Three Generations

By Heather Miller

Three generations of Feldcamps attended the Half Century of Progress Show this year. Darren Feldcamp and his son, Kyle, have been coming to the HCP for several years. The 2021 show is the first for newly added family member, Roy. They are a John Deere family through and through. The family also ran an implement dealership, Altamont Repair Service, for many years. Darren and Kyle farm around the Effingham and Altamont areas. The things they like most about the show is meeting others with the love of John Deere equipment and seeing history in action at the show.

By Cindy Ladage Vehicles of all types could be seen at this year’s 2021 Half Century of Progress. That includes vehicles that rolled off the factory line, and those that were built by hand like the one that this couple from New York hand crafted! Part of the beauty of this show is the ingenuity that collectors use taking antique equipment parts and what they come up with are thing of beauty and use!

Forrest and Beverly Spaulding created an Allis -Ford doodlebug they brought to the Half Century of Progress that was pure fun. It was Allis Chalmers in front and Ford in the back and a couple of other things in between! The Spauldings came all the way from Westport, New York to Rantoul. Forrest said that his creation is, “Part Doodlebug from when I was a kid. It sat for 50 some years. I went to some small shows and got the itch to build one.”

If you look up the meaning of doodlebug, it is amazing what comes up. Basically, a doodlebug is considered a homemade tractor although trains and scooters also fall under the grouping as well! It is fun to see the variations of images. There is certainly no limit to the creativity of doodlebugs out there and the Allis-Ford doodlebug is a good example of that! During COVID 19 Forrest Spaulding said he had a bit of time on his hands and decided to dive right into his Allis-Ford project. Using an engine, rod and transmission from an Allis Chalmers WD and WC, Forrest used a Model 28 AA chassis box from a 1950 Chevy cutdown. “The seats are from an 1800’s buckboard and there are cream cans made into seats in the back,” Beverly said. While they were able to use several parts, Forrest said some they had to make. “We had to make the hood.”

The “we” included Earl Grant, Bev’s brother. Part of the work happened when Bev took a trip Forrest said. Bev laughed and added, “I’m not sure if that is a compliment or not.”

The 3-point hitch and the drawbar on the Allis-Ford doodlebug also came from an Allis Chalmers WD. The Allis-Ford was created during 2019. “There was not much going on,” Forrest said. So rather than lament the lack of things to do, he kept busy and built this beauty.

The Half Century of Progress was the 3 rd show that this fun vehicle has been too, so she is making the rounds. They were also planning on taking her to Midwest Old Thresher’s Reunion in Mount Pleasant, Iowa over Labor Day, but perhaps the most important role she played this past year was going past nursing homes to bring joy to those folks there!

The doodlebug that sat for 50 plus years has new life now though the creativity of Forrest and Bev Spaulding!

“When I was a kid, everyone had one of these, doodlebugs, then they died out,” Forrest said. Today, he may be creating a whole new doodlebug trend! Everyone got a chance at the Half Century of Progress to see his Allis-Ford doodlebug and the Spaulding’s creative genius at work in this fun AllisFord conveyance!