Wheelhorsestory 210 #1 Posted December 19, 2015 Feast (Part 3) As I looked toward the service counter, a large shadow began to cover the floor. There stood before me, a tall, robust man; his hands so large, that they appeared to be the size of winter gloves. I could see that he seemed to have a stern look on his face and his whiskers were speckled with crumbs and automotive grease. His glasses looked as they hadn't been cleaned in years and on his head stood a Red Sox cap so grease stained that it seemed to be at least a hundred years old. I extended my hand and said, " Hi, I called you about some old Wheel Horses". In a deep, gruff voice he answered a simple "and?" It's Christmas Eve, I'm closing, but I'll let you see them. I've had em for years". Well, there on a home made platform made of 2 x 4s and plywood stood two tractors that I had never seen before. At this time,I didn't have much knowledge regarding these tiny tractors. He burst out, " These here are Ride-Away Juniors from the 1950s." I didn't know what they were, but they sure looked old sitting there in their natural patina, covered with dust. I noticed that these tractors didn't look worn or rusty, just old and dirty. I asked if they were for sale and the man rubbed his beard. "I never thought about selling them. If I did, they would be expensive"! That one there is as old as molasses, don't know much about it, took it in a trade". The other one there saved this town. He then went on to tell me, that back in the 50's a bank was being built in the town. The only problem was that they poured the foundation and built the structure, without pouring a basement floor. They couldn't get a machine in there to do the grading and it would take far too long to do it by hand. The bank was very large and there were many piles of dirt, six feet high down there. Apparently, the town needed this bank open on a certain date, as they had arranged a big celebration that involved the bank's president coming in from a long distance, the mayor, town's people and even a marching band. The giant of a man then went on to tell me that he had the solution. He had recently heard about some sort of new tractor that could do just about anything except milk a cow. As he told the people in charge about his solution, they told him to order it. Soon thereafter, arrived a wooden crate. As they opened the crate, the foreman was angry, saying that this thing would never work! They then opened the crate, filled the engine with oil and gasoline, mounted the snow plow attachment and pulled the cord. It started on the fourth pull and ran "all day". It was the only machine that would fit through the door opening in the concrete foundation. He went on to tell me that they plowed dirt for fourteen hours and even poured the concrete floor the very same night. As the band opened the next day, the town was saved!. I finally convinced him to sell me the tractor and its companion. Rubbing his beard once again, he barked out, "Em give me $800 for the pair". No way did I have that kind of money with me, but I convinced him to sell me the "bank" tractor for $400. He agreed to hold the other tractor until the following week. So I loaded the tractor into my little trailer and headed home, so excited that I could scream! When I finally returned home, it was dark. I no sooner shut the engine off and I heard a call from the back door. "Come in for dinner, it's Christmas Eve"! As I enjoyed my Feast of the Seven Fishes I had an excitement that I hadn't felt since I was a kid. As time passed, I learned from my local dealer that the tractor that "saved the town" was called an RJ-58 and the other one was a RJ-35. Even he had to search through piles of paper work to identify them. Merry Christmas to Everyone, Mike Martino 14 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nylyon-(Admin) 7,088 #2 Posted December 19, 2015 That was a great story, thank you for sharing.... now about those pictures.... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites