For the past 10 years I’ve attended the Old Threshers Reunion at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Among all the things to see and do, one of my favorite things to do is visit the swap tent and the flea markets. You just never know what you will find there that you can’t live without. Three years ago I was looking through all the junk and treasures at the flea market and found a gear box. I thought this would make a good aluminum can crusher. If I could find a few more components, I thought I might just build one someday. I purchased the gear box and took it home, threw it in the shed where it stayed for two years.
Earlier this year I purchased a 3 HP Briggs & Stratton engine that was disassembled in a box with half the pieces missing. Luckily I had enough pieces in my junk collection and was able to put it together and make it run, after some valve work, carb work, new points and condenser. While attending the Prairie Land Heritage Gas and Steam Show, I was browsing through the flea market and found an open gear box. The man I purchased it from said he had no idea what it came off of. Now I had enough components to make an aluminum can crusher. With a little engineering and a little welding and spray painting, this is the end result. It works real well. I plan to take it to some engine shows along with some of my old engines.