Corn Picker Expert Rebuilds Machines, Makes Parts

2013 - Volume #BFS, Issue #13, Page #43

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Even in this age of high-tech farms and big, expensive combines, there are still some farmers harvesting with ear corn pickers. High corn prices have also sparked renewed interest.
  But finding machines in good condition can be a problem. New Idea, the biggest manufacturer of ear corn pickers, stopped building units in the late 1970’s. No manufacturer makes a new corn picker and most used pickers are set up for 40-in. rows. Finding a narrower machine to match today’s row spacings isn’t easy.
  Reuben Zimmerman, Barnett, Mo., saw the market for rebuilt corn pickers and parts about 10 years ago so he started a business called “Picker Paradise”. He buys used New Idea corn pickers from farmers across the U.S. and rebuilds them, converting wide row models to narrow row. If he needs parts that aren’t available, he builds his own. “While I have a good inventory on hand of pickers and used parts, I’m always looking for good pickers to buy,” he says.
  When Zimmerman first got started, he had to figure out how to convert a wide row model to narrow. “It’s quite an involved process. Halfway through my first one I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get it finished, but it turned out good,” he says.     Finding replacement parts for corn pickers is getting to be a problem, he says. “A lot of parts aren’t available through New Idea any more, which is why I started manufacturing hard-to-find parts.”
  One of the most popular parts that he builds are rubber paddle wheels, which replace the original rubber finger wheels on the picker’s husking unit. “The original rubber finger wheels get brittle and break off, and they’re very expensive to replace. My replacement paddle wheels sell for only about one fourth as much as the finger wheels.”
  Most narrow-row models sell for $3,000 to $4,000. “I recently had the privilege of providing a picker for an orphanage in Uganda, Africa,” notes Zimmerman.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Reuben Zimmerman, 64757 Hwy. C, Barnett, Mo. 65011 (ph 573 378-4172).

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Corn Picker Expert Rebuilds Machines Makes Parts SPECIALTY/SERVICES Even in this age of high-tech farms and big expensive combines there are still some farmers harvesting with ear corn pickers High corn prices have also sparked renewed interest But finding machines in good condition can be a problem New Idea the biggest manufacturer of ear corn pickers stopped building units in the late 1970’s No manufacturer makes a new corn picker and most used pickers are set up for 40-in rows Finding a narrower machine to match today’s row spacings isn’t easy Reuben Zimmerman Barnett Mo saw the market for rebuilt corn pickers and parts about 10 years ago so he started a business called “Picker Paradise” He buys used New Idea corn pickers from farmers across the U S and rebuilds them converting wide row models to narrow row If he needs parts that aren’t available he builds his own “While I have a good inventory on hand of pickers and used parts I’m always looking for good pickers to buy ” he says When Zimmerman first got started he had to figure out how to convert a wide row model to narrow “It’s quite an involved process Halfway through my first one I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get it finished but it turned out good ” he says Finding replacement parts for corn pickers is getting to be a problem he says “A lot of parts aren’t available through New Idea any more which is why I started manufacturing hard-to-find parts ” One of the most popular parts that he builds are rubber paddle wheels which replace the original rubber finger wheels on the picker’s husking unit “The original rubber finger wheels get brittle and break off and they’re very expensive to replace My replacement paddle wheels sell for only about one fourth as much as the finger wheels ” Most narrow-row models sell for $3 000 to $4 000 “I recently had the privilege of providing a picker for an orphanage in Uganda Africa ” notes Zimmerman Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Reuben Zimmerman 64757 Hwy C Barnett Mo 65011 ph 573 378-4172

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