4814 Delematre Road Monroeville, Ohio 44847
The sign it carried through several parade routes this past
summer read ‘Old and Slow, But It Still Goes.’
While at the 1991 Marion Steam and Gas Show in Marion, Ohio,
several of us were talking of an older fellow in Savannah, Ohio,
who had at least 50 old tractors sitting in the weeds. I was told
he sold out of just about everything but I had to confirm it for
myself. Two days later my wife and I ventured over to this
man’s house. He was a very friendly gentleman who took ill and
decided to sell out.
My timing was just right, as this was the last big piece he had
left. After several hours of talking, he decided he would sell it
to us, and the next week we were winching it on the trailer!
After spending the winter of ’91 stripping, sandblasting,
overhauling and other numerous tasks, we got it done for its debut
at the 1992 Red Power Roundup in Marion, Ohio.
Special thanks to Bill Keller at Komatsu-Dresser Corporation for
the reprints of sales literature and parts books. The official name
of this unit as stated in the sales flyer is as follows:
International Motor Roller Manufactured by the Gallon Iron Works
and Manufacturing Company, Galion, Ohio U. S. A. (which is printed
in seven inch letters on the side tarps).
The unit is a 1930 which sports the 10-20 McCormick Deering
power unit. Its rolling width is 5 feet 3 inches wide, length 16
feet. It is equipped with an adjustable belly mounted planer blade
and a nine-tooth scarifier on the back.
I traced it back to the original owner and talked to the
employee who operated it. He is up in his late 80s but still wanted
to know where I lived so he could come over and cut it up with a
torch!
I have no record on how many were produced and what it cost new.
I understand most of these machines were scrapped out during the
metal drive of WWII. It definitely draws a lot of attention at the
shows and parades. I could go into the lawn rolling business, but I
am afraid of putting the local competition out of a job, so for now
I will just ‘Keep on Rolling.’
