A Different Spin

It's more than the hunt, though. As an engineer with Husko International, Gary's sold on the REO's unique and progressive design. "All the belts and chains were shielded," he notes, "and the REO was early with the single-hand control - both engine speed and clutch." Initially, REOs were rope-start but the company quickly added a recoil start. "It didn't work all that well," Gary says, "and a lot of people replaced it with a rope start. There were lots of improvised starting methods. But because the REO engine turned backwards, you couldn't use just anything."

Today, REO mowers are increasingly hard to find. "The challenge is to find good original stuff," he says. A top quality original is his first choice, but Gary's built a stockpile of restoration projects as well. He's been lucky to find choice memorabilia - dealer signs, thermometers and promotional pieces - to complement his collection of mowers. He counts a new-in-the-box mower and an equally pristine motor among the prizes of his collection, but it's clear he's crazy for all of it, no matter how rusty and battered. "REOs are just unique!" he says.

For more information:

- Gary Pieper, (262) 594-2807; mow_with_REO@yahoo.com REOman@wi.rr.com

Two great REO mower websites: Erv's REO Pages: http://members.aol.com/reo43/ and Doug's REO Engine Site: www.geocities.com/reo_engine/main.html