Rd#2, Box 163 Sistersville, West Virginia 26175
Hi, friends, my name is Jerry. I’m eleven years old. I live
at Sistersville, West Virginia, home of the Oil and Gas Festival. I
have loved engines since I was two years old, when I ran off at a
fair and they found me around the engines. Now it is in my blood,
and it gets worse every year!
My first engine was a Briggs that Mr. Anderson gave to me to
work on. I got it to run, and now I have two other Briggs to take
to shows. Then on August 6, 1987 I bought my first engine. It is a
Hercules sold under the name of Sears Roebuck Economy Farm-Master.
It’s a real beauty, not too many like her. This engine was
bought with money people gave me as a baby. Mom knew that I would
use it someday. I collect toy tractors, information, pictures, and
also stories about tractors. I still want two Maytags. I love to
watch them smoke.
I dreamed of owning a well engine, but they were hard to find.
It could not be too far away and would have to be just what I
wanted. On June 18, 1990 we found an ad in the local newspaper. Mom
called for more information and the directions to see this engine.
When Dad got home that evening we went to see it. It was only a few
miles from my home. We pulled into the driveway at the back of the
owner’s home and he met us at the door. He said the engine was
on the hill. Now my excitement mounted; it seemed to take forever
to get to the top of that hill!
There, under three sheets of tin, lay my dream engine. When I
saw her, I fell in love! It was just what I wanted.
Mom and Dad said to look it over good, make sure that it was
what I wanted. They didn’t want me to waste my money and be
unhappy about it later. I looked it over good. It was in very good
shape. There was a small oiler missing. The man said that he broke
it years ago while loading the engine for a show. The loading was
hard for him now, and that was why he was selling his engines. He
loved the idea that I was so young and was interested in these
engines. Well, I talked with him about all the parts, and he gave
me the oilers and two magnetos. I told him we would pick it up the
next evening.
You talk about heavy! It took Mom, Dad, Mr. Hayze, a winch and a
strong rope to get it on the back of the pickup truck. Good thing
Dad had air shocks. When we got it home, we unloaded it at the side
of the building. It sure came off faster than it went on the
truck.
What a joy it was to work with. I sanded and polished
everything, put on new springs where needed. We ordered the paint
and the stickers through sale books. One month later I was ready to
paint her. I was a little afraid to start, but Dad said you only
learn by doing, so I did. Not a bad job! Mom helped me with the red
trim on my flywheels. When I put everything on her WOW is she
sharp! I’m so proud to show my engines.
Now I faced another problem. My little trailer could not haul
the weight of all my engines, so Dad gave me one of his old boat
trailers. He welded extra beams, bought heavy outdoor plywood, and
bolted it to the trailer. Now that I have a strong trailer, we
don’t have to worry when we travel on the interstates.
I’m a member of the North Central West Virginia Antique
Power Association. Our club show is at Jackson’s Mill. This is
where my Stover came complete thanks to Mr. Bills. He gave me the
small oiler that she needed. Now I won’t have to oil it by hand
when it runs.
If you come our way to see our engines, stop and say hi, I’d
like to get to know you.
