Back in the fall, I bought a 1965 New Idea 701 Uni which, because of constant bad winter weather, I just got it home this past weekend. The former owner had quit picking corn with it two years ago and he was just ready to be rid of it and get more shed room. He had owned it for more than 30 years. It is an early one, soon after NI got the concept from MM. It is lot #2, first year of production for New Idea Uni's. Back then, left over parts were used here and there in assembly. Even though it is not a MM, it has a MM temp type gauge which was prob left over. The New Idea 700 was basically a NI cosmetically but MM built (transition year 1964-65) Later 701s had GM 292 engines in them. I have a 1968 701 with a 292. This has a Continental 244 6 cyl. Runs good and always been shedded and meticulously maintained, especially with grease and oil. It has a 727 12 roll husking bed, similar setup with rubber fingers as the pull-type pickers, and has a 725 3 row narrow head. Should be interesting to try it out on some corn hopefully this fall. This rig came from a farm near Coldwater, Ohio, where basically it had never left the county where it was built. I am located about 30 miles from Coldwater, so it got trucked safely to its new home here at the IN/OH border. Basically hauling it was pretty easy, as it fit on the lowboy quite well. We lowered the elevator by unhooking it at the cables and using two come-a-longs so it would clear 13'6" no problem.
I would have drove it home, but the sidewall in the left drive tire is a bit dry rotted, and I could see running it on the pavement would have made it separate quickly, I think in the field it will run a long time.
An interesting piece in the top picture, you might see in the background what appears to be a factory, it is our local ethanol processing plant, cooking away on shelled corn.
Nice looking UNI you have there it looks to be in really good condition. The nice thing about that is it sounds like it was really well maintained. Thank you for posting pics. and sharing the story about it with us. Charlie
Seeing that Uni, makes me think of Dad and Grandpas 704, and the sound of the ears banging and that 401 with the straight pipes barking, in the cool fall air. Good times Great memories!!
Very nice uni, i think thats what i need but you dont see many of those in Alabama. I have a 302 one row, need to up grade to a three or four row snapper.
