Art Ehrat is a central Illinois farmer who has many ideas for making things better or easier. He discusses several inventions and the twists and turns of the process of seeking patents. He also tells about showing his patented break-away basketball hoop at the Smithsonian Institution.
Interview Links
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Transcript
Related Materials
AV Barn
See also the Illinois State Museum's Audio-Visual Barn
Photos
Caption
Art Ehrat's childhood home, circa 1900.
Where:
Unknown
When:
circa 1900
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art's farm house in Vandalia - 123 at 1st - 1941.
Where:
Vandalia
When:
1941
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Agriculture Patent # 4358054
Where:
Unknown
When:
Public domain
Ownership:
Unknown
Caption
Walter (Art's brother) with c-Case and dc-Case tractor.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art with two nephews: Kenneth (left) and Randy (right) Albrecht on a uac-Case tractor - circa 1939-1942.
Where:
Unknown
When:
circa 1939-1942
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art's father, William Ehrat, and his brother Walter with a Case tractor in front of cornstalks with ears still attached. (The pile produced 95 bushels and 55 pounds of ear corn.)
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art Ehrat with his father William in 1985. (Narrator’s Photo)
Where:
Unknown
When:
circa 1985
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
William Ehrat with a 30-60 Rumley oil-pull tractor with road grader. It used crude oil right out of the ground.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art putting bales in the barn with a Ford Ferguson tractor.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
The barn behind Art Ehrat's boyhood home near Vandalia, IL.
Where:
near Vandalia, IL
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
(Narrator's Photo)
Caption
Art in an Army medic's uniform at Fort McKinney in Manila, Philippines with child patients from the hospital.
Where:
Fort McKinney in Manila, Philippines
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art's High School graduation in 1943.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1943
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
The grain elevator Art managed.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art with one of his first computers at the elevator.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art and his brother circa 1939-1940.
Where:
Unknown
When:
circa 1939-1940
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art relaxing in his home after his interview on June 16, 2008.
Where:
Unknown
When:
June 16, 2008
Ownership:
Public domain
Caption
Grace Albrecht Ehrat in 1929. Her foot was injured in a mower accident.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1929
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Ruth Ehrat, circa 1930.
Where:
Unknown
When:
circa 1930
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
William Ehrat (Art's father), on a reaper.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Workmen replacing a barn roof torn off by a cyclone, April 19, 1927.
Where:
Unknown
When:
April 19, 1927
Ownership:
(Narrator's Photo)
Caption
Vic Schmidt and Walter Ehrat in 1930.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1930
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
The silo belongs to Art's maternal grandfather, John Schmidt. Inscription on this photo reads 'I am Engineer in 1900. In Ca
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art's father with a 30-60 Rumley Oil Pull in 1932.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1932
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
From left to right are William Ehrat (Art's father) with Dorothy, Art's mother with Grace, an unknown man, and Art's Aunt Mary taken in 1917.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1917
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
From left to right are Art's father with two horses, Jacob Ehrat at post, and Paul and Lena in buggy, taken in 1912.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1912
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
From left to right are Jacob Ehrat, Arn Ehrat, Fred Wefer, Uncle Paul Ehrat, and Henry Knecht. Aunt Lena Ehrat is out of frame to the left. Photo was taken in 1904.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1904
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
The Ehrat's hired man, Mr. Wheht, date unknown.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Young boy on a horse in front of shed.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
A boy on an engine in 1916.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1916
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Grandfather John Schmidt's barn.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
A family photo.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art's father on the tractor, Art and Walker Ehrat on top of a load of alfalfa in 1942.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1942
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art's father is on the left in the truck cab.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art's dad (with tie) and Walter Ehrat take a break from shredding corn.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo