Picture of my Grand dad

[David White]

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]

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

Best

AA

[brandycr]

lol i love old pictures

[macwilkin]

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

[cessna152towser]

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!

[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.

[Luckey]

Thanks for shareing a bit of your family with us - always appreciated

[McMurdo]

Well I have a few old pictures I would like to share

This is My Grandmother on my Mom's side


My Grandfather on my Dad's side and my Dad


My Grandmother on my Mom's side and my Grandfather on my Dad's side, he was a widower, she was a widow they actually dated before my parents met.


Finally this is from Left to Right my Mom, my Uncle Murdy, and my Aunt Jean

[David White]

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

Best

AA

Only once.

[David White]

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.