Show season is upon us, and this is one of our largest issues of
the year. Please remember as you attend the shows, that it’s a
good idea to get your show reports in early don’t wait until
the last minute, because it’s difficult for us to accommodate
the late reports. We usually have a story in process for about six
months before it appears in the magazine, so the earlier your show
report arrives, the more likely it is to be used on time. Keep in
mind, also, that it is far better to provide different stories for
different magazines, so that those readers who subscribe to many
magazines in the tractor and engine collecting hobby don’t find
themselves reading the same text over and over! Different pictures
are a good idea, too, and every show has more than one unique piece
of equipment!
We received a letter from a subscriber back in January warning
of the increase in thefts from engine collectors. This letter came
after we had mentioned here that a particular engine was missing
and its return was sought. We don’t plan to start a special
column for such information, but if you are subjected to this kind
of crime and think our publicizing your loss will help, do let us
know and we’ll cooperate.
This week we got an e-mail inquiry from a man interested in
‘robot lawnmowers.’ We looked in Alan King’s Lawn
Mowers, 1948-1962, and found a 1953 Grass Finder manufactured by
Fairbanks Morse. This modern device was intended to send its owner
to the hammock, while performing a perfect job in concentric
clockwise circles. The service department of our local John Deere
dealer says they know of no such animal produced by their firm.
Apparently this is an idea whose time came and went in relatively
short order, as the riding mower became the norm for those with
large lawns. Nonetheless, this was food for thought, and we’d
love to hear from anyone who may own such a mower or know more
about them.
