217 Edgewood Drive, Marietta, Ohio 45750
I was just looking through my grandpa’s GEM collection, when
I saw an article in the July-August 1974 edition by a young
collector. Since I am only 14 years old, that gave me an idea to
write this article. Some people say young people don’t care
about how tractors work, about the sound of engines running or
more. For me, that is not so. I do enjoy engines very much. In
fact, when I went to my grandpa’s when I was younger, I would
always ask him to start up one of his old engines or let me drive
one of his tractors or to let me do anything concerned with
mechanics. But I do not bug him anymore since I have my own
collection at home to tinker around with and enjoy.
The first engine I took to a show was a Maytag. It was not mine
but was my grandpa’s. He let me take it to the shows until I
got engines of my own. I still take the Maytag to this day,
however.
The first engine of my own was a Briggs and Stratton 1? HP. I
thought a great deal of it since it was my first. I got it off a
Bolens garden plow. It is not very old (approximately 1950s). All
it needed was to be cleaned and painted.
Later I belted it up to a water pump and now I take them both to
the shows. The pump is red and the engine is black and
aluminum.
My next engine was a Reo which I got off a Reo lawn mower. The
mower wasn’t very good so I just the engine. All it needed was
to be cleaned and painted. It is red.
I have another Reo engine too, but it needs a carburetor.
My next engine was a Christmas present from my grandpa. It is a
1930 Fairbanks Morse type Z style D. It also is red and runs very
good. I just about drove my neighbors crazy with it! It is the
oldest engine so far.
That concludes my engine collection, but I also have a tractor.
I really prayed for it! A 1938 John Deere L! We got it at a used
tractor sales place. When we got it, it did not run because half of
it was torn down. The man was going to restore it and got halfway
through tearing it down when he quit. So grandpa and I restored it.
The engine was free, but of course it needed to be sanded, painted
and the dents needed banged out while the holes needed patching.
Now I am very proud of it.
My grandpa and I belong to the Mid-Ohio Valley Steam and Antique
Power Club. We have our show in July at Barlow, Ohio. Grandpa
brings his Farmall F-20 Regular and many other engines. I also take
my engines and my John Deere L. Pictured is me and my John
Deere.
