Box 371, Middlebury, Indiana 46540
It all started at Polk’s Auction at State Roads 6 and 15. I
went to the auction with no thought in mind of buying a tractor
they usually have mostly green and yellow. Well, to my surprise
there was a Y-30-50, R-25-45, and a W-20-30. The R is only one fit
to run, is what they said. I took a good look at the Y, not too
bad. It looked bad the right front wheel leaned out about six
inches. Well, the bidding on the Rumelys started after a long day.
It started at $1,000.00well, I had to pay more than that.
When the auctioneer said, ‘Sold!’ I sent a buddy across
the street to get a gallon of gas and a quart of oil. In less than
30 minutes we had it running and backed him out. You should have
seen the people! But I had to go home and fetch the trailer.
I got it home, and after a bit of running, decided to pull the
head. I completely rebuilt it: valve guides, seats, valves, and
surfaced it. I put in wrist pin bushings, rings and had a nice
running Y-30-50.
After a year I decided to sell it. I put an ad in GEM and got
the first call before I got my magazine. I got 12 calls in two
weeks!
Bill and his Rumely back home in Nevada just finished first
place in parade. He says old gree did it.
One caller was more serious than some of the others. He called
back in a day or so, and asked if I could send a picture and hold
the tractor till he could see it. The next time he called, he had
the picture in one hand and the phone in the other. When I heard
his voice I knew it was sold. He said I’d have a check in the
morning mail.
Bill Ramsden from Minden, Nevada, is the lucky, happy new Rumely
owner. Bill and his wife Dorine came to Indiana in a new Ford
diesel truck and bought a new gooseneck tandem du-all wheel trailer
in Elkhart, Indiana. After a two-day visit we got it loaded and
ready to head out. Bill said he’d never won a trophy, till now,
since he had a real tractor. As far as we know, Bill has the only
Rumely in Nevada. If there is any other, let me know.
Bill is very proud of this tractor and says it always starts on
the second pull.
