Thrill Of The Hunt!

[GMan 82]

Guys,

 

I've known of the location of this tractor for three or four years now. Kept telling myself  "one of these days I'll stop and ask about that old tractor". One day not too long ago I actually did stop but could not get anyone to answer the door. The tractor was nearly impossible to see from the street unless it was winter time as the plant growth kept it pretty well hidden. I have no idea how long it has sat outside in the postion I found it. A long time I'm sure. Anyway, I was down at the Mentone show/swapmeet (just south of Elkhart about thirty-five miles) on Friday and got to thinking about the old tractor and decided to stop again to check on it and to find out if it was for sale. An elderly lady answered the door this time and I introduced myself to her and explained why I had stopped. I asked her if she or her husband would consider selling the tractor to me and she said "my husband died about a year and a half ago so lets walk back there and you can show me what you're talking about. So we walked through her house, out through her enclosed patio, across her garden patio, and then were able to see the tractor. I said "that's the tractor I was talking about". She said "that ol thing? You can have that! I've been wanting it out of here for a long time. My daughter's been complaining about it cause she's always having to mow around it. Just come get it and get it out of here!" ............I was stunned!

 

The next morning at the restaraunt I go to every Saturday for breakfast I was telling all the boys at the BS table that I had been given a tractor out in the south part of Elkhart that I had spotted several years ago. One of the fellows who has a few early Wheel Horses himself said "there was a guy out south a ways that had an old Wheel Horse that everybody and their brother has tried to buy but he would not sell it for love nor money. He passed away a while back. His name was Becker." I looked at the name of the lady who owned the tractor that I had written down along with her phone number. Sure enough her name was Becker. I told my buddy "That's the one!" Then the conversation lit up. He said "You got to be kidding!" I said "Hey, right place right time!" ............................Guy's this kind of thing doesn't happen to me, always the other guy! 

 

Anyway it looks to be quite complete. Has all original tires, original seat, and still had the key hanging in the ignition switch. But above all the engine is not stuck! Will be quite a challenge but a lot of fun too!

 

Gary

Edited September 20, 2016 by GMan
Added verbaige and corrected spelling

[SylvanLakeWH 24,089]

Nice score and what a great story!!!

 

Thank you for sharing it!

[oldredrider 2,547]

Sorry, that seat is a deal breaker

Congrats on getting it. 

[Dan Hankins 80]

Great story

 

[ACman 7,505]

  That one is a keeper for sure ... True one owner originals  ! Buff and shine. 

Those are the stories that everyone will remember  .Thanks for sharing... But can you ask her about that short box Chevy in the background , those are my favorite truck!  

Edited September 19, 2016 by ACman

[Jerry77 1,218]

16 minutes ago, ACman said:

  That one is a keeper for sure ... True one owner originals  ! Buff and shine. 

Those are the stories that everyone will remember  .Thanks for sharing... But can you ask her about that short box Chevy in the background , those are my favorite truck!  

Looks to be mid 70's ( my favorites ) and appears to have lockouts....that would be a homerun....Had a heavy/half 4x4 that I wish I had kept.

[Achto 26,501]

Nice 877. Best price too!

 

[KC9KAS 4,741]

Great story!

Glad you finally got an answer at the door! Persistence pays off.

[Wishin4a416 2,185]

Great story and a great ending. Now the fun begins!

[953 nut 51,512]

2 hours ago, GMan said:

Then the conversation lit up. He said "you got to be kidding!" I said "Hey, right place right time!"

I would love to have been at the table when this went down;    need to rub it in every time you see him.     

[Wheel-N-It 2,967]

Yep, great story. I hope we get to see a video of it running and. Being driven

[WHX?? 46,690]

15 hours ago, ACman said:

ask her about that short box Chevy in the background

Just like you guys to be looking past the bikini queen to what's  behind her!!

 

You know now you are going to have to name it ole Becker.

 

Way to find them  have fun with it and thanks for sharing the story & tractor. Be sure to tell us how it goes with it!

[TDF5G 2,051]

Great story and a great tractor to go with it.  Doesn't get much better'n that!

[Lane Ranger 10,472]

Great story and another one saved !