Starting 1936 Sunshine self propelled auto header.

Starting a Sunshine self propelled auto header that had not been moved for over 25 years. It took about 10 minutes to get the engine going and about the same time to sort out the gearbox. Turn up the sound. Location is in south east Queensland. AU.

[@andrewwilson6085]

Good that these old machines are kept in working order. My grandfather had a Sunshine horse-drawn binder in the 1950s, later pulled by a tractor.

[@johnberry1107]

Old farm machines and old men! Yee Haa! That one fellow sure was enjoying the experience. Thank you.

[@oldfarmer9004]

How wonderful! The delight on the faces of the guys starting and running it! There’s nothing quite like that is there?!

[@kevinklingner3098]

To be quite honest l miss those days . I was happierr then than i am now.

[@michaelhalsall5684]

Great to see this machine saved and running again! Most have been scrapped. The engine sounds great. I believe the first ones used a Fordson engine.

[@rbharvesters7404]

Im glad no one ever painted it. They are best in original condition. Paint should only be used in full restoration projects. It can ruin the look of a nice working machine.
Nice unusual machine thanks for showing. It would be interesting to see it working.

[@billkitto]

Have a look at my video at th-cam.com/video/HcXmEhpkaDM/w-d-xo.html where you can see one working.

[@rbharvesters7404]

@@billkitto i had a look at that thanks. Interesting to see different methods being used. I assume that it is a stripper harvester. Stripper headers where used by some farmers in the 90s here in England. They never really seemed to take off. I haven't heard about them for years now.

[@austral7634]

It is great to see an icon of Australian design and manufacture still in running condition after some 85 years. You need to pass on the operating technique to the younger generation before it is lost forever.

[@kevinklingner3098]

Im only 59 and l can still just remember a few of this being used by old timers in my day.

[@allankarenbayne9835]

Yes those ones only had 2 forward speeds were the WT models the KT ones has 3 speed gearboxs we had 3 of the autos in New Zealand with the same motor as yours

[@kevinklingner3098]

Wwould have beeen nice to see it in a crop

[@billkitto]

@@kevinklingner3098 Have a look at one in operation here in 2014 (High Quality video): th-cam.com/video/HcXmEhpkaDM/w-d-xo.html

[@306champion]

Beautiful, that would have to be the biggest comb ever in 1936. what is it 14' or 15'?

[@georgecoates2079]

Was this the machine that had no cutter bar, but just stripped the heads off and relied on the serrated auger to cut the heads off and fee them into the feeder house?

[@billkitto]

No. It has a cutter bar. Have a look at my video at th-cam.com/video/HcXmEhpkaDM/w-d-xo.html at 1:27 where you can see the cutting bar mechanism moving backwards and forwards on the left hand side of the comb.

[@LukaArtelj]

Old farts