to cut off funding for the amnesty if he signs the Executive Order.  The situation appears to border on a constitutional crisis with the veiled threat being impeachment.  He also has to make his move now with his old retainers before the new Republicans are sworn in.

President Obama will likely call their bluff.  The House impeaches and the Senate convicts.  Impeachment didn’t faze Bill Clinton.  You’d need 2/3 vote in the Senate and the Media would never support the attack on the “Chosen One.”  There would be months of national wrangling jeopardizing Republican presidential chances in 2016 or so the theory goes.  And, Obama knows how to play the race card and it’s an ace.  He’s protected by the threat of race riots.

If Republicans are as mad as hell, so is the military.  There have been reports of senior officers being purged and various heads of the Armed Forces being replaced by Affirmative Action tokens like the Secret Service recently endured.  There have been accusations of the military being defunded below levels necessary to maintain effectiveness.  Pot heads are free to use marijuana recreationally destroying decades old measures to control narcotic use by soldiers.  Homosexuality in the ranks is now an accepted right.  Generals assume the worst when the Commander in Chief puts our troops in jeopardy in Africa with the Ebola plague.  It’s also shocking to all of us how he recently facilitated the mass migration of illegal Central Americans to the U.S. many of which are diseased and criminals.  I heard one general on TV warn of its implications.  A cosmic shift has occurred and there is little said in the Media about its effect on the military.  It’s mighty queer when the obvious is never talked about.  It’s not just the economy Stupid.

If President Obama amnesties millions of illegal aliens by Executive Order with the stroke of a pen, can he break the CIA into a thousand pieces like John Kennedy was about to do?  Remember Governor Ray Blanton of Tennessee in 1979 in his last minute pardon of criminals.  Could Obama free black criminals en mass?  Will Eric Holder be the next Supreme Court judge?  The third week in December could be more than just a constitutional crisis.  

JD Manure Spreader L&M: Done

The final tab for the John Deere Manure Spreader wasn’t that much.  I paid $900 for it.  Since it was only about five miles away, the freight (tow truck) was $75.  I’ve seen cross-country freight on some other farm machines costing $1000 or more.  Miscellaneous parts and supplies totaled $179.07 with $89.35 going for paint.  Tires were surprisingly expensive at $440.00 for the pair.   So the total bill without labor ran $1594.07.  I would have finished the job quicker if it was done indoors, but getting it into the garage would have been difficult and the light and fresh air from being outdoors was more suitable.  However, the rain and heat slowed the job down.

The elusive John Deere decal remains elusive.  I’ve tried the Internet: eBay, Amazon, and assorted farm supply outfits with the same results.  The dealership here doesn’t know.  It’s all because I want to do it right.  Notice the deer is a 4-legged one.  The newer John Deere decals aren’t.  The background is white with a pin stripe around the modified rectangle.  I suspect this decal represents a particular year of the spreader’s manufacture - the early or middle 1950s.  It’s another mystery like what “L&M” stands for.  (Notice the aluminum ID plate on the low front) Depending on the site, the Internet says tractor pulled or horse drawn.  Another says it’s a two wheeled or four wheeled spreader.  I just want it to look cool and function and match my tractor.

I wouldn’t rate my restoration as a 9 or 10 with a 10 being metaphysical perfection.  Professionals would have air blasted and power sprayed it from the start.  They would have stripped it down to the nuts, bolts, sprocket, and gear level.  Still, I think I did a reasonably good job and I already have an offer on it because there is a resurgence of interest in old machinery here.  No way; I’d like to see it in action.  My test runs prove it’s mechanically sound.  All I need now is a red road triangle and – well, you know.  For informational purposes I’m posting a You Tube link showing how simple these old John Deere spreaders were and they work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ7cVeNjgAo

JD Manure Spreader: Wheels

All that kept these wheels on was two retaining pins held in place by a collar on each axle.  I had to drill the head of one pin off because it was upside down jamming against a collar recess that functions as a tightening increment.  If I’ve not mentioned it before, the two wheels have to come off at the start in order to have access to cleaning the area around the axle.  It’s a primitive slip-off slip-on procedure; no lug nuts.  I’m puzzled about how the wheels are lubricated on the axle.  Do you just slap on some grease between changes?  I did see that each wheel has an indentation on the inside.  Maybe it’s where the grease is applied.

Notice on the starboard side and the huge sprocket with its main drive chain in the disengaged position.  Also, on the sprocket’s grayish plate where its surface joins the inside of the wheel, there is a “dog ear” that catches the hub when the chain is engaged.  The wheel just spins and makes a clicking noise when the dog ear is disengaged.  A simple machine like this old John Spreader has many feet of chain that drive the auger and flippers.  There’s more underneath and I was tempted to paint all of them black for contrast.  Because of the rust I just brushed all the chain with motor oil.  It’s quicker.  I have to mention again I didn’t have a power washer nor did I have an air gun.  On the ground is my creeper which is an old Sea Bee “DRMO” 782 field gear foam mattress.  Don’t leave home without it.

Luckily the wheels were in excellent condition and all I had to do is find a welding shop to sandblast the old paint off.  That cost $25 per wheel and included the primer.  I was disappointed that I couldn’t find treads to match the original tires.  The new ones were BKs 750-20, an implement tire.  They cost me $220 each with a $5.00 disposal charge per tire, but the cost is worth it if for no other reason that John Deere yellow spoked wheels give the spreader contrast and character.  They told me at the tire shop since the machine is ground driven the wheels go on in reverse for more traction.

Image of a Dark Horse: Joni Ernst

In my January 14, 2013 post I called Operation Madame President: 2016, I predicted that the Republican Party would nominate a woman for President of the United States.  Even for the skeptic, the reasons I gave are plausible, the most of which was the Republican leadership’s desire to be more inclusive.   In other words they want to broaden their appeal for more votes.  I can see why.  So far it’s the same-old same-old with them: rich man, fat man, white men, and recently - another prince.  I’ve noticed barrages of trial balloons over the political landscape.  They quickly pop and disappear and the only thing left is that same pantheon of Republican candidates.  The only thing missing is any mention of a female candidate and that’s odd given previous Republican rhetoric.

What’s interested me in the last few weeks is the appearance of someone who has the look – the image - of being America’s first woman President.  I’m not talking about strategic considerations like being from an electoral rich state or having a billion dollar war chest.  Am I the only one who thinks Joni Ernst (who is running for Senator from Iowa) fits the presidential image?  She’s young at 44 and attractive enough to beat out Hillary Clinton any day.  Of course, that’s superficial, but I remember 1960 and how women used to swoon over John Kennedy.  The opposite may be true.

If she survives her Iowa bid, Ernst would bring to the table in 2016 unexpected military credentials coveted by the Right and sought after by the kingmakers of the Left who for decades have been cultivating and positioning their own candidates.  Ernst has them.   She was not only a Lieutenant Colonel in the Ohio Army National Guard, but served in Iraq.  In addition, her military service as an officer means she probably has been screened to the Top Secret level (depending on need-to-know).  It’s bad news for leftists in the Media who would enjoy exposing a Republican version of “Monkey Business.”  For now Joni Ernst has the image and more.  If she’s not destined to be a Dark Horse, it would surprise me.  In any event, I’d venture to say human nature favors attractive people and Hillary ain’t it.  

JD Manure Spreader: Prepping

Finding an old John Deere expert for advice didn’t work.  There was none nor could I find evidence that any ever existed, at least locally.  One group was too far away and didn’t specialize in John Deere.  The Internet didn’t help either.  Like farmers everywhere, they end up doing everything on their own - so I began.  Cleaning the spreader was obvious like prepping a house for painting.  At least I knew I could do that.  I also knew from my experience with cars and trucks that the lack of rust and the excellent condition of the wood would make the project winnable. I took the shroud off the port side and stared.  Grease and dirt gummed up the sprockets and gears.  I thinned the gum with used paint thinner.  As I flicked off the crude, I noticed there were grease zerks everywhere.  All the sprockets and gears had them.  Oddly, they weren’t plugged after more than 60 years.  I also found many Dirt Dobber nests.  The gear assembly at the bottom is apparently a gear box whose function is to regulate the speed of the bed chain that drags the load back to the flippers.  The box is connected to a port side handle with several notches at the tongue.

You guessed it.  The spreader didn’t come with a parts manual nor could I find one.  Observation has a lot to do with restoration and I try in this post to put in simple terms how mechanisms work.  The starboard side has what I call the ground driven power train.  As the spreader is pulled, the axle moves the giant sprocket which (when it’s engaged by the starboard handle in the front) powers the serpentine chain.  Power is transferred to a connecting sprocket that drives the auger, both sets of flipper (tine) racks, and the bed chain.  By now the wooden bed has been painted in old motor oil.  After I finished painting the spreader, I painted all the chains with motor oil.  That’s the only tip I received.

Priming was a tedious job and sanding was worse.  I used a leftover can of Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 which began to thicken up.  After it was gone I switched to automotive spray primer because it was easier to apply and there’s no cleanup.  The only drawback for me was that it made me a little queasy when I sprayed underneath the spreader. My advice on John Deere Green Enamel is to buy it at the local farm and country store.  A quart of JD Yellow cost me $19.79.  That wasn’t repeated.  A quart of JD Green was $7 cheaper at the farm and country store.  Paint and primer cost me $89.35.  I bought a set of artist brushes to do the “John Deere” name on both sides of the spreader.  Hand painting was easier than trying to track down official stencils.  As for the 4-legged Deere logo, I’m still working on trying to find it, but that’s another story.

JD Manure Spreader: Purchase

The John Deere manure spreader I saw for sale on the black top was straight out of old farming America.  Its bed measuring 4 ft. wide x 8 ft. long x 2 ft. high resembled that of a horse drawn utility wagon and covered wagon of pioneer days.  The "L" on its aluminum plate (no serial number) means two wheel.  I’d been looking for one to restore and use because nitrogen pellet fertilizer is expensive and this simple spreader is one I could pull with my utility JD tractor.  2014 also saw the pasturing of sufficient cattle numbers to justify the effort.  Adding to the attraction was the fact that it had belonged to my Uncle Henry and his family who had stored it in a chicken coop.  Its condition, except for the tires, was amazing.  The bed is treated wood and minimally rusted iron and steel which was once all John Deere Green.

Last week’s installment of Machinery Pete on rural RFDTV’s cable channel said there’s a revival in interest in used manure spreaders with some going from $14,000 to tops of $20,000 at auction.  I think it must be an apples and oranges situation because I paid only $900 for this one which I think is a mid-1950s John Deere. From there the expenses of restoration began with a $75 tow.  A couple a people were surprised because I had it towed, but it’s better to be safe than sorry even though the tubes were actually in good shape.  Making do and inflating old damaged tires is dangerous.  My cousin got killed at the OK Tire Shop when a tire blew up in his face.

The first thing I did when I got it back to the farm was to have the tow truck put it on level ground outside the shop.  I would need good light and open air since I would be doing a lot of priming and painting.  For the most part the weather held even though there were several days of rain and others that were just too hot for me.  Notice I put the axles on cement blocks and chocked them from moving.  (I’d found an old screw jack in the garage.)  I also drove a T-Post at the tongue and secured it with one of my old USMC belts.  Restoration means going underneath to do the cleaning and figuring out how the thing works.  It also means safety.  One slip and you’re crushed.  Other than that I began the cleanup painstakingly by hand with an ice pick, wire brush, whisk broom, rags, and sand paper.  If you think I knew what I was doing. You’re wrong. What in the world do I do now and how does this thing work?