ODDBALLS AND MISFITS
MysteryMOWERS By Al Hofer | panzerguys@webtv.net
TOP LEFT: A Devere-Locke spotted at a show TOP RIGHT: Another look at the Devere-Locke
38 L&GT | May/June 2017
W
ell, it’s that time again when I open my cupboard full of infoladen garden tractor photos, only to find it empty of Oddball and Misfit subjects. Such will be the case until I have a chance to restock sometime this year. I’m kind of reluctant to do this, but with another deadline looming and my back against the wall, I’m forced to release a sampling of tractor photos I’ve been keeping in limbo due to a lack of information and/or identity. I just had to come up with something, and quick. Hey—it was either this or those photos of Kate G’s sweet-16 birthday party. (“You wouldn’t dare!”) Moving right along…We’ll start off with a Devere-Locke built by Locke Manufacturing of Racine, Wisconsin, that I spotted at Loyalsock, Pennsylvania, a few years ago. Yeah, I know,
beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but this one is a cinch to win the Ugly Tractor of the Month award. Other than some photos on the web, it’s tough to find much info on this tractor, but from what I remember, the company was big on building some pretty large walk-behind triplex reel mowers and such. This tractor is powered by a 10hp Kohler K-241 with a variable speed-belt tightener friction drive. Also at Loyalsock were a pair of Springfield riders. Pretty cute, aren’t they? They look as though you could buy them as a matched set for Dad and the little guy. While Dad is taking care of the mowing chores in the front yard, Junior could be taking care of Mom’s flower garden in the backyard. These riders look like those built by Huffy or Rugg, who also made mowers for a variety of other companies—the only difference