You ever drive past a place so many times that you kind of forget it’s there? When I was in college, I drove on I-70 through Illinois so many times that very few locations stick out in
my mind.
One such location I never paid much attention to was the American Farm Heritage Museum in Greenville, Illinois. Before I started at Farm Collector, I didn’t pay it any mind. The first few times I drove by, I only thought that it looked like a rather impressive museum. Now that I spend most of my time engrossed in the world of vintage farm equipment, I can’t help but be more and more curious every time I pass by this museum. One of these days, I’ll make some time to visit.
Speaking of almost forgotten things, Josephine Roberts wrote a lovely piece about a less well-known British tractor. The Fordson E27N may often be called a “stopgap tractor,” but many still find it to be a fascinating and charming machine. You can read all about the E27N in this issue’s Tales from Wales.
On a less-related note, one of our stories in this issue features some of the oldest pieces I’ve seen. The Yoders’ antique collection is certainly a unique one, and Fred Hendricks has a full rundown.
If you looked at this issue’s title and thought, “Did they really not notice putting two ‘challenges’ on the cover?” I have a story to answer just that question. Barry Tuller’s “The Challenge Challenge” goes in-depth on the effort it took to restore his Challenge vertical engine to a functional and show-ready engine.
If you’re interested in tractor history, Larry Scheckel has you covered. You can learn about John Froelich, the inventor of the first tractor, in our feature “Froelich: Tractor Inventor.” See the hardships he had to overcome, the inventions he made, and how his legacy is honored still today.
We also have a pair of older articles from prior Farm Collector and Gas Engine Magazine issues. Sam Moore, an avid fan of denim, dives into the history of Levi’s jeans. We also have an inventive article from David Cave about his most-used buzz coil design.
In all the commotion that comes about in our daily lives, a lot of little things can be easy to forget. I hope that our magazine here can help remind you of a few old memories or spark you to make new ones. Either way, we’re glad to have you reading!
Until next time