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.
Photos

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Art Ehrat's childhood home, circa 1900. Where:
UnknownWhen:
circa 1900Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
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Art's farm house in Vandalia - 123 at 1st - 1941. Where:
Vandalia When:
1941Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Agriculture Patent # 4358054Where:
UnknownWhen:
Public domainOwnership:
Unknown
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Walter (Art's brother) with c-Case and dc-Case tractor. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
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Art with two nephews: Kenneth (left) and Randy (right) Albrecht on a uac-Case tractor - circa 1939-1942. Where:
UnknownWhen:
circa 1939-1942Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
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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:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art Ehrat with his father William in 1985. (Narrator’s Photo)Where:
UnknownWhen:
circa 1985Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
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William Ehrat with a 30-60 Rumley oil-pull tractor with road grader. It used crude oil right out of the ground. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
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Art putting bales in the barn with a Ford Ferguson tractor. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
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The barn behind Art Ehrat's boyhood home near Vandalia, IL. Where:
near Vandalia, ILWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
(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, PhilippinesWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
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Art's High School graduation in 1943. Where:
UnknownWhen:
1943Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
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The grain elevator Art managed. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
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Art with one of his first computers at the elevator. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
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Art and his brother circa 1939-1940. Where:
UnknownWhen:
circa 1939-1940Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art relaxing in his home after his interview on June 16, 2008.Where:
UnknownWhen:
June 16, 2008Ownership:
Public domain 
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Grace Albrecht Ehrat in 1929. Her foot was injured in a mower accident. Where:
UnknownWhen:
1929Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Ruth Ehrat, circa 1930.Where:
UnknownWhen:
circa 1930Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
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William Ehrat (Art's father), on a reaper. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Workmen replacing a barn roof torn off by a cyclone, April 19, 1927.Where:
UnknownWhen:
April 19, 1927Ownership:
(Narrator's Photo)
Caption
Vic Schmidt and Walter Ehrat in 1930. Where:
UnknownWhen:
1930Ownership:
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___ 12 H.P. Cooper Engine bought for 150.00 100 set for self and Engine.'Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art's father with a 30-60 Rumley Oil Pull in 1932. Where:
UnknownWhen:
1932Ownership:
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:
UnknownWhen:
1917Ownership:
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:
UnknownWhen:
1912Ownership:
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:
UnknownWhen:
1904Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
The Ehrat's hired man, Mr. Wheht, date unknown.Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Young boy on a horse in front of shed. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
A boy on an engine in 1916. Where:
UnknownWhen:
1916Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Grandfather John Schmidt's barn. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
A family photo. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art's father on the tractor, Art and Walker Ehrat on top of a load of alfalfa in 1942. Where:
UnknownWhen:
1942Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art's father is on the left in the truck cab. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Art's dad (with tie) and Walter Ehrat take a break from shredding corn. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo