A daunting prospect, to be sure, but one Mike was well prepared for. For most of his adult life, he's farmed, and in the winters, run a repair service.
"I think I was born with grease under my fingernails," he said. "I've been fixing things since I was in grade school."
And he's been collecting engines nearly as long.
He had used International Harvester equipment in his farm operation, so he decided to specialize in IH.
"I sold and I traded until I came up with a fairly good cross section," he said.
Today, a 32x68 building houses his workshop, and his collection of International equipment and memorabilia.
"It's everything from the little stuff to the big stuff," he said. From a vintage tractor and a power corn sheller built in the '20s, to paper collectibles and memorabilia (including a belt buckle from the last forging at the Fort Wayne IHC plant), he's built a collection that spans the company's life. His favorite piece?
"That little 2 hp Famous," he said, "or the 6 hp Mogul. They were both in pretty bad shape when I got them."
Mike is able to apply years of experience in restoration to such 'basket cases'. A certain amount of finesse, he said, can make a real difference.