Elke from pictures imperfect blog has chosen a theme of Getting On In Years for this week’s Monochrome Madness Challenge. Getting on in Years can refer to many different things, (objects or people). Ive chosen to go with objects getting on (getting old) as in Antiques. Are Antiques still useful? Maybe some still are, but others like these are not useful for their intended purpose. However, they are useful for educational purposes and displays in museums.
Here are my contributions …
Julian, California
April 1978
These Antique Mining Lamps were once useful to provide crucial light needed to navigate dark tunnels and identify gold veins. Nowadays, people use more modern versions of oil or kerosene lamps.
The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina
This fireplace has definitely seen better days. At one time it would have kept a family warm during cold winter months. It was probably also used to cook food for family and friends who may have stopped by.
on Display at the Farm
The Schiele Museum of Natural History
The above and below images are photos of an Antique Two-Disc Plow. Disc plows use large, concave steel discs, rather than moldboards, to cut and turn the soil. They’re especially effective in tough conditions like hard or sticky soils, or where there’s a lot of crop residue.
The Schiele Museum
Gastonia, North Carolina
The Disc Plows were revolutionary in farming, especially for breaking up tough soil and preparing fields for planting. Unlike single-bladed plows, the two discs allowed for more efficient turning and mixing of the soil, which was a huge advantage for farmers back in the day.
Antique horse- or
mule-drawn walking plow
An Antique Horse or Mule drawn Walking Plow (like this single-bottom moldboard plow) was once a cornerstone of 19th and early 20th century American agriculture. It along with the Two-Disc Plow is on display at The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, North Carolina. It is an outdoor exhibit dedicated to showcasing historical regional farming technology in the North Carolina Piedmont.
Click on images to enlarge.
Elke’s Monochrome Madness #65-Getting on in Years
Leanne’s Monochrome Madness #65-Getting on in Years
Photo Credit: 1) ©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved; 2-5) ©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Have a terrific week and weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
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