On the day Dad was born, July 10, 1951, Grandpa signed on a 3,500 acre ranch south of Tensleep WY. There was a lot of cool old equipment on that place, much of which we were able to preserve. The ranch stayed in the immediate family until about 2000, when Grandpa and his brother, Ruben, passed the farm and ranch down to the next generations.
Uncle Ruben, had collected a lot of antique tools and kept them in the backyard of his house. Among them was this old pedal operated grinding stone off the family ranch. Mark, Ruben's son, has been going through some of his father's old tools and thought Dad would like to have the old grinding stone. That's pretty thoughtful.
These guys are neat. Used to sharpen axes and other farm tools, it's fairly rare to find one with the sandstone in good shape. This stone is well used, but still ready for work.
Along with the grinding stone, Mark gave Dad the old hand-powered drill press that hung in the ranch tool shed. Another impressive tool of old. This one is not in as good of shape, as all the moving parts are pretty well ceased up.
Still works.
Fun stuff. That was pretty good of Mark to give those tool to Dad. The ranch, and the mountain ground that came with it, are near and dear to all of us. Though the land has moved on, our memories remain. These rusty old tools help bring those good days of the past back into the present. Ranching with gratitude.
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