Old Home Week:
Mt. Pleasant Offers Backdrop for 'Family' Reunion
By Cindy Ladage
Labor Day marked the last big weekend of the summer show season, and thousands of collectors chose to spend the three-day holiday at the 1999 Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
Among the collectors there was a diverse group who've grown close through their shared appreciation for vintage iron. The friendly banter and camaraderie of the group - all of whom camped in close proximity to each other - sounded like the ribbing more typical of a family reunion.
One of those in the extended 'clan' was Ken Lage, Wilton, Iowa. Ken brought a 1935 Toro Model A tractor. The Toro Tractor Company made tractors prior to 1920, Ken said, but the company was bought out by Advance-Rumely in about 1924. Five years later, Toro bought back the rights to the name and building from Advance-Rumely, and Allis-Chalmers bought out the other part of the business.
"It was a component tractor they built," he said.
Ken found the tractor in June 1980 in a Corning, Iowa, salvage yard. What he found bears no resemblance to the classic he's been bringing to Mt. Pleasant every year since.
"I had it restored in two or two-and-a-half months, and brought it to Mt. Pleasant," he said. "There was no gas tank, steering wheel, etc., but the radiator and grille were all there." The tractor's wheels are original.
"I've never seen another set of steel up front," he said. "Most are rubber tires. They're noisy on gravel, but I want to leave on the originals."
Ken constructed a new seat, and added a modification: A buggy seat in back.
"It's a 'mother-in-law seat,' I call it," he said.