Eimco Power Horses: The Tractor That Drives Like A Horse

Harold Probasco, assisted by his grandson, Mark, collects all sorts of antiques. He has an old log cabin that's restored and filled with the appropriate antiques, as well as a restored one-room school house. The Probasco collection includes some rare gas engines, such as a Fairbanks Jack Of All Trades, a 1906 Western, a 1915 Detroit 6 hp, and a 12 hp hopper-cooled 1906 International Famous. Beside the three Power Horses, Harold has a McCormick-Deering 10-20, an Allis-Chalmers B, a Cockshutt 30, and an early Oliver 88. Rounding out the tractor collection is a one-of-a-kind 'Farmwell F-6 Economy Dearing.' Harold put this gem together using a Farmall F-12 chassis, and a 6 hp Economy engine.

A few years ago, a visitor was looking at Harold's Power Horse tractors, and said, 'I think I have one of these, but it doesn't look anything like yours.' Harold checked it out and found the prototype, complete with wheels, controls and Hercules engine, but missing the hood and radiator. The owner was about to take it to a junkyard, so Harold, trying not to show his excitement, made an offer, which was accepted. Harold checked with Bert Bonham, who is pretty sure the machine is the original prototype he and his brother built in 1937. The tractor was taken to Nelson Inter-Mountain Crane Services for restoration. Photos of the early machine reveal that the hood and grill were a little different, but Harold had the restorer make the hood, side panels and radiator look the same as the original patent drawing. FC 

Ever since his days as a boy on a farm in western Pennsylvania, Sam Moore has been interested in tractors, trucks and machinery. Now a resident of Salem, Ohio, he collects antique tractors, implements and related items.