Vintage Tractor Digest

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February/March 2011 Volume 2 Issue 2

$4.99

Horses, Steam, Kerosene, Gas, Diesel

In This Issue: Allis-Chalmers G, #6 Pure Sorghum Molasses Restoring a John Deere Model G The Engagement Tractor


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Winter Tractor & Engine Show F ortÊWayn e,Ê I n d i an a SE

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Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave, Fort Wayne, IN

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Location

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April 1, 2 & 3

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A DV ERT I S EMENT

Hours

Set-up, Thursday, 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

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Join us at our new location on our new dates. This year, we are featuring Advance Rumely and Allis-Chalmers Tractor & Equipment All Makes Welcome Special Events Toy Show & Craft Show: All three days Model Engine Show: All three days Seminars: Friday & Saturday Individual Collection Tours: Friday Make It, Take It Workshops: Friday & Saturday Contact Persons Maumee Valley: Richard Walker, 260-632-4314 Craft Show:Vicky Wachle, 260-422-4076 Model/Toy Engine Show: Pete Menger, 260-632-4844 Toys: Bruce Bell, 260-925-0855 Host Hotel: Holiday Inn located directly across U.S. 930 from Coliseum (Mention Winter Show for special show rate) 260-482-3800

Food Breakfast and other meals available. Held inside the heated 2.5 acre exposition hall of the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum RV's Welcome: Electrical available on Coliseum grounds (Limited Number). Full RV facilities available at Johnny Appleseed Campground located next to the Coliseum. Updated information may be found on Maumee Valley Antique Steam & Gas AssociationÕs website at

www.maumeevalley.org

www.maumeevalley.org 2

Vintage Tractor Digest


6 Table of Contents 5 6 9 12 16 18 23 26 28 30 32 35

Tractor Talk McCormick-Deering 22-36 Pure Sorghum Molasses Made by Gilbert Esarey Restoring a John Deere Model G Antique Tractors Come to the Farm Progress Show Allis-Chalmers: Like a G6 Father & Son Tractor Rodeo Smalltown, USA The Engagement Tractor Guitarman, Richard Young Classified Ads

Publisher Brandon Pfeiffer 812-480-0194 brandonp@sit-co.net Editor Kate Goelzhauser 812-490-3607 lagc_kate@Yahoo.com Advertising Chad Schmidt 812-719-7200 chadbschmidt@gmail.com Designers Lisa Schaefer lisajschaefer@gmail.com Sylvia Seib sylvia.seib@gmail.com Subscriptions are available from: Vintage Tractor Digest Subscriber Services: 812-985-0828 Vintage Tractor Digest 6040 Ford Road N Mt. Vernon, IN 47630 www.vintagetractordigest.com

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Subscription rates: $22.95/year US; $31.95/year CAN; $49.95/year INTL US FUNDS ONLY Vintage Tractor Digest is published bi-monthly by Hapco, Inc. (ISSN 2153-0882) (USPS Publication Number 007-377) Periodical postage paid at Mt. Vernon, IN 47620 and at additional mailing offices.

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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Vintage Tractor Digest 6040 Ford Road N Mt. Vernon, IN 47620 Vintage Tractor Digest reserves ALL rights regarding reprints of this publication. Upon submission, all articles and photos become property of Vintage Tractor Digest. Vintage Tractor Digest may modify content for publication.

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February/March 2011

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A DV ERT I S EMENT

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TRACTOR TALK & other fun stuff Brandon’s son, Andrew, lends a hand with the “G” delivery.

My friends think I’m crazy because I love winter.

Wow! Have we had a cold and snowy winter or what?

As I start to think how tired I am of the cold, I try to remind myself of how miserable I was with the extended heat wave we had last summer. All of a sudden, the cold doesn’t seem so bad. There are many positives to having cold weather and not being able to work outside. It allows me more time with my family and to catch up on writing and reading. I am studying the Old Testament right now and it takes some intense concentration. During the summer months, I am usually so exhausted when I come in that I can barely keep my eyes open to read. This past November we hauled my 1951 John Deere model “G” out to Classic Farm Tractors, LLC in Eaton, Colorado to have them restore it. I previously saw some of their work and it is by far the best I have observed. Over the next year or so, beginning with this issue, we are going to feature a section that shows the restoration as it progresses. This will be a great read for the tractor restoration enthusiasts no matter what brand you collect.

How could I NOT love winter? My allergies are non-existent when it’s cold out; I get to wear my favorite frumpy sweatshirts logo-ed with my favorite teams; I can use the deck as a refrigerator to keep my wine chilled, and I get to sit by the fireplace while I do my writing. Winter keeps my family and me home. Spring, summer and fall are all good too, except we are always on the run. Don’t get me wrong, we have fun at ball games and tractor shows, but being home when it’s cold out is best. But, there is a LOT to be said for spring….like SHOWS! My show season starts in February. Brandon and me will be at the toy tractor show in St. Louis the first week of February. I am hoping that the last week of February I will be at Fort Meade, Florida for the big Flywheeler show. It’s enormous! If you have ever considered going, I suggest you plan to go. You won’t believe your eyes! If you have an upcoming event, we encourage you to mail the details to us so we can publish it for you. There is no cost to have it printed in our show section. In fact, I started it for you by listing the shows that I plan to attend this upcoming season. This schedule is subject to change, additions may be made and other shows may be cancelled, so please check our website for updates.

Speaking of brands of tractors, I just added two Case tractors to my collection. One is a 1939 model “C” with round spokes and the other is a 730 Gas with a wide front. Weather permitting; I hope to bring both tractors home within the next month. I will keep you posted.

February 23 – 26, Florida Flywheelers, Fort Meade FL April 1 – 3, Winter Tractor & Engine Show, Ft. Wayne IN June 10 – 12, SIAM, Evansville IN June 17 – 19, JCAMA, Edinburgh IN July 7 – 10, Historic Farm Days, Penfield IL June 23 – 25, Red Power Round-Up, Albert Lea MN July 22 – 24, Antique Steam & Gas Engine Club , Boonville IN August 5 – 7, Northwest Ohio Antique Machinery Show, Findlay OH August 19 – 21, Old Tyme Days, Dover PA September 8 – 12, White River Valley Antique Show, Elnora IN

Thank you for being a subscriber to VTD. We truly appreciate each and every one of you.

As always, I am on the hunt for stories to publish, so don’t be shy…contact me!

Have a great winter!

Hurry spring!

Brandon Pfeiffer Brandon Pfeiffer Publisher

Kate Goelzhauser

®

Kate Goelzhauser Editor

February/March 2011

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McCormick-Deering 22-36

My Story from the Factory to the Field to the Show

{part 2}

“The Tractor Tells it All”

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n the winter of 2007 and spring of 2008, Ben and Daniel removed my head. My head was delivered to a shop that could repair it. Ben removed my pistons, took off all the rings, cleaned and reinstalled them. He also honed my cylinders while my pistons were out. He ordered new gaskets and put my engine back together. Becky asked Ben how work was progressing on me. I think she was getting anxious to hear me run. Ben removed my carburetor and cleaned it and put it back on me. I heard him say that he would rig up a small gas tank until he could have my main tanks cleaned. He also had my radiator checked out at

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Vintage Tractor Digest

by Ben Chestnut

about the same time as the fuel tanks. He took off my original IH E4A magneto and replaced it with an IH F-4 magneto. Ben was pleasantly surprised to find out that my radiator and fuel tanks did not leak, and were re-installed. A new support bracket for my fuel tanks was fabricated. The old one had rusted away. On the evening of July 26th, 2008 after Ben, Becky and Daniel got home from work, I heard them say “Let’s get out the 22-36 and belt it up and see if it will start.” I sure was aiming to do my best to start for them, but it had been so long since I had run, I didn’t know if I could. I had been asleep for a very


long time. I sure did not want to disappoint them, especially Becky. Ben and Daniel got their International Harvester Farmall 300 tractor to hook a belt from the pulley on it to the pulley on me. When Ben gave Daniel the go signal, he released the clutch on the Farmall 300 and for the first time in years I felt my belt pulley turning. Many years ago I used to drive other pulleys on farm machinery instead of being driven by another tractor, but it sure felt good anyway. After a little while, Ben let out my clutch and my motor reluctantly started turning. He let it turn for a while to check if I had oil pressure. After Ben was sure every thing was going ok, he set my magneto to the run position and turned on my gas. After that, I started making a noise out of my exhaust pipe. I could not believe it but my motor was running on its own for the first time in a long time. You should have seen that smile on Becky’s face. I could tell that I had made her very happy. I heard Ben say that my carburetor would have to come off again because something wasn’t right. Ben suspected the float was shot. He found out later someone had incorrectly bent my float arm. Ben put a new bearing in my water pump later that summer and started me up for some of his friends

from time to time. In the fall of 2008, I was driven next door to a big red shed where my water was drained and I was stored for the winter. When I looked around inside the shed I was pleasantly surprised to see several of my younger relatives, as well as a few green ( John Deere) and orange (Case) tractors. Ben didn’t do much more to me until August and September of 2009. He installed a sediment bulb in my fuel tank and hooked up a fuel line. He had found a set of correct heavy rear steel wheels for me in south-central Illinois. They still had the axles attached. Ben and Daniel were able to get one axle out. The other axle was rusted in the wheel hub and they couldn’t get it out. They had a machine shop remove it. One night Ben, Becky and Daniel installed them on me. I don’t see their daughter, Sarah, very often. I don’t think Sarah cares much for old tractors, except for her two Case tractors. I start and run pretty good now. I have heard Ben and Daniel say they are taking me to an antique show at Elnora Indiana September 10th through the 14th. I wonder what an antique show is? Ben says that he is going to have new fenders made for me and eventually get me painted up. I sure hope he does soon!

EDITOR’S NOTE: More to come in the April/ May issue of Vintage Tractor Digest.

February/March 2011

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A DV ERT I S EMENT

Coming Soon!

A new children’s farm book. This is a MUST for tractor collectors young and old alike.

Big Red & Old Red

Written by Jane Aumann and Cindy Ladage Illustrated by famed tractor artist Charles Freitag

Enjoy reading about the new tractor that comes to the farm. See just how Dad’s Big Red tractor fits in with Grandpa’s trusty Old Red tractor. Will the new and old work together? Wait and see!

Read more about this highly anticipated book in the next issue of Vintage Tractor Digest. For questions please write Cindy & Jane at Roots & Wings, P.O. Box 55, Nokomis, IL 62075

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Vintage Tractor Digest


Molasses

Pure Sorghum

Made by Gilbert Esarey by Kate Goelzhauser

EDITOR’S NOTE: In this article, sweet sorghum is also referred to as sugar cane, which was the term used in the midwest in the 1800’s and early 1900’s.

PHOTO BELOW: The horses are ready to assist in operating the sugar mill.

PHOTO ABOVE: The Esaray’s barn in which the molasses was cooked is still standing, but no longer used.

Molasses. It’s taken from the Portuguese melaço

which in turn is derived from the Latin mel, meaning honey. Believe it or not, molasses was originally exported to the U.S. from the West Indies to make rum. February/March 2011

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ABOVE: Janet Richard Hornbeck talks about the horses with Ruth and Gilbert. Esaray. TOP RIGHT: The horses and the help worked hard. It was hot and hard work. BOTTOM RIGHT: The cooking team waits by the cooking tray for the sugar juice to pour in. EDITOR’S NOTE: My thanks for Gilbert and Ruth for taking time to share their horse experiences with me. More to come from the Esarays in future issues. Also, thanks to my best friend, Janet Richard Hornbeck for taking time to haul me out to Tell City to interview Gilbert and Ruth. 10

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p until the 1880’s, molasses was the most popular sweetener in the U.S., because it was cheaper than refined sugar. Incidentally, molasses now cost nearly twice as much as refined sugar! It’s still used in alcohol and rum, but also it is used to make yeast, cure tobacco and used in cattle feed. I have learned that molasses does not come from Briar Rabbit, as I was led to believe when I was a child. I recall my father dousing his biscuits with the thick, tar-like liquid and many times I refused a bite with a big ugly scowl on my face. On a recent visit to Gilbert and Ruth Esarey’s home in Bristol, Indiana, they educated me on the REAL way molasses is made. Gilbert always made molasses growing up so he just continued the tradition. If you are going to do it right, you need a lot of help. You can hire help, but if they don’t really know what they are doing, it just doesn’t turn out right. The process starts with sugar cane. Gilbert and Ruth grew the sugar cane on their farm. It grows and looks just like corn. It grows very tall, about 12-14’. Naturally, the amount of juice you would harvest depended on the size of the stalk. The biggest part

Vintage Tractor Digest

of the job was being out in the field with the horses and breaking all of the leaves off of the sugar cane, take the top off of it, then cut it and haul it in. The Esareys would cut it by hand for a long time until they purchased a binder. They typically planted and picked about five acres. A word of advice from Gilbert, “You always plant more than you should because the wind comes in and blows it down and you just let that lay. We’d let the sows in there and they’d take care of that.” A comical man with a lifetime of stories to tell, Gilbert had a funny tale about his horses. “We had a runaway up here one time with a team of young horses that had a load of cane. At that time, we planted all of the sugar cane by hand. We had a bunch of hogs next to the newly planted cane field and we were loading it up because we were almost done. Here came those hogs up to the fence and scared the horses. Those horses took off running across the hill. There was nothing back there but woods, so I went to find them. They had run into the side of a pretty good size tree. The metal tongue on that cart was jammed two inches in the tree! There was one horse on his back and he couldn’t get up! They never did that again!”


A cane mill was used to press the juice from the sugar cane. The one used by Gilbert and Ruth was a Kenwood machine and was made in 1896. The father of a friend of theirs bought the cane mill brand new, and they purchased it from him. The horses were hooked to the poles, which were attached to the top of the mill. They walked around the mill in a circle to power the rollers that squeezed the juice from the cane stalks. The juice looks like water, with just a little color and it is sweet. The juice runs from a trough to a tank. Attached to the tank was a hose, which ran under ground to a nearby shed. The sweet juice traveled through the hose and into a copper pan, which was over a fire. It will sour quickly so sometimes they would have to ice it down. You could cook it faster than you could get the juice from it. It was cooked up over the 12’ furnace, which was built out of cement blocks. There were little partitions in the pan so that it could go around one end then come over and go around the other end, (reminded me of the ride lines at Disney World). As it gets hotter, you pull it on down through to the other side of the pan until the pan is full. The part at the very end cooks until it is all done. Ruth explained, “You kind of just tested it as you cooked it. Once in a while someone gets to talking to you and you burn it. Then we’d put it in a bucket and feed it to the horses.” Water was added if the molasses started to thicken up too much. Cooking it cooked the impurities out…Gilbert called those the “skimmins.” If the juice was too heavy it would burn in the pan before they could cook it hard enough to roll it and get the skimmins off of it. If you really wanted to be efficient, you kept the skimmins and let them

ferment and make whiskey out of them! Gilbert, anxious to share another story, laughed and said, “We was cooking and some older guy came in and was looking around and watching us work. We had a water tank that we threw the skimmins in and when we got done I’d haul them out and the cows would go crazy after those things. Anyway, this guy said, ‘You gonna cook them skimmins?’ and I said, ‘Why hell no I ain’t!’ I think he was after the end product!”

MIDDLE RIGHT: The furnace was built out of cement blocks.

Ruth used dairy containers (stainless steel jugs) that she would fill with the hot molasses. Then it was taken into a screened-in room and put in a holding pan to let it cool just a bit. There would be a spigot on the bottom of the dairy container and she would release the spigot and fill the bottles. “We made about 30 gallons a day. What we made was PURE molasses; we didn’t add anything to it,” said Ruth. “You had to label that stuff and if you put on there ‘pure sorghum molasses’ it didn’t necessarily have to be 100% molasses. Some people would add sugar or syrup to theirs.” “Our kids helped us out when we made it and it was a lot of fun, but hard work for all of us,” said Ruth. The Esareys sold the molasses in quart and gallon sizes. Their horse, Old Buck, was on the label. There are a few people who still make the molasses. Gilbert and Ruth haul their cane over to a neighboring farm that still makes it. Now people don’t use the horses, they use a tractor to turn the mill.

February/March 2011

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Restoring a John Deere Model G

A Twenty-six Year Process Part 1 by Brandon Pfeiffer

The John Deere Model G parked at Brando n’s dad’s house.

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ost people, when restoring their antique tractor, take one or two years to complete the process. For me, however, I had been working off and on for the past 26 years trying to complete the restoration of my 1951 John Deere model “G” with no end in sight. There were many factors that halted my progress but the main reason was my lack of focus and obsession to detail when I was working on it. I was never satisfied with my work and would often rework a part several times before I was pleased with it. This tractor had special meaning to me. It belonged to an elderly bachelor named Ervin Roesner. As a teenager, in the 80s, I worked for him on his farm and he and I grew very close. He was like a grandfather to me and often gave me personal advice along with teaching me how to operate two-cylinder John Deere tractors. The neatest thing about Ervin was that he liked farming with pre-1960 farm machinery. He had 11 old tractors and each one had its special purpose. My favorite tractor, however, was his 1951 model “G,” which was used to mow the pastures. Often I would ask him if we could fire the “G” up just so I could hear it run.

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Vintage Tractor Digest


Brando n (age 16) driving the tracto r and wagon which he won at the auctio n. Notice the muffler is missing.

A terrific line up of tracto rs on auctio n day. On a Tuesday afternoon in February of 1982, Ervin along with his friend Don Temme and a hired hand, named Max Frankenberger were burning some wild sage and brush at the back side of his farm. Suddenly, Ervin collapsed and died instantly from a massive heart attack. As a 15 year old, this was devastating for me and it took me several years to come to terms with his death. His sisters decided to have an estate auction that spring of 1982 and sell off all of Ervin’s belongings. I had saved up around $1,200 from working for Ervin and farming 13 acres that I rented from my father. My hopes were that I could purchase Ervin’s “G;” however, it didn’t look very promising for me. The turnout for the auction was huge and the original owner of the “G” showed up and stated that he planned to buy it. This auction was my first one. I even had my own bidder number and I was quite nervous. I had made up my mind, however, that I was willing to take my entire $1,200 of savings to try to buy that “G.” As the bidding started, Hugh Miller, the auctioneer, asked for a $1,000 bid and no one responded. The price finally got down to $400 and the first bid was placed. I jumped in at $500 and was outbid by a $600 bid. I bid again at $700 and it looked like the

bidders had lost interest. Just then, another bidder offered $725. I countered with $750 and to my amazement, was never outbid. It was one of those surreal moments for me. At one point, I thought I must be dreaming. That evening, I can still remember looking down the wide hood of that G as I drove it to my dad’s home in a subdivision about four miles away. The rusty muffler had fallen off the day the tractors were lined up for the auction so the exhaust sound was intensely loud but memorizing to a young man that had just purchased the tractor of his dreams. Pieces of rust flew out of the exhaust pipe and sprinkled me in the face. I could feel the heat coming off the tractor intertwined with the cool evening air. The smell of exhaust and the sweet aroma of honeysuckle filled my every breath. It was one of those moments in time where everything seemed right with the world. During the fall of my senior year of high school (1984), I decided it was time to restore the old “G.” My plan was to completely disassemble the tractor, fix everything that needed repaired and then put it back together and give it a professional coat of February/March 2011

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paint. My close friend Steve English helped me take it apart while he, his brother John Terry and their father Charles English helped with repairs and locating parts. Within the first two years, the engine, steering assembly, fan assembly and transmission were completely rebuilt. By this time I was at Purdue University and rarely made it home to perform any work on it. I did take a few pieces with me to work on in my spare time but found it almost impossible to accomplish anything. During my junior year and senior year at Purdue, I started two small businesses and had literally no time to work on my “G.”

Brando n loads the G after the 1982 Vander burgh County 4-H Fair in Evansville, Indiana.

After graduation, my businesses flourished and I married my beautiful bride, Charlotte. From 1991 through 2008, I didn’t work on the “G” at all. In 2008, however, a trip to Deerely Departed got me in the mood to start working on it again. I started buying parts and making plans to begin the assembly process. As usual, however, I was so caught up with running HAPCO, LAGC Magazine, Vintage Tractor Digest and farming along with being a husband and a dad that I could never seem to get around to restoring it. I thought about having it finished by a professional but never saw a restoration that fit the liking of my obsessive personality. At the 2010 “Gathering of the Green,” however, things began to look up for finishing this tractor that had now been apart for nearly 26 years. As Kate Goelzhauser and I walked into the vendor area, my eye caught the most beautifully restored “HN” John Deere that I had ever seen. I told Kate that after we set up our booth, we had to go look at this tractor. By the time we were set up, most of the vendors had left for the night. Kate and I studied this “HN” and I finally said to her “I don’t believe it, this is the first tractor restoration I have ever seen that I wouldn’t change one thing.” I couldn’t wait until the opening morning to find out who did this impeccable restoration.

Follow Brando n’s restoration project in upcoming issues of VTD.

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Vintage Tractor Digest

After our booth was opened, Kate said she would handle everything so I could meet the restorer. Quite a few people were waiting in line to talk with the people at this booth. When it was finally my turn, I was kindly greeted by Carol Heinze and Chris Letourneau from Classic Farm Tractors, LLC of Eaton, Colorado. I spent around a half-hour talking with them and became very impressed with their background and corporate philosophy.


A DV ERT I S EMENT

Classic Farm Tractors, LLC An Antique Tractor Restoration Company

“Preserving the Past for the Future”

We are grateful to our clients who have entrusted us with restoring their John Deere, Farmall, Minneapolis Moline, Massey Harris and Cockshutt tractors.

Owners: Stan and Carol Heinze and Chris Letourneau 13497 Weld County Rd. 80 Eaton , CO 80615 Ph: (970) 396-0914 Website: www.classicfarmtractors.com

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Horses, Steam, Kerosene, Gas, Diesel

In This Issue: Silver King Tractor Rodeo Steam Day, 2009

✓ Dec/Jan ‘10, Vol 1 Issue 1 ✓ Apr/May ‘10, Vol 1 Issue 3 ✓ Jun/Jul ’10, Vol 1 Issue 4 ✓ Aug/Sep ’10, Vol 1 Issue 5 ✓ Oct/Nov ’10, Vol 1 Issue 6 ✓ Dec/Jan ’11, Vol 2 Issue 1 February/March 2011

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Antique Tractors Come to the Farm Progress Show Decatur, Illinois by Cindy Ladage

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hile it was not a surprise to see famed farm broadcaster and antique tractor enthusiast Max Armstrong at the 2010 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa; it was surprising to see the vast array of antique equipment at this year’s show. While Max was busy interviewing and chatting with the farmers that come from all over the Midwest and beyond to what is donned as the “The world’s largest outdoor farm show,” the search was on for antique equipment. I was pleased to find that not only were there antique tractors on display, but farm toys as well. Joe Ertl of Scale Models was on hand with the latest Scale Model offerings. On their website, Scale Models shares a bit of the farm toy history and the Ertl connection to that history. “In 1945, Fred Ertl Sr. forged his first tractor replica in his Dubuque, Iowa basement, confident that people young and old alike would embrace toys created with exacting attention to durability and detail. Today, The 16

Vintage Tractor Digest

ERTL Company carries a tradition of more than 50 years of craftsmanship forward with a superior commitment to authenticity and value.” Joe had three different Oliver models on display: the 1755 White Oliver pedal tractor, the 1/64th 1755 and the 1/8 Oliver 1800. These models were selected because, as Joe shared, “It is the 50th anniversary of Oliver. They were made in Charles City, Iowa.” While Oliver was the Scale Model brand of the moment, there were many types of antique tractors on display. Dan Shima and Patty Anderson of Eldridge and Davenport, Iowa favored the Prairie Gold of the Minneapolis Moline and enjoyed viewing one special tractor at this year’s Farm Progress Show: the military MM 1943 ZTX. Owned by the Moore family, this is a very rare tractor. Dan shared there were only about 25 made. Besides MM, International Harvester also had a great display. Inside the tent it had been a bit wet


and one side had opened up and several T-shirts had been drenched. The ladies in the tent joked that they were offering a “Wet t-shirt sale!” John Boyens was on hand with his beautifully restored French IH tractor. While John was working in the IH tent with the antiques, his son Chris (who works for John Deere) was working in the country store selling Deere items to the crowd that thronged the show.After a downpour that delayed the show for two hours, the grounds had muddy conditions but the paths were maneuverable. The antique tractor displays included many brands and even a tractor conversion kit. The Model T Ford kit was made into a unique tractor. One old name that has returned is McCormick. The new

McCormick brand was on display and the exhibit shared a bit of the old Cyrus history as well. The show included entertainment such as cowboy humorist and poet, R.P. Smith. With his homegrown humor he hit the nail on the head with stories from the ranch and family life. That is what this show is all about: farm, family and the latest and greatest innovations. From yesterday to today, those in the agricultural industry are still coming up with amazing inventions to make life easier. This year was the 58th show and it makes one wonder just what they will be showing 50 years from now at the 108th show. They will probably have our cantankerous combine sitting in the antique display area saying, “Can you believe they farmed with machinery like that back fifty years ago!”

Log onto this website for information about Farm Progress Show 201 which is in. http://www.eventsinamerica.com/events/farm_progress_show_2011

A DV ERT I S EMENT

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–ALL–FIX M R INC. FA Repair & Restoration of all Agricultural Tractors Specializing in IHC

Mike McPhetres | 1236 Vt Rt 12N | Randolph, VT 05060

1.800.295.0045 | 1.800.728.3390 email: farmallfix@yahoo.com February/March 2011

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Allis-Chalmers

Like a G6 by Kate Goelzhauser

PHOTO: Diane drives the A-C G mini. Don made this from a Cub Cadet 123. It is powered by two wheelchair batteries and will run for 8-9 hours.

I

PHOTO: Don and Diane Turner, owners of the A-C G #6.

t was in 1945 when West Allis Tractor Engineering developed a mock-up of the AllisChalmers G. After several prototypes and changes, an arched twin-tube main frame was produced and in 1947, A-C bought a WWII Shell Plant in Gadsden, Alabama and made it the home of the model G. The story goes that the first five Gs were built for testing purposes. Serial numbers one and two remained at the Gadsden plant for work. Serial numbers three, four and five were destroyed. In 1948, beginning with serial number six (#6), the G series began full production. The list price: $760. In 2004, David Gondron of Louisiana heard about the tractor from a friend. The tractor was located

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Vintage Tractor Digest

about 50 miles from his location. When he went to inspect the tractor, no one was home. After a little investigating behind the owner’s barn he discovered not one, but two Gs, with trees grown through them from years of sitting out in the dirt. Interested in purchasing the tractors, David left a note for the owner explaining that he would like to purchase them both. The owner called David and claimed that he had intentions of restoring the tractors and was not interested in selling. Not willing to give up, David returned a year later only to find the Gs still sitting in the same spot as before. After leaving another note, the owner called him and agreed to sell. The owner didn’t know much about the G, except that his father purchased them in Lake Charles, Louisiana.


BEFORE

PHOTO ABOVE: The A-C G #6 as David first saw it. PHOTO CENTER: The A-C today, photo taken at the Crossroads of Dixie Show. February/March 2011

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PHOTO CENTER: Sporting its new custom seat, this G shows its largely patterned toolbox. PHOTO BOTTOM: Two nuts hold the axle on the G6. 20

Vintage Tractor Digest


PHOTO LEFT: David finds the serial tag on the A-C G.

↓ It took David one year to restore one tractor using parts from the second one to complete it. While cleaning the tractor, David realized he had a rare serial numbered tractor…the #6. The difference between the G #6 and the other models is the two nuts holding the axle versus the one bolt on all other Gs. Additionally; the shifting pattern on the toolbox is larger than on the other Gs. The A-C G #6 is the model that was first shown and sold to the public. The literature that A-C published for the G series clearly shows the serial number that matches the #6. In 2009, Don and Diane Turner purchased the G #6 from David while attending the Allis-Chalmers G Roundup in Gadsden, Alabama at the old A-C plant. At that time the G #6 was restored, but not detailed. Don tore it apart, returning it back to as original condition as he possibly could. He repainted it to Persian color #1, replaced the gages, light switch, taillights and head lights. As you can see, it is unlike any other G. How did Don and Diane become the new, lucky owners of this prized piece of machinery? Diane simply approached David and asked him if he was interested in selling. She had seen it on an A-C website that listed the tractor, it’s serial number

BEFORE

PHOTO CENTER: The A-C loaded up on David’s trailer.

and it’s owner. She contacted David about coming to the show and wanted him to bring his G #6. She and Don weren’t really sure if he was really going to come. She kept writing to him and he sent pictures. She told him about the souvenir book for the 2009 A-C G Roundup and was going to put an article about the #6 in the book. According to Don, “I think that is what guided him to the show more than anything. He was really surprised to see all of the Gs there.” After Diane asked if he was interested in selling, he said he spent the entire night thinking about it and struggled over whether or not to sell. The next morning he told Diane he would trade for a newly restored A-C high crop that Don had restored. “I think one reason he decided to sell to me is because he had seen the quality of work that I do and knew I would do a good job restoring the #6,” shared Don. “Several people approached David about buying it and he wouldn’t even talk to them. Another reason was knowing it would be back ‘home’ in Alabama.” I met Diane and Don in August at the Crossroads of Dixie Show in Lawrenceburg, Tennesee where they plan to display the G this summer. You can also find them at local shows in Alabama and at the AllisChalmers “G” Round Up in October.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Information obtained from the Allis Chalmers “G” Roundup Program

February/March 2011

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Vintage Tractor Digest


&Son

Father

by Alan Easley

LEFT: Bill Blackwell, Alan Easley and Stephen Easley with Bill’s 860 Ford tractor.

W

hen my Pappy passed away in 1982 he was the owner of a 1957 Ford 860, which he purchased new. At the time I was farming and hadn’t been bitten by the “rust bug” and had no need for the 860. It was sold at the auction along with the rest of Pappy’s machinery. My long time friend, Bill Blackwell, purchased the 860. It was the first of ten old tractors that he and his son, Randy would buy and restore over the next 22 years. In 1992, Bill retired from the University of Missouri and he and his wife, Beverly, sold their farm and moved to Bill’s old hometown of Donipham, Missouri, taking the 860 with them. After catching most of the fish in the Current River and completing all of the necessary landscaping, fencing and other chores at their new home, Bill started looking around for some kind of project to fill his time. While visiting his son, Randy, in central Missouri, Bill delivered a shotgun to a well-known gunsmith for repair. When he was there, he spotted a Farmall 140 sitting in the yard with the hood removed. One

thing led to another, and when Bill went back a couple of weeks later, he took his trailer along and returned home with a repaired shotgun and an unrepaired Farmall 140. After getting the tractor back in running condition, Bill decided a paint job would be in order. He finished the paint and decals just in time for a local tractor show in Doniphan, winning a trophy for Best Restoration. That trophy pretty much kindled the “fire.” Bill’s next tractor was a 1949 John Deere A that he spotted in an old barn south west of Doniphan while he was deer hunting. It took some time and some negotiating, but Bill finally got the old A, along with the part tractor that went with it, and hauled home. He had never spent much time around John Deeres, so he didn’t know a whole lot about working on the old two-cylinder tractors, but he figured he would never learn any younger. Bill nearly wore out the phone lines between Doniphan and Columbia, Missouri. He picked the brain of Zane Dodge, who grew up around Deeres and has restored several over the years. By the time Bill finished the A, the bug had bitten him pretty hard and he was always on the lookout February/March 2011

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LEFT: Randy Blackwell and Bill Blackwell with Randy’s B.F. Avery model A. This is the work in progress.

BELOW: Bill Blackwell on Randy’s 2000 Ford Offset.

for the old iron. One day while browsing at the local pawnshop, he spotted an old orange tractor sitting in the back lot. Bill knew that it wasn’t an Allis-Chalmers, but he wasn’t exactly sure what it was. Regardless, he bought the tractor and hauled it 260 miles back to central Missouri and presented it to his son, Randy, who had just finished his first restoration. Randy had purchased an A-C C in 2001. Bill described it as “a running rust bomb.” Randy had restored it to show condition and was ready to tackle the unknown orange tractor. Being a mechanic by trade, Randy is also trained in paint and body work. The old tractors aren’t too much of a challenge for him because it is basically the same type of work he does day after day. He claims that when it’s your own project you can work on it when and if you want to and it is a lot more fun than doing it for others.

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Vintage Tractor Digest

It didn’t take much to get the orange tractor running, and while in the process of using 2400 pounds of sand to blast it down to bare metal, Randy discovered Minneapolis Moline Prairie Gold hidden under the orange paint. Under the two layers of gold paint he found a painted over tag that read: BF. Bill and Randy were very surprised to discover it was a Moline BF, because at the time they didn’t even know that it even existed. After completing the restoration, Randy pulled the BF several times in antique tractor pulls and usually did pretty well. He finally decided that hanging weights on a tractor with show quality paint wasn’t a good idea, so the tractor is now mostly relegated to parade use. Randy still gets the urge to pull occasionally, so he bought a 1948 Allis-Chalmers WC for that purpose. Bill later purchased a 1936 Allis-Chalmers WC with almost no paint. He bought it from the same pawnshop where he purchased Randy’s MM BF. He uses this old tractor strictly for pulling and he says it might be almost pretty much close to stock, or maybe not…he just can’t seem to remember for sure. My grandson, Stephen Easley, has a Farmall C that he uses to pull, and he likes nothing better than placing ahead of Bill and in return, Bill like to place ahead of Stephen. If they’re both out of money that’s not a big problem. They just want to beat each other. It’s worth going to a pull just to listen to


a 75-year old man and an 18-year old high school kid carry on with each other the way they do! In 2004, Bill and Beverly returned to central Missouri and built a new home near Hallsville, bringing five old tractors back with them. Bill hasn’t bought any tractors since returning, being content to help Randy work on his purchases. Several years ago Bill’s nephew Ron, who lives in Missouri, purchased a rare 1964 2000 Ford Offset with a belly mower. He bought it from a local farmer. Neither Ron nor the previous owner knew the tractor was anything special, so he used it to mow his lawn. Randy informed Ron that is wasn’t just a common tractor and asked him to give a call if he ever decided to get rid of it. Randy was making plans in 2004 for a motorcycle cruise when Ron called and told him that a new tractor had been purchased and to come pick up the Ford immediately. Randy cancelled his motorcycle trip and went to pick up the Ford. The Ford is one of the last 2000s built with the old-style sheet metal, and one of the first to come from the factory with blue paint. It runs good and doesn’t look bad for a 44-year old tractor, but Randy plans to do a full restoration when he has time. Right now Randy is restoring a 1946 B.F. Avery model A with a single front wheel. He purchased it from the same salvage yard where he purchased the WC Allis. This tractor has the original Wards Riverside tires that were on it when it was new. It supposedly had been overhauled at some point, but it didn’t run well enough to suit Randy, so he proceeded to tear down the engine. When he got inside he found that the two front cylinders had been re-done, but the two back ones hadn’t been touched. It’s amazing some of the things you discover when you’re working on old tractors.

and mentioned the fact that he has always been partial to Oliver 77 tractors. I wouldn’t bet that this collection would be complete when he finally owns one. Then of course, there’s always a …….? and maybe a …..?? You just never know when you might run across something you really, really need to own. Bill loves to talk about old tractors and almost anything else. His address is 4521 Highway 124, Hallsville MO 65255. Call him at 573-696-1224, or email him at blackwellb@missouri.edu.

ABOVE: Zane Dodge and Bill Blackwell with Bill’s John Deere A. Zane gave a lot of phone help while Bill was restoring the tractor.

BELOW: Randy’s Minneapolis Moline BF. This is the tractor that Bill purchased at a pawnshop.

Bill, Beverly, and Randy are all members of the Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Association in Boonville, Missouri. They are always there to help out at club events. Bill is also a member of the MidAmerica Tractor Pullers Association (MATPA), which is also located in Boonville. Bill tries to make all of the MATPS sanctioned tractor pulls each summer, plus he and Randy both exhibit tractors at Boonville and Macon each year. When asked about the possibility of adding to the collection, Bill said that he doesn’t really need any more old junk to work on, but then he smiled February/March 2011

25


TRACTOR RODEO

Tractor Driving Competition and Tractor Games

(Part 4 of 4) by Charlie English Jr.

Overview: The tractor rodeo is intended to be fun for the whole family. It is very difficult to make rules that will cover every problem that may occur. Therefore, the judges’ decisions are final. All tractors must be 1970 or older to participate in the rodeo. Any age tractor can participate in the open drag race.

STOCK DRAG RACE

Additional rules are as follows: 1. Stock block. 2. Good working brakes. 3. Stock rear end. 4. Aftermarket road gears acceptable. 5. All drivers must be at least 16 years old. 6. Drivers must remain seated at all times with at least one hand on the steering wheel. 7. No riders. 8. Open RPM’s with the exception of open flywheel tractors, they are allowed 10% over factory high idle RPM’s. 9. 1970 or Older. 10. Kill switches are advised but not mandatory. 11. Check all bolts and nuts in steering, drive train, and wheels, to assure safety. 12. Any tractor thought to be unsafe by the track officials will be disqualified, and not allowed to race. The track length should be about 100-200 by 20 foot wide. One tractor 13. No tires larger than 18.4 - 34 will be will race from a dead stop to the finish line. Each tractor will be given allowed. the green flag to go, and the fastest time wins. Each tractor has only one 14. Owners/drivers are responsible for proof chance unless something happens at the starting line. of tractors specifications in case of protest. 26

Vintage Tractor Digest


OPEN DRAG RACE

SLOW RACE

The track length should be about 100-200 by 20 foot wide. One tractor will race from a dead stop to the finish line. Each tractor will be given the green flag to go, and the fastest time wins. Each tractor has only one chance unless something happens at the starting line. Additional rules are as follows: 1. Any age of tractor may race. 2. Good working brakes. 3. All drivers must be at least 16 years old. 4. Drivers must remain seated at all times with at least one hand on the steering wheel. 5. No riders. 6. Kill switches are mandatory 7. Check all bolts and nuts in steering, drive train, and wheels, to assure safety. 8. Any tractor thought to be unsafe by the track officials will be disqualified, and not allowed to race.

Length of track should be 50 feet and its width as wide as you can make it. Run as many tractors as you can at one time. The slowest tractor to cross the finish line wins. If you have run more than one race, the three slowest tractors advance. Run another round if needed, and advance that top three for a championship slow race with first three slowest tractors. General Rules for Slow Race: 1. Leave starting line at same time of all other tractors. 2. Run on all cylinders. 3. No clutch slipping 4. No brake riding. 5. Keep decompression releases closed. 6. All tractors must go forward.

What the future holds: I am very content with putting on and driving in tractor rodeos, as I know them. However, in the back of my mind I think it would be neat to have a set of national rules, and then have the best drivers of each county go to the state fair and enter in the state championship. I can’t see there ever being a national event, but I think the state fair idea could happen.

Final thoughts: This is a great way to exercise your tractors and show off your tractor driving ability. My wife says I better exercise my tractor because I have no driving ability to show off. I hope if you are interested in starting a tractor rodeo you will give it a try. I also hope that my suggestions will help you in your pursuit of having your very own tractor rodeo. Feel free to visit my web site and photo album for more pictures. The address is http://chancesrr.freeyellow.com/page1. html. If you have any questions feel free to email me at charlieenglishjr@gmail.com. February/March 2011

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Smalltown,

USA by Larry Sodergren

Tales from Growing up on a small farm: 1958

J

ust to give you some background about how I grew up: I was raised on a farm in a small country community. Everyone knew one another and if your family didn’t homestead the land in the 1850’s, you were considered a newcomer. Most everyone belonged to the same Swedish Lutheran Church and that was the main center for entertainment. In the town there was a small store (The Mercantile), a service station (The Midland COOP), the church, the post office, a blacksmith shop, and of course a bar. 1958 was a banner year for my family. First, my brother was born in January. Then, grandma moved out to take a job during the week at “The Old Folks Home.” She returned every Friday night to help mom with the household chores and left every Monday to return to work. 28

Vintage Tractor Digest


Dad sold the last of his cows and hogs and decided to stick with raising beef cattle. With the money he had from these sales, he paid off the farm. With the money that was left he decided to remodel the house. At that time the only running water was in the kitchen. The well was powered by a windmill with a large pressure tank, which helped keep the animals watered. When nature called, we used the outhouse; any hot water that was needed was heated on the stove. The farmhouse was a rectangular log house made the Scandinavian way. It had a large kitchen, with six doors leading to different rooms. There were two additions, which formed an L-shaped home. On the lower level, next to the kitchen, there was a cleanup room where you came into the house and took off your dirty clothes; a dining room and a sitting room were also on the lower level. Upstairs were three bedrooms and two rooms that were not finished, but were being used as a storage area. Dad decided to add a bathroom to the lower level, plus a master bedroom where the sitting room was and build another addition for a living room. He also redid the kitchen, dining room, two bedrooms upstairs and relocated the steps so there would be a game room up there. One of the unfinished rooms would later be my sister’s room. Dad was big into swapping labor or needed items, so he agreed to put in a crop for our neighbor, who happened to be a plumber. He traded some old implements to an old school chum who was a block and cement man. Dad borrowed a backhoe from another friend of his and did the excavating himself using a water level to keep everything even. He did have to hire a local handyman, Richard, who helped him demo, frame, roof and finish up the remodel. He also hired an electrician, much to my mother’s surprise, but to which she was very happy. The biggest cost to my parents was the custom made cabinets installed by a cabinetmaker in town. You can bet my mother had something to say about that. I was pretty young at the time, but I do remember eating lunch with Richard and dad, which my mother had prepared for them. I also remember the two of them working well into the night, with Richard sleeping in his old truck. He refused to stay in the house with us. He was about my grandmother’s age, and I remember them getting along just great. The remodel went about as good as planned and that is the home I remember growing up in. Funny how the outhouse stayed for many years and was not torn down until the township made my dad do it. It was great for those emergencies and my grandmother always preferred to use it, even in the winter. February/March 2011

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The

Engagement Tractor by Dennis Fairchild

I

t was 1979 when I was farming with my dad in east central Illinois. Our favorite pastime was going to tractor pulls. I enjoyed going until I discovered…. threshing shows. Struggling to find a solution to satisfy both needs, I entered into a “timeshare” agreement with both hobbies. This went pretty smooth until the summer of 1982 when I had a lapse of self-control. I was at the farm auction of the Woller Brothers near Royal, Illinois when I started bidding and couldn’t stop. In the end, I won a 1949 Montgomery Ward model HR tractor. It set me back $425. My tractor pulling aspirations had met their demise. For the next two years I spent every spare minute restoring the Wards. Finally, on Labor Day weekend in 1984, I completed it’s restoration and began to take the Wards to tractor exhibitions. Each year I attended shows at Pontiac, IL; Arcola, IL and Boswell, IN. I quickly made a lot of friends and was having a good time.

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Vintage Tractor Digest

In early 1986, the prospect of another timeshare agreement surfaced when I began dating the love of my life, Michelle. Farming was not especially lucrative at the time, plus Michelle was not quite cut out to be a farmer’s wife. I made an executive decision and decided that if I wanted to marry Michelle, I would quit farming and get a job in town. While exhibiting my Wards at the Boswell show in August of 1986, I was awarded Best of Show trophy. And hour later, I sold the Wards to Norbert Cooley for $1500. Two hours later I was at a jewelry store picking out Michelle’s’ engagement ring. Best of show – tractor sold – purchased engagement ring…all in one day. It was a real roller coaster of emotions. Weeks later, Michelle and I became officially engaged. A year later we wed. We have been married 23 years now. Each and every day my marriage is confirmation that all of the events leading up to our marriage summed up to be the best decision of my life.


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EDITOR’S NOTE: Dennis hasn’t given tractors up completely. He has an outstanding collection of Case and John Deere lawn and garden tractors that he displays at shows in Illinois. You can reach Dennis at 217-637-9200. February/March 2011

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Guitar Man, Richard Young by Kate Goelzhauser & Brandon Pfeiffer

ate in summer, we treated our staff to a nice road trip down to Lewisburg, Tennessee where we had the opportunity to see the Kentucky Headhunters in concert. Their drummer, Fred Young, and his wife Marla, are good friends of ours and had invited us to come out and have a night of fun. Fred has a terrific collection of tractors large and small, and lives in a very inviting log home hidden in the back roads of the beautiful bluegrass state of Kentucky.

L

Fred and his guitar pickin’ brother, Richard, take pride in their farm and the land that belongs to their ancestors. Their grandfather sawed ash wood on their farm in 1946, which was also the year he passed away. Their grandfather stored the wood in a tobacco barn, stacking the roughly sawed wood 6-feet high and width was about the width of a tobacco tier. It sat there for years, untouched.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information on the Kentucky Headhunters, see their website: www. kentuckyheadhunters.com.

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Richard, who has a favorite Fender Telecaster guitar, made from ash wood, got the idea to see if Fender would replicate the same guitar for him, but instead using the ash wood from the farm. Fender refused claiming that the wood could be faulty or could have worms. Richard told me, “Originally, for most of my Headhunter career, I’ve used a 1953 Telecaster. They are very rare guitars with only a handful made and they have a very special sound. Mine happens to be a very unusual sounding one

Vintage Tractor Digest

that fits the Headhunter’s sound and I’ve played many others that don’t have that sound or vibe of this guitar” Richard had several guitar makers offer to make him a rendition of this same guitar but all failed. Then a young man by the name of Colt Knight came into the picture. Colt is a college student in San Angelo, Texas studying Animal Science and he’s hoping to come back and work with some of the horse people in Lexington. He’s originally from South Charleston, West Virginia. “It was very exciting that Colt came down from West Virginia to do this for me,” shared Richard. “He’s done three guitars in his life; two for friends and then this one for me. Not only did he use the wood from Grandfather, but also he machined all of the hardware himself and the bridge saddles are hand made brass. Colt said he could smell the tobacco in the wood when he cut it. He started the creation of this new guitar in October and delivered it to Richard in January. It’s a duplicate of the Telecaster guitar he used on the album “Pickin’ on Nashville.” He does plan to use the new guitar for concerts. The first and foremost unusual thing about this story is the wood that was used in the Telecaster. The wood used in the ’51, ’52, ’53 Telecaster guitars had to be cut in 1946 and was stacked in a building


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so it could dry naturally. Richard and Fred’s grandfather passed away that same year (in 1946) which is when he cut the ash lumber from our farm. It was the exact years that the Fender Telecaster wood was also cut. For the new guitar, Richard went through and found the lightest boards so that it would be similar in weight to his old one. It’s only 6.25 pounds. The lighter the guitar the more resonance the guitar has, in most cases. The density of the wood can cause the guitar not to have as much resonance. The pick-ups that are in the guitar were used from new old stock. “Colt came down and did laser photos of the guitar. He duplicated everything,” Richard explained, “This guitar that I played all these years is battle worn and Colt beat up the new one to make it look that way too. If you bought a 1952 Telecaster in the case today, this is what it would look like.” The old Telecaster will stay at the “Practice House” in Kentucky. For those of you who keep tabs on the Kentucky Headhunters, here is a word from Fred about their new cd: “We’re doing our album at the “Practice House”. We lack doing vocals and are hoping to finish that up this week. We’re going to do the mix in Nashville. It’s just a raw album. It’s like when we fire up the “Practice House” to write and play.”

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VTD FREE CLASSIFIED ADS For Sale: M-37 1963 Dodge Power Wagon 4X4 Fair Condition Runs $3,000.00 810/3242572

$350.....Rare Wheel Horse garden tractor/ snowmobile trailer $900. 815-747-2613 or mjaxn82361@aol.com

For Sale: 2010 DVD of Red Power Roundup. $30. Mr. Clyde Berkshire, P.O. Box 237, Royal Center IN 46978.

For Sale: 1938 JD Unstyled L. Excellent original tractor, new correct style tires, runs fantastic. Perfect original serial tag, swinging drawbar & cultivators. $8000 ....Massey Harris Pony, professional restoration, beautiful $6000. 815-747-2613 or mjaxn82361@aol. com for pictures.

For Sale: 1945 Case VAC; 1944 Allis-chalmers model C; 1950 Farmall H; IH W30; old grain drills and lime spreaders. Contact Dale in Utah at 435-864-5432. For Sale: 1929 model 30 Cletrac, no missing parts, 6-cylinder Wisconsin engine, distributer ignition very restorable. Located in Hallock, MN $1800. Call Tom at 218-843-1023. For Sale: 1936 or older Gallion motor grader, first hydraulic grader, all mechanical work has been completed, 10 new tires, minor cosmetic work to painting needed, Located in Hallock, MN. $8700 invested. Call tom at 218-483-1023. For Sale: 1956 Farmall Cub, very straight complete all original tractor. Runs nice, full set cultivators front & rear, Original lights, Cole side dresser, optional rear 90 degree pto. Front & rear weights. $2450 815-747-2613 or mjaxn82361@aol.com. Wanted: Belt Pulley/PTO assembly for a Avery V tractor. Call Del at 715-339-4804 or email to shadyln@jrecoop.com For Sale: D17 engine E4 Coop Diesel WF Runs OK 800/254-3116. For Sale: Very rare 1911 Minneapolis 30hp double simple steam tractor. Only two in existence. 1911 Avery 22hp Double simple steam tractor, very few left. 1914 Nicholas and Shepard 20 -70 Double Simple steam tractor. These tractors have been stored for over 45 years in dry Montana. They are in excellent condition and were running when put away. You will not find better ones. Call Mike 406-374-2458 or email snowymtn@ttccmc.net. For Sale: 1967 JD 110, all original, rear integral hitch, front/rear lights, rear weights & chains, 42 front blade, runs excellent $1100....Cub Cadet 100, nice complete original tractor, runs great, rear hitch w/brinly adapter, comes with Brinly Plow & Cultivators. $1100..... Wheel Horse 633, complete rare tractor

For Sale: F14 Farmall, new rear tires, $900. After-market starter-generator system, unrestored, $2750. 918-232-7113 in OK. For Sale: Good, original International red color Cub low-boy, new tires and pulley mower, $2750. 918-232-7113 in OK. For Sale: Very original 720 Allis-Chalmers, 3-point, $2750. Call 918-232-7113 in OK. For Sale: Economy ZA18, original and Power King w/ 3-point, $2750. Call 918-232-7113 in OK. For Sale: 2 Case lawn and garden Demonstrators, $2500. Never sold 220 with mower, 224 with mower and snow blower, blade, $2750. 918-232-7113 in OK. For Sale: So Grows The Tree, 304 pages of history of farming in Southern Illinois, from 1920-today. Written by a 95-year old farmer. Very few cars or tractors, no electricity, few phones or radios, no chemicals. The 1925 tristate tornado, the great Depression, the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s, floods and droughts and other natural disasters. The outlaw days of Charlie Birger & the Sheltons, John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Bonnie and Clyde. $21 + $4 shipping. Cyril Barton, 8729 N Hall Ln, Waltonville, IL 62894 For Sale: 2 Case 446, an orange and a yellow, very original, $1950 each. 918-232-7113 in OK.

clean, $1250. 918-232-7113 in OK. Wanted: IH or JD Threshing Machine extra consideration for really good condition. Maybe interested if machine needs work. 319/334-7378 Leave msg if no answer. Gifts: 200+ Tractor Models on Sweatshirts, T-shirts $13-22 delivered, Allis and Oliver Flags, JD Leather Checkbook Covers, $15, Free AntiqueTractorSupply.Com catalog, 48564 Shanaska Creek Rd., Kasota, MN 56050, 507-995-1297, MN 15,000+ Tractor Service, Operator manuals, $15-70, Bryan 507-995-1297, MN Crisswell’s Pedal Tractor Guide & Value Book, $30 delivered, Retails for $50, Dick’s Farm Toy Price Guide $15, Oliver Farm Toys, 1/16 scale, Free Catalog, AntiqueTractorSupply.Com, 48564 Shanaska Crk Rd., Kasota, MN 56050, 507-995-1297 Custom photos and novelty items. Picture packages, fundraisers, tshirts, coffee mugs. Also for sale, dvd from 2010 Crossroads of Dixie show. Call Darrell at 931-675-9423. For Sale: Floyd Clyman book on steam engines and threshing equipment, $22. Call Frank in OH at 440-526-2084.

FREE for a limited time only.

SEND YOUR CLASSIFIED AD TODAY! Kate Goelzhauser VTDigest 8977 Framewood Drive Newburgh, IN 47630 lagc_kate@yahoo.com 812-490-3607

For Sale: Cub Cadet 100 with mower, very

February/March 2011

35


It was a hot summer night when I spotted this beauty. She was ready to take a go at the tractor rodeo. Owned by Bob Rentchler.

$4.99US


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