Wrenching Tales 

 

Part of the fun and excitement of attending a show that is all about a brand is the unusual equipment there. For International Harvester collectors, the 2015 Red Power Round Up was the “big daddy” farm show for the year. Collectors read in Farmall publications like Red Power Magazine and Harvester Highlights about the show all year long, and mark their calendar for the big event.

At this year’s show in Sedalia, Mo., there was a lot to see, and International equipment takes on a whole new meaning depending on the story behind it. For Bob O’Dell, who hails from Fairgrove, Mo., his story was about a tractor with a lot of a sentimental value.

The 1960 140 Farmall with a cultivator once belonged to his late father-in-law, Carl Reed.

Bob has lost both Carl and his wife, and at the show he and his friend, Susie Sanders (who also lost her spouse), were enjoying showing off the Farmall. “The 140 was purchased new in Lincoln, Arkansas, in 1960 by my father-in-law,” Bob said. “He passed away in 1975 and I got the tractor.”

Bob is to keep the tractor in the family, and said Carl used it on a 105-acre dairy farm. “It was the only tractor he had.”

Leon Walker from Jasper was at the Round Up with his wife, Lou. They were with a group of collectors that included Bob and Susie. Leon had his military tractor, an Industrial International Harvester 2424 that came from army surplus at the Minot, N.D., Air Force Base.

“They pulled small aircraft and four wheel generators with this,” he said. “I think it is a 1967 model.”

The brass tag inside this cool machine confirms a manufacturing date of 1967, with last inspection date 1967 as well. After purchase Leon painted and restenciled the tractor, bringing it back to its original luster. Inside the unusual tractor there is a buddy seat and a hook-up with which to pull.

“There is a traffic control signal, and a heater, which makes sense coming from North Dakota,” he said, adding, “(but) there is no air.”

Besides his military tractor, Leon also had a French tractor – a 1958 FU235. “I bought this in Europe along with a French Super Cub. My friend Gene said they tried to make a narrow Cub for grapes and it didn’t sell well because it turned over.”

Leon’s FU235 was used by farmers with small acreage. This little tractor was equipped with amber lights, as well as a normal foot accelerator because the tractor was to be driven on the road.

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.