Crafting Vintage Tractors from Wood
California artist rethinks old iron
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A model of a 1904 Capital gasoline traction engine manufactured by C.H.A. Dissinger & Bros. Co., Wrightsville, Pa. This detailed piece took artist Lino Giovacchini more than 150 hours to build.
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Lino Giovacchini turns old iron into wood.
A magician? He might as well be – look no further than the artistry contained in his models of antique farm equipment.
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The California artist grew up on a farm and has an enduring affection for machinery, especially farm machinery. Lino has become a well-known artist near his home in Tracy with his detailed wooden farm machinery models. Many have won awards in fine art shows.
Growing up using farm equipment, Lino developed an appreciation for the creative minds that designed these machines. His home in the central valley of California is near Stockton, the birthplace of Holt Tractor Co., and a hotbed of innovation in the early part of the 20th century as Holt evolved into Caterpillar.
Reinventing the wheel
A retired general contractor, Lino got his start with wood models by making wheeled toys. The first major challenge he faced was making spoked wheels. Drilling accurate holes in wood is complicated by the wood’s grain, which presents both hard and soft spots to a drill bit. Lino found metal-working machinery gave the accuracy needed for his farm equipment models.
Often starting with a single black-and-white photo, Lino simplifies the design but retains the proportions to make an accurate representation. Working with wood presents challenges, but he prefers it because many original parts on early farm machinery were made of wood. His creations remain unpainted, and spruce is his favorite material; he salvages scrap wood from residential construction sites. Not every piece he finds will work. Lino won’t use a piece of wood with a knot in it, as he needs clear wood for his model. “It just doesn’t look right if there’s a knot in it,” he says.
The metal lathe is the workhorse of Lino’s farm machinery construction operation. Early farm equipment features a huge number of round parts – wheels, pulleys and pins – and that’s where the metal lathe comes in handy. A table saw and band saw, along with a jointer and planer, are used to create precise and accurate components. Lino makes special jigs and fixtures to cut the complex shapes, and to clamp some wheels and parts. Drill presses, and belt and circular sanders are used to accurately fit the small parts.