Letters & Miscellanies

By Staff
Published on July 1, 2004
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Gene Hart wig's Victor tractor.
Gene Hart wig's Victor tractor.
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Undated advertisement for Victor Traction Gear Co.
Undated advertisement for Victor Traction Gear Co.

Machine Shop Mess

Can you top this? This is a true story, and maybe someone out
there will benefit from one of the dumbest things I ever did.

I have a 2-1/2 HP Hercules Model S. When I got it, the thing was
in bad shape. The piston was rusted and stuck in the cylinder
(which had been full of water for years), the flywheels were pitted
on the outer rim surfaces, and many parts were just rusted away. I
got the piston out and it was okay (maybe), but the block needed to
be re-sleeved.

I took the engine block, piston and flywheels to a local machine
shop with a reputation for quality work. The owner and I talked
about the engine and re-sleeving it, and possibly taking about
1/16-inch off the outer rims of the fly wheels. 1 left the block,
bearings, piston and rod, head and most other stuff there at the
shop. He said they would get to it pretty soon, and I didn’t
get a price quote. That was really, really dumb.

I left the engine there in November. I went back in May, and
they had not even started on it, and in fact the bearings and
several other parts were gone -they knew not where. It was a year
later, 18 months to be exact, that 1 got a call that told me the
engine was done and ready for pickup. They had re-sleeved it, cut
1/16-inch off the flywheels and resurfaced the piston. This is
where the part of being dumb comes in -failing to get a price
quote, which is a financial suicide act in California.

In other parts of the country, the work would have cost about
$150. The bill they presented to me was for $966. I was
flabbergasted, yet they said they did this for me as a ‘labor
of love.’ I had no choice but to pay. I am beginning to feel
the physical part of my anatomy they ‘love’ is the part I
sit on. I hate to say it, but from now on I won’t trust a soul
out here without getting a firm price in advance of the work. I
could have bought a running engine for less than that. Out here,
being a nice, trusting guy will get you a nice price to pay.
Gerald J. Reathaford Jr. 8323 Calle Calzada San Diego, CA
92126-1703 reathaford@aol. com

Montgomery Ward Engines

Regarding Ken Scale’s articles on Montgomery Ward engines in
the February and March 2004 issues, more information on Montgomery
Ward engines can be found in my articles in the February 1990 (page
17) and January 1994 (page 14) issues of Gas Engine
Magazine
. The articles covered the 3/4 HP Associated Pony that
was sold in the 1927 catalog and fitted to Ward’s washing
machines. The only other engines sold in that catalog were flywheel
Nelsons ranging from 2 HP to 7 HP.

My articles showed other Montgomery Ward 3/4 HP engines,
including the Associated Colt, a Nelson and an unidentified Sattley
engine. The Pony looked almost exactly like the one-cylinder
Maytag, but most of the others pictured were clearly four-stroke
engines. There were some interesting pictures and information I
forgot I had. I sent everything except the catalog to the Reflector
(C.H. Wendel) after the second article was published. Hope this
adds information to an interesting series. John Hamilton
Waxahachie, Texas a. p. hamilton@worldnet. att. net

Belt Dressing and Tractor Conversions

I was wrong on reporting availability of stick belt dressing
(Letters & Miscellanies, April 2004). Recently, 1 tried to
purchase some at my usual source and was told that only spray cans
are available now. Sorry to have put folks to the trouble of trying
to obtain dressing in my area.

In response to the letters about tractors made from stationary
engines (Letters & Miscellanies, April and May 2004) I thought
I’d send some information about Victor Traction Gear Co. The
photo was sent to me about 10 years ago by Gene Hart wig of
Goodrich, Mich. This unit is akin to the one owned by Jerry Toews
and pictured on page 3 of the May 2004 issue.

On the back of the picture, Gene wrote: ‘Victor. I got a
mile west down the road from the farm house. This is the clumsiest
piece of junk to be called a tractor you’ll ever find, but good
for show. Running gear made in Loudonville, Ohio.’ John R.
Heath 494 Township Road 232 Sullivan, OH 44880

Send letters to: Gas Engine Magazine, 1503 S.W. 42nd St.,
Topeka, KS 66609-1265; rbackus@ogdenpubs.com

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