Picture of my Grand dad

**David White** · 14th June 07, 02:35 PM

Grand dad was a natural gas/oil driller in Oklahoma from about 1900-30.
Here is a picture of him with his best friend Shorty (who married Grand dad's first cousin). They would live pretty much off the land and stay out drilling for weeks on end. The portable forge is in the backgound, they had to make all repairs on site. I don't know who took this picture (1920's) but I'm glad they did.

Grand dad is getting ready to hit Shorty in the head with a wrench.
Never met him so this picture is important to me.

Chet White (on left) hitting Shorty.

**auld argonian** · 14th June 07, 02:45 PM

How many times did he have to hit him before Shorty agreed to marry his cousin?

Best

AA

**macwilkin** · 14th June 07, 02:51 PM

What a great idea (and a great photo), David!

Since we're sharing photos of relatives, here is a photo from the 1950s of my great-grandfather, Roy Mitchell Williamson:

Corries fans will notice his ironic name, Roy Williamson, since he came from a long line of Iowa Scots Presbyterians. I'm quickly inheriting the Williamson bald head, btw.

One of many ancestors of mine I wish could have met. His father, William Irving Williamson, served in the 11th Iowa Infantry during the Civil War.

Cheers,

Todd

**The Wizard of BC** · 14th June 07, 03:15 PM

David,

Some more information on your Photo.

The machine in the background is a Massy-Ferguson Steam Tractor circa 1909-1917. Not sure of the model because I can't see the control platform but when fitted with the smooth wheels you see in the photo would have been used to grade roads to the well site(That may be the thing you see attached underneath between the two men)/act as a pony engine to lift pipe and drive the rig. There would be a large flywheel looking thing on the left side which drove a long belt which would be led to a winch or the drill head gearbox/and in a pinch the fire box could be used as a forge. The portable forges of the day however would have looked more like a backyard barbecue with a hand cranked bellows fan attached.

A great photo. I know why you treasure it.

Thank you for sharing.

**David White** · 14th June 07, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

David,

Some more information on your Photo.

The machine in the background is a Massy-Ferguson Steam Tractor circa 1909-1917. Not sure of the model because I can't see the control platform but when fitted with the smooth wheels you see in the photo would have been used to grade roads to the well site(That may be the thing you see attached underneath between the two men)/act as a pony engine to lift pipe and drive the rig. There would be a large flywheel looking thing on the left side which drove a long belt which would be led to a winch or the drill head gearbox/and in a pinch the fire box could be used as a forge. The portable forges of the day however would have looked more like a backyard barbecue with a hand cranked bellows fan attached.

A great photo. I know why you treasure it.

Thank you for sharing.

Thanks Steve, that explains alot. I know they did how forges on the work site.

**Kiltedmusiclover** · 15th June 07, 04:08 AM

David,

I love that photo.

Below is my Great Grandfather George and Grandfather Guy Wallace.

**David White** · 14th June 07, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

How many times did he have to hit him before Shorty agreed to marry his cousin?

Best

AA

Only once.

**brandycr** · 14th June 07, 02:51 PM

lol i love old pictures

**cessna152towser** · 14th June 07, 03:07 PM

I love these old family photos. One hopes the photo was staged and that Chet White didn't really hit Shorty on the head with his wrench a moment later!