The Curtis Old Iron Collection

By Oscar H. Will Iii
Published on July 1, 2007
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Walt Curtis' 9 hp Samson engine dates to about 1900. It was long used to power a sawmill using a form of natural gas for fuel.
Walt Curtis' 9 hp Samson engine dates to about 1900. It was long used to power a sawmill using a form of natural gas for fuel.
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Serial number tag detail from Walt's Ann Arbor Machine Co. stationary baler.
Serial number tag detail from Walt's Ann Arbor Machine Co. stationary baler.
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Walt found this Ann Arbor Machine Co. stationary baler at a ranch about 100 miles from his home. The relic required only a few wooden parts to become fully functional and is now a big hit at area machinery shows.
Walt found this Ann Arbor Machine Co. stationary baler at a ranch about 100 miles from his home. The relic required only a few wooden parts to become fully functional and is now a big hit at area machinery shows.
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Walt's 1949 Allis-Chalmers Model G is at home on the parade circuit or in the field with its harrow mounted. The machine was originally delivered to a California truck farm.
Walt's 1949 Allis-Chalmers Model G is at home on the parade circuit or in the field with its harrow mounted. The machine was originally delivered to a California truck farm.
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The sunburst grille was included on the Case RC a few years into its production. When the tractor was initially released in 1935, the radiator was left unprotected.
The sunburst grille was included on the Case RC a few years into its production. When the tractor was initially released in 1935, the radiator was left unprotected.
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This 1937 Case Model RC caught Walt's eye because it has the interesting combination of early gray paint and the sunburst-style grille.
This 1937 Case Model RC caught Walt's eye because it has the interesting combination of early gray paint and the sunburst-style grille.
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Vertical flyball governor detail on the Samson engine. Unlike many early engines, the governor on the Samson acts on the throttle valve, not the exhaust valve.
Vertical flyball governor detail on the Samson engine. Unlike many early engines, the governor on the Samson acts on the throttle valve, not the exhaust valve.
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Walt's one-of-a-kind Frandee Snoshu snow cat. This prototype machine was hand-fabricated in Utah in the 1940s at the behest of the federal government.
Walt's one-of-a-kind Frandee Snoshu snow cat. This prototype machine was hand-fabricated in Utah in the 1940s at the behest of the federal government.
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Walt likes to use his 1934 John Deere Model A to rake hay and spread fertilizer. This brass-tag tractor is interesting because its oil filter is located behind the flywheel.
Walt likes to use his 1934 John Deere Model A to rake hay and spread fertilizer. This brass-tag tractor is interesting because its oil filter is located behind the flywheel.
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Live PTO and plenty of power make the CO-OP E3 perfect for running a small square baler. Here, Walt bales a sparse cutting of the ragweed that his sheep like to eat in the winter.
Live PTO and plenty of power make the CO-OP E3 perfect for running a small square baler. Here, Walt bales a sparse cutting of the ragweed that his sheep like to eat in the winter.

When it comes to building an old iron collection, the methods to the madness are as varied as the collectors. Some enthusiasts focus on a single class of machine from a single manufacturer. Others chase every variation of an individual model – say, the John Deere A. In many cases students of old iron sort themselves out by paint color, but there is at least one enthusiast in Winnemucca, Nev., who doesn’t discriminate. “I am fascinated by junk of all kinds,” says Walter Curtis Jr., pulling over the big flywheel on his 9 hp Samson engine, which dates to about 1900. “If it’s old and interesting, I have to bring it home.”

Making do with old iron

Walt’s interest in old iron germinated in the 1950s while helping his father, Walter Curtis Sr., on the family’s sheep and cattle ranch near Craig, Colo. Hands-on experience with old Ford, Caterpillar and Cletrac tractors, and early Allis-Chalmers round balers, gave Walt a real appreciation for the value of well-worn machines. “We never had a new piece of machinery, but that’s how it was in those days,” Walt recalls. “We farmed with junk, but it got the work done.” That work included making enough hay to support 7,000 head of sheep and 1,000 head of cattle when pastures were lean. Walt learned about perseverance and equipment maintenance at the same time.

Fascinated by equipment, Walt started to hang around the local machine shop when chores weren’t pressing. “There was one full-service machine shop in Craig at that time,” Walt says. “I used to stop in after school and the man who owned it taught me how to operate the lathe and other machines.” At 19, fresh out of high school, Walt bought the shop and went into business. Eight years later wanderlust came knocking. He sold his business and went to work for a contractor who specialized in building convention centers across the U.S. In 1975 Walt and his wife, Sheryl, relocated one last time to Nevada, where they found themselves self-employed once again.

“We started out in construction, installing center-pivot irrigation systems and small subdivisions,” Walt says. “Then we specialized in communications work.” Among other things, that included installing underground fiber optic cable from Denver to Rapid City, S.D., to Billings, Mont., to Seattle. “We wore out several big D-8 cable-laying Caterpillars in the process,” Walt says with a chuckle. “We came across a lot of interesting old iron too.”

Gathering the goods

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