One of the beauties of this hobby is that like
the claim of the hamburger chain, you can have it your way.
Those who love old tractors or steamers can gather up as many as
time, money and mate allow. But there are other ways to get
involved in the hobby that are less expensive, less demanding
physically and require fewer storage considerations. This issue of
Take Allen McCloskey, for instance. Allen has pursued an idea –
creating a working scale model tractor – with singular focus (see
page 26). The result, a 1/2-scale John Deere Model D, has been a
happy challenge for the builder. Smaller, lighter and easier to
haul than a full-size tractor, it’s a dream project.
Donnie Sharp is involved with all kinds of old iron projects.
With a name like Sharp, it was inevitable that one of them would be
a vintage sawmill. For Donnie (see page 40), the sawmill fulfills
his passion for old iron powered by old iron, preserves a strong
family tradition and is practical to boot.
Rowe Garmon (pages 34) became fascinated by hand-crank corn
shellers. He’s created a terrific and interesting display of
shellers that’s compact and ready to roll when he is … and it’s a
crowd pleaser on the show circuit!
Postcards, dealership signs, memorabilia, tools – the
possibilities are endless. Find a niche that fits your lifestyle
and your needs, and you’re off and running. The fun is in the hunt
… and in discovery of the ways all the pieces of the puzzle fit
together. Show a tractor collector a tiny detail in a piece of
memorabilia and he can help date the find. Those who study the
evolution of a given manufacturer’s logos can offer insights on
antique signs. A vintage postcard or piece of letterhead opens new
vistas of product offerings and branch locations.
In the process, information is shared. More importantly,
friendships are formed and bonds are strengthened. Collectors learn
a bit about another niche of the hobby. Doesn’t matter, really,
whether you have a rare piece of ag machinery in the shed, or a
filing cabinet full of old manuals in the spare room. What matters
is the way all the pieces fit together. Go ahead: Have it your
way!
Leslie McManus, Editor
lmcmanus@ogdenpubs.com
