Fascinating history and perfectly told. These machines have the ability to outlive multiple generations if properly taken care of or kept from the scrapper’s torch. We can’t save them all, and that makes these few so very special. It’s equally well and important to caretake the stories of the people that operated them. You are doing both, and we thank you for your efforts.
One in a million that your Dad has encouraged and participated in your hobbies . Hug his neck for me and tell him thanks. I had a son 1 year younger than you that drowned in 2001 that I would have loved having the relationship y'all have. GOD BLESS Y'ALL.
Hello Kenny. I feel for you. No parent should have to bury their child, it is out of the order of things. I hope you were able to keep your faith, we do meet again. To me, the people I have 'lost' are now out of time, they do not wait for me, it is me doing the waiting. I'll tell you the words on my wife's memorial- "There's another country". If you don't know the rest, look it up, it might just help a little tiny bit.
I'm sorry to hear that Kenny. Maybe you should pick a project to do in remembrance. I know if I were in your shoes I would want to do something my son would love, with the knowing he'd be watching and helping from above. One father to another.
Sorry for your loss Kenny. Life can be very cruel. It seems to be about the lessons that we are being taught without actually knowing what those lessons are yet.
Amazing story! I have really been looking forward to this episode! That prototype UDLX would have made for some great content! It hurts my brain to think about all the history that has been lost in scrap yards! I'm glad a few of the prototypes made there way to someone with the ability and desire to save them! Storytime always makes for great episodes!
What a story! When your time is up on this earth, maybe the the Lord will let you bring X231 with you to Heaven! Dedication like you showed in restoring these tractors deserves an award. Great work, Squatch!!
It was meant to be ,and it wasn't given to you by your grandfather, you worked for it and that made it even more special than just the X factor. The stories are awesome Toby it's so much a part of the machine it's self ,the tractor your referring to people used them as cars I believe the cabs were heated I've only seen Pictures of one
UDLX... Wow Squatch what a great story that brings it all together. My father was Ed Bezanson (The Connecticut Yankee) and he was very close friends with Dennis Parker. In fact in 1988 my dad and I traveled to South Dakota to visit Dennis and see his amazing collection of MM's. What a knowledgeable guy in the Hobbie. I just love your series and can appreciate all years dedicated to make your special tractors complete again. Thanks for the great content. Peter Bezanson
Not only a master mechanic but also a fantastic story teller. It would be great to see those two tractors eventually land in a museum to be preserved forever and shared with the public. Keep up the great work.
Sounds like Divine intervention, to me. Obviously, He picked the right people. Thank you for sharing your (and Squatch Senior's) knowledge and providing us this education. 👍 👍
I don't normally enjoy history through RUclips, but one thing we know is Squatch will have the truth, the facts, and the proof to back it up. I really enjoyed this episode. If I could give it a heart instead of a thumbs 👍 up I would. Thank you. PS I am not up on Molines, but I vaguely think I know what tractor you are talking about. I seem to recall my grandfather owning something like that. A tractor with a real road gear.
Thanks so much for the story. This by itself is worth a whole year of subscription. Man, if that would have been a UDLX prototype... Keep up the good work and storytelling. J.F.
That tractor would be worth buying another just for the tin work. That is my plan with McCormick Deering O-4 #706. Currently the eldest known and 11th Orchard 4 off the assembly line. It is definitely the 11th of a minimum 13 in this batch run. I love this story of how the prototypes came to you and the connection to grandpa makes them priceless. Hearing the story on the other deluxe prototype is heartbreaking but nothing you or even I could have done about it. It was before our time and out of our hands to do anything even if we did know. I'm a good 15 years older than you and realize it was before my time. As for if they find you or you them, I truly believe that they will find you. I bought Ole 706 off of ebay one night at work. It was listed really strangely, like "2 O(S)-4 tractors" and a confusing description of them. He used his email address as his user name and not being on epay anyhow just sent him a message. When he gave me the s/n I about filled my drawers. Sent out a check the next payday. Then had to figure out how to get them on the wrong side of the rocky mountains. 2 years later I got it home. That was in 2004 and I'm still gathering parts, the correct originals for that tractor. I've owned 7 others to just get 1 or 2 pieces off of them for this restoration. Now I've got a possible prototype cub Orchard/Vineyard out of California that I'm only doing a mechanical resto on and may have found the first of yet another prototype Orchard IHC tractor. The last one kinda found me actually.
Prototype UDLX! What a honey that would have been! If you ever make it down to 'The Moline' in Hopkins, it is worth the trip. A few very rare tractors in their lobby, including a UTOX. Never knew they made a cabless UDLX! I had the opportunity to see UDLX #1 at Root River on year. Very cool stories!
I can't wait until my friend *Richard* and you can connect. You are going to love the tales he has to tell. He went to AZ with Ralph and his wife (she would turn wrenches down there too). I'd prefer to let him tell the stories though. It almost seams as much as X253 wanted to come back to life, X231 didn't.
I think X231 really wants to run again. That poor girl was not just run into the dirt, she was brutally run into her grave. When you have something that is one of a kind that has been run well beyond worn out it becomes much more than a restoration. This is a resurrection. It is almost miraculous that she has been brought this far in the process of bringing her back to life.
I remember seeing one of those full body Molines on TV about 10 or so years ago.. with a highway gear. I can only imagine, that would have been an incredible find.
Hi Squatch I can just say so much Heart put into the restoration. It is just Heart warming. Especially since you started so young Keep on the fabulous work
You never cease to please!!!!! Great Story.......You're a rare breed Squatch.....I'm so very pleased I found your channel!!!!! Many Thanks as always, my friend!!!
You were not a geek, my friend. That is what is missing from America these days. One of my closest friends, at 13, already owned three horses and a pony, four acres of his own and a barn he built to keep them in, a tack room full of harness, saddles, and bridles, an International tractor with a complete set of implements, and a late sixties C10. He never let the grass grow under his feet. He was always buying, selling, trading, working, training horses. That used to be what boyhood and young manhood looked like. That is something to be proud of. The fact that you spend your youth like that makes you the expert for the next generation. I don't know about anyone else, but I have been sharing your channel with homeschool groups, with the hopes of inspiring other young folks to join you in this. When we get on the other side of the current situation, the young folks are going to have to figure out how to put the world back together. Going back the well of simple machines may be necessary and guys like you will light the way. Your pictures from the early eighties bring tears to my eyes. That was the last round of runaway inflation and high gas prices, and we were all just trying to keep the wolf from the door any way we could. That was when I learned to work a team of horses, because they burned grass instead of gas. Everyone around us was doing the same thing. Few people had money for anything new. That said, because we couldn't afford to go anywhere, we tended to spend a lot of time visiting. I had friendships then that are orders of magnitude different from what I have now. We sat and talked, and ate at each other's houses, and worked together. Some of my best memories are of that time, when neighbors from 2-4 families would go from farm to farm setting on another's tobacco crop. I didn't know what we had then.
Oh man, when you said that tractor would keep up with a car my heart just sank. Production UDLX's are hard enough to come by, a prototype ComforTractor would be the ideal prototype Moline to have
Toby, this is a really great story. We are glad you were at the right place at the right time. MM’s were a great tractor. After the oil pulled rumbly my dad used to shell corn with he had a mini moline. Years later our neighbor restored it then sold it. The oil pulled rumbly ended up in pioneer village in Minden Nebraska along with the wooden corn Sheller.
Mr. Squach253. I loved your story tonight, and I'll be slightly tangential here. I'm a lifelong fan of the antique tractor, my funds limited me to the Sears garden tractors for a long time, but I'm in it nonetheless. I admire your family for the support they showed you. I personally endure even to this day a constant barrage of negativity towards my passion. My family would never have supported me the way yours has. It warms my heart to see that you've been not just understood, but helped! I dont want to be a sob story, I just couldn't help but comment on that. The astronomical odds that you were able to piece two prototype tractors together at such a young age is amazing. Truly impressive. Thats not lost on you, I know, but just wow man. Ill continue to indulge in my passion as money allows, I'm 33 and just now getting to do my first frame off restoration without someone scrapping it while I'm at work. The shows here in TN will be so fun this year.! Keep that content coming dude, I can't wait to see x231 rolling, the cab on 5j1113, and more!.
Great story. My Great Uncle would have been so proud to see your stewardship of the history of Minneapolis Moline, and your work in preservation of the prototypes. He had all M&M equipment on his farm after converting from steam and horses. Keep up the great work Squatch.
Good old scrappers. Indiscriminately destroying history railcar loads at a time without a care in the world and they get offended when people who do care get on their case to try and make them think before they act. And want to try to buy something off them before they strike a torch on it, forget it. You could walk up and offer them 10 times what they paid and they will still cut it up for 150 a ton just to make you mad. Sorry, for the rant. This touched a nerve.
Thank you Squatch that was a very cool story. I think the tractor you're talking about is the minneapolis-moline udlx comfort tractor and that would of been amazing to have gotten a prototype of one of them. Cheers Squatch
Great stories, You caught my attention when you mentioned Dennis Parker. He is an incredible person. I met Dennis back in the 1980’s, we have been friends ever since. Always willing to share his knowledge and expertise. I sent Dennis a link to this video. He now lives in Minn.
Amazing story. Its like there is a greater force out there to bring you and those machines together and to keep all the parts local and still available to you.
Yes the prototype UDLX would defiantly be the holyiest of all holy grails, I'd have a tough time imagining a dollar amount as to what that'd be worth considering a production one restored brings 150K plus!
I'm really bad with taking picture and documenting my life but I'm so glad other take the time to do so because you never know what simple non eventful moments will be hugely fascinating to others later.
Not going to lie Squatch, that part at 10:00 had me a little misty. I was very much in the same situation with my Great-greatgrandfather Otto's '58 Dodge Regent that had been sitting at the Grandparent's farm. Almost the same age and year as well. There had been talk about clearing my Great-grandfather Roy's old equipment and out buildings and I asked if we could keep the Regent. My grandmother was almost enthralled that someone was interested in it. My cousin and I spent a few weeks out there later in the summer and we managed to find the engine accessories, seats and the hubcaps that were scattered in the various buildings. Long story short, some other family members got wind of this and a brouhaha of sorts ended with the car crushed and loaded on one of the scrap trailers(18 semi trailer loads went out😮). Hearing your story made my day man. 20 years later in 2012 I did manage to drag Otto's '49 Meteor out of the bush that was completely inaccessible in the early '90's. It was the car that the Regent replaced so in some way I still ended up in the same place on a different road.
I started watching your channel during the Swamp Angel D2 build. You've put out amazing videos which I can't wait to see each time. This video about the Mini's blows them away. What a great history. Wife liked it too. Keep up the awesome videos.
Master mechanic, fabricator, incredible teacher, historian, and a great story teller. That's gives this channel a quality the other guys can't match. Have you ever considered writing a book?
Your storytelling abilities are second only to your mechanical prowess. It reminds me of the stories that my grandpa could tell that I took for granted at the time. Now, I would give all the money in the world just to be able to sit and listen to him tell stories for a few more hours. But I have the tractor that he loaned me the money to buy so a part of him is still with me. Just like you are preserving the history of the men who built these unique tractors.
When I was seven or eight, Dad would take me to lunch downtown Assumption Illinois. There'd always be a couple of the udlx's parked in the herringbone spots off the sidewalk. Of their big group lunches one was the original Mr. Sloan and his son.
Squatch, I love your content! I have always wondered how you came to own a prototype and what a great story of it being used as a donor and eventually all came back together! Please continue to take us along for the ride! You’re the best!
Fantastic story telling man. I am absolutely amazed that you have been able to round up all the pieces and parts to restore the old girl. What a great guy to help a young man with pictures and literature and inspire you to save these important pieces of history. All your videos are enjoyable but I really got a kick out of this one. Great job on this and the tractors
Incredible story and history of your 2 machines. Your enthusiasm and drive are to be commended as well as your dedication to preserving these tractors. Thank you so much for sharing this story and I truly enjoy seeing these machines be given a new life.
Good stories. Out here in Cali it's the old Holt's that are sitting down in the weeds. Every once in while you hear about some old chassis and think about going to see if it's there ...
Great video! I used to go to the tractor shows in the Southeast with my dad in the 1990's, and saw a few MM's there. Great to hear some of the history behind them!
Thanks for sharing a great story. I could almost see the ear to ear smile on your face after the first start up of X253 and drive the drive around the yard.
Thank you for sharing the history of how and why about these tractors! It’s too bad that the UDLX prototype was destroyed! At least you have been able to save a bit of the history.
Just love old history like this, to hear stories like yours are priceless! I could listen and look at those pictures for days! Just love old MM’s when I grew on the farm, dad and grandpa had an old Diesel, I think it was a U- ? You got on it from the back stood on the platform, dad had to put a extension pipe on the hand clutch, so I could snap it in! When I was six years old in ‘66 I really thought that tractor was like a locomotive! lol My brother knows who still has it when dad sold it at auction probably in the early ‘80,s. Great video!! 👍 Thanks
Fascinating history and perfectly told. These machines have the ability to outlive multiple generations if properly taken care of or kept from the scrapper’s torch. We can’t save them all, and that makes these few so very special. It’s equally well and important to caretake the stories of the people that operated them. You are doing both, and we thank you for your efforts.
One in a million that your Dad has encouraged and participated in your hobbies . Hug his neck for me and tell him thanks. I had a son 1 year younger than you that drowned in 2001 that I would have loved having the relationship y'all have. GOD BLESS Y'ALL.
Hello Kenny. I feel for you. No parent should have to bury their child, it is out of the order of things. I hope you were able to keep your faith, we do meet again. To me, the people I have 'lost' are now out of time, they do not wait for me, it is me doing the waiting. I'll tell you the words on my wife's memorial- "There's another country". If you don't know the rest, look it up, it might just help a little tiny bit.
I'm sorry to hear that Kenny. Maybe you should pick a project to do in remembrance. I know if I were in your shoes I would want to do something my son would love, with the knowing he'd be watching and helping from above. One father to another.
Sorry for your loss Kenny. Life can be very cruel. It seems to be about the lessons that we are being taught without actually knowing what those lessons are yet.
Great storytime, thx a lot!
👍👍👍
A fantastic story, Squatch..I'm glad you put this piece of history to video. It's an important part of the lives of these two tractors.
Nothing better than pouring a cup of coffee and sitting back for story time with Squatch!
Serendipty. Obstinacy. Guts. Hard work. Intelligence. Skill.
Squatch, this has been the most interesting segment yet
13:55 WHAT! $4000 for a project! These Minnesota boys learn things.
Amazing story! I have really been looking forward to this episode! That prototype UDLX would have made for some great content! It hurts my brain to think about all the history that has been lost in scrap yards! I'm glad a few of the prototypes made there way to someone with the ability and desire to save them! Storytime always makes for great episodes!
Yes, I have only seen pictures of the production version, I think, on an older video from Machinery Pete, a few years back.
What a story! When your time is up on this earth, maybe the the Lord will let you bring X231 with you to Heaven! Dedication like you showed in restoring these tractors deserves an award. Great work, Squatch!!
It was meant to be ,and it wasn't given to you by your grandfather, you worked for it and that made it even more special than just the X factor. The stories are awesome Toby it's so much a part of the machine it's self ,the tractor your referring to people used them as cars I believe the cabs were heated I've only seen Pictures of one
UDLX... Wow Squatch what a great story that brings it all together. My father was Ed Bezanson (The Connecticut Yankee) and he was very close friends with Dennis Parker. In fact in 1988 my dad and I traveled to South Dakota to visit Dennis and see his amazing collection of MM's. What a knowledgeable guy in the Hobbie. I just love your series and can appreciate all years dedicated to make your special tractors complete again. Thanks for the great content. Peter Bezanson
Yes those were good days! I figured you would have talked to my dad at some point. He could talk tractors for hours...
Not only a master mechanic but also a fantastic story teller. It would be great to see those two tractors eventually land in a museum to be preserved forever and shared with the public. Keep up the great work.
A working museum, not a static display
Toby your passion about everything you do is awesome. Keep going we love your channel
Sounds like Divine intervention, to me. Obviously, He picked the right people.
Thank you for sharing your (and Squatch Senior's) knowledge and providing us this education. 👍 👍
I'm guessing that 'mystery tractor' would be the UDLX Comfortactor Toby?
What a lovely story of how you acquired your pair of Molines👍👍🏴
The history and family memories. Priceless. Thank you for sharing
I don't normally enjoy history through RUclips, but one thing we know is Squatch will have the truth, the facts, and the proof to back it up. I really enjoyed this episode. If I could give it a heart instead of a thumbs 👍 up I would. Thank you. PS I am not up on Molines, but I vaguely think I know what tractor you are talking about. I seem to recall my grandfather owning something like that. A tractor with a real road gear.
What a cool story. If that last tractor was actually the UDLX prototype, I agree you would have a much larger RUclips channel!
Weird at 10 years old?..................no way bro! your a walking encyclopedia. LOVE this channel
Thanks so much for the story. This by itself is worth a whole year of subscription. Man, if that would have been a UDLX prototype...
Keep up the good work and storytelling.
J.F.
That tractor would be worth buying another just for the tin work. That is my plan with McCormick Deering O-4 #706. Currently the eldest known and 11th Orchard 4 off the assembly line. It is definitely the 11th of a minimum 13 in this batch run.
I love this story of how the prototypes came to you and the connection to grandpa makes them priceless. Hearing the story on the other deluxe prototype is heartbreaking but nothing you or even I could have done about it. It was before our time and out of our hands to do anything even if we did know. I'm a good 15 years older than you and realize it was before my time.
As for if they find you or you them, I truly believe that they will find you. I bought Ole 706 off of ebay one night at work. It was listed really strangely, like "2 O(S)-4 tractors" and a confusing description of them. He used his email address as his user name and not being on epay anyhow just sent him a message. When he gave me the s/n I about filled my drawers. Sent out a check the next payday. Then had to figure out how to get them on the wrong side of the rocky mountains. 2 years later I got it home. That was in 2004 and I'm still gathering parts, the correct originals for that tractor. I've owned 7 others to just get 1 or 2 pieces off of them for this restoration. Now I've got a possible prototype cub Orchard/Vineyard out of California that I'm only doing a mechanical resto on and may have found the first of yet another prototype Orchard IHC tractor. The last one kinda found me actually.
A UDLX prototype would be something legendary to have now, as rare as the production units were. Great stories!!!
Love watching your restoration videos as I’m
D2 fanatic, but this little walk through time was extremely interesting.
Love hearing the history about old equipment especially when they have a story like this!!
Prototype UDLX! What a honey that would have been! If you ever make it down to 'The Moline' in Hopkins, it is worth the trip. A few very rare tractors in their lobby, including a UTOX. Never knew they made a cabless UDLX! I had the opportunity to see UDLX #1 at Root River on year. Very cool stories!
Thank you Squatch
Sweet love and old iron. Unbeatable combination, thanks a lot for showing and telling!
I can't wait until my friend *Richard* and you can connect. You are going to love the tales he has to tell. He went to AZ with Ralph and his wife (she would turn wrenches down there too). I'd prefer to let him tell the stories though. It almost seams as much as X253 wanted to come back to life, X231 didn't.
I think X231 really wants to run again. That poor girl was not just run into the dirt, she was brutally run into her grave. When you have something that is one of a kind that has been run well beyond worn out it becomes much more than a restoration. This is a resurrection. It is almost miraculous that she has been brought this far in the process of bringing her back to life.
If you could have purchased that UDLX prototype you are correct.... that would have been the holy grail. Great stories and story telling.
Thanks for sharing and carrying about MM. 😊
Not long found your channel, and it's great to hear this story. Those prototypes landed on their feet with Squatch and Senior. 👍
I remember seeing one of those full body Molines on TV about 10 or so years ago.. with a highway gear. I can only imagine, that would have been an incredible find.
Hi Squatch
I can just say so much Heart put into the restoration. It is just Heart warming.
Especially since you started so young
Keep on the fabulous work
You never cease to please!!!!! Great Story.......You're a rare breed Squatch.....I'm so very pleased I found your channel!!!!! Many Thanks as always, my friend!!!
It's amazing how when you have something special, and you learn about it, things line up.
Thanks Squatch
What a story 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Those history stories are equally as good as your outstanding craftsmanship.
Compliment 👍🏻👍🏻
Christoph
I was cheering for you…..I love the thrill of the hunt!
Brilliant story Toby, just brilliant!!!
You were not a geek, my friend. That is what is missing from America these days. One of my closest friends, at 13, already owned three horses and a pony, four acres of his own and a barn he built to keep them in, a tack room full of harness, saddles, and bridles, an International tractor with a complete set of implements, and a late sixties C10. He never let the grass grow under his feet. He was always buying, selling, trading, working, training horses. That used to be what boyhood and young manhood looked like. That is something to be proud of. The fact that you spend your youth like that makes you the expert for the next generation. I don't know about anyone else, but I have been sharing your channel with homeschool groups, with the hopes of inspiring other young folks to join you in this. When we get on the other side of the current situation, the young folks are going to have to figure out how to put the world back together. Going back the well of simple machines may be necessary and guys like you will light the way.
Your pictures from the early eighties bring tears to my eyes. That was the last round of runaway inflation and high gas prices, and we were all just trying to keep the wolf from the door any way we could. That was when I learned to work a team of horses, because they burned grass instead of gas. Everyone around us was doing the same thing. Few people had money for anything new. That said, because we couldn't afford to go anywhere, we tended to spend a lot of time visiting. I had friendships then that are orders of magnitude different from what I have now. We sat and talked, and ate at each other's houses, and worked together. Some of my best memories are of that time, when neighbors from 2-4 families would go from farm to farm setting on another's tobacco crop. I didn't know what we had then.
Oh man, when you said that tractor would keep up with a car my heart just sank. Production UDLX's are hard enough to come by, a prototype ComforTractor would be the ideal prototype Moline to have
We will if someone out there has one gathering dust in a barn they need to find a new home for watches this channel!
This has been one of your best episodes yet! Thanks for sharing your stories.
Toby, this is a really great story. We are glad you were at the right place at the right time. MM’s were a great tractor. After the oil pulled rumbly my dad used to shell corn with he had a mini moline. Years later our neighbor restored it then sold it. The oil pulled rumbly ended up in pioneer village in Minden Nebraska along with the wooden corn Sheller.
Mr. Squach253. I loved your story tonight, and I'll be slightly tangential here.
I'm a lifelong fan of the antique tractor, my funds limited me to the Sears garden tractors for a long time, but I'm in it nonetheless.
I admire your family for the support they showed you. I personally endure even to this day a constant barrage of negativity towards my passion. My family would never have supported me the way yours has. It warms my heart to see that you've been not just understood, but helped!
I dont want to be a sob story, I just couldn't help but comment on that.
The astronomical odds that you were able to piece two prototype tractors together at such a young age is amazing. Truly impressive. Thats not lost on you, I know, but just wow man.
Ill continue to indulge in my passion as money allows, I'm 33 and just now getting to do my first frame off restoration without someone scrapping it while I'm at work. The shows here in TN will be so fun this year.!
Keep that content coming dude, I can't wait to see x231 rolling, the cab on 5j1113, and more!.
Wow, what a cool story. I had goose bumps for most of it. Toby you are the man!!
This was one of the best episodes ever. Great story. And I am picturing a UDLX prototype towing a trailer at high speed past the town drunk!
Great story. My Great Uncle would have been so proud to see your stewardship of the history of Minneapolis Moline, and your work in preservation of the prototypes. He had all M&M equipment on his farm after converting from steam and horses. Keep up the great work Squatch.
Good old scrappers. Indiscriminately destroying history railcar loads at a time without a care in the world and they get offended when people who do care get on their case to try and make them think before they act. And want to try to buy something off them before they strike a torch on it, forget it. You could walk up and offer them 10 times what they paid and they will still cut it up for 150 a ton just to make you mad. Sorry, for the rant. This touched a nerve.
Fantastic chapter!!! Greetings from Argentina!!!
Thank you Squatch that was a very cool story. I think the tractor you're talking about is the minneapolis-moline udlx comfort tractor and that would of been amazing to have gotten a prototype of one of them. Cheers Squatch
Great stories, You caught my attention when you mentioned Dennis Parker. He is an incredible person. I met Dennis back in the 1980’s, we have been friends ever since. Always willing to share his knowledge and expertise. I sent Dennis a link to this video. He now lives in Minn.
That is fantastic. Thank you, sir!
Hugely enjoyable story.
Thanks for telling the story behind those machines. I'm still surprised that MM wasn't more protective of prototypes
Been rewatching this entire rebuild. It’s such a great project to capture this history.
Now that is a great story! A true story always seems to make the best movie or presentation.
Great great story , good luck , love to watch you.👍🇺🇸🇸🇰
Excellent story, must be hard knowing you were so close to all that other prototypes. Thanks for sharing the story with us.
Great history and stories Squatch. Thank you.
What an amazing story! Thanks for documenting it, as it adds relevant depth of meaning to all your fine restoration efforts.
Amazing story. Its like there is a greater force out there to bring you and those machines together and to keep all the parts local and still available to you.
Thank you! Glad you saved them!
Yes the prototype UDLX would defiantly be the holyiest of all holy grails, I'd have a tough time imagining a dollar amount as to what that'd be worth considering a production one restored brings 150K plus!
I'm really bad with taking picture and documenting my life but I'm so glad other take the time to do so because you never know what simple non eventful moments will be hugely fascinating to others later.
What a great story Squatch, really enjoyed it. Mick, Northern Ireland 👍🍻
Not only a "Master Mechanic". Presents a great story as well !......Thanks Squatch253.
Not going to lie Squatch, that part at 10:00 had me a little misty. I was very much in the same situation with my Great-greatgrandfather Otto's '58 Dodge Regent that had been sitting at the Grandparent's farm. Almost the same age and year as well. There had been talk about clearing my Great-grandfather Roy's old equipment and out buildings and I asked if we could keep the Regent. My grandmother was almost enthralled that someone was interested in it. My cousin and I spent a few weeks out there later in the summer and we managed to find the engine accessories, seats and the hubcaps that were scattered in the various buildings. Long story short, some other family members got wind of this and a brouhaha of sorts ended with the car crushed and loaded on one of the scrap trailers(18 semi trailer loads went out😮). Hearing your story made my day man. 20 years later in 2012 I did manage to drag Otto's '49 Meteor out of the bush that was completely inaccessible in the early '90's. It was the car that the Regent replaced so in some way I still ended up in the same place on a different road.
Lordy...the things you have experienced bringing history to the present. You have developed one hell of a good channel.
Thank You Thank You.
I started watching your channel during the Swamp Angel D2 build. You've put out amazing videos which I can't wait to see each time. This video about the Mini's blows them away. What a great history. Wife liked it too. Keep up the awesome videos.
Master mechanic, fabricator, incredible teacher, historian, and a great story teller. That's gives this channel a quality the other guys can't match. Have you ever considered writing a book?
What a story -thanks for sharing UDLX
Your storytelling abilities are second only to your mechanical prowess. It reminds me of the stories that my grandpa could tell that I took for granted at the time. Now, I would give all the money in the world just to be able to sit and listen to him tell stories for a few more hours. But I have the tractor that he loaned me the money to buy so a part of him is still with me. Just like you are preserving the history of the men who built these unique tractors.
Wow what a story,Thanks for sharing,I truly enjoyed listening.
When I was seven or eight, Dad would take me to lunch downtown Assumption Illinois. There'd always be a couple of the udlx's parked in the herringbone spots off the sidewalk. Of their big group lunches one was the original Mr. Sloan and his son.
Storytime With Squatch was awesome! Well presented, interesting, and entertaining. Just like your regular content 🙂
Wow! Great story, could you imagine if those tractors could talk? It’s great that you can take a tractor and bring it back to life. Good job!
Squatch, I love your content! I have always wondered how you came to own a prototype and what a great story of it being used as a donor and eventually all came back together! Please continue to take us along for the ride! You’re the best!
I think this is one of the best tractor stories I've ever heard.
Great story! Love all the history!
Many young boys build models. You built bulldozers. Amazing.
great story this project kinda hits home for me as my great uncle worked for oliver
you should have put a sweater on and started the video with, "its a beautiful day in the neighborhood a beautiful day in the neighborhood..."😂😂😂
What a great History love you show Trev from South Australa Cheers
Fantastic story you must please tell it in a book ,grate video thank you.
Fantastic story telling man. I am absolutely amazed that you have been able to round up all the pieces and parts to restore the old girl. What a great guy to help a young man with pictures and literature and inspire you to save these important pieces of history. All your videos are enjoyable but I really got a kick out of this one. Great job on this and the tractors
Wicked story, can't wait to see the tractor finished!
Incredible story and history of your 2 machines. Your enthusiasm and drive are to be commended as well as your dedication to preserving these tractors. Thank you so much for sharing this story and I truly enjoy seeing these machines be given a new life.
Good stories. Out here in Cali it's the old Holt's that are sitting down in the weeds. Every once in while you hear about some old chassis and think about going to see if it's there ...
Just a super episode, Toby. This story further fleshes out an already cool story and I want to thank you for the effort!!
Awesome story! Thank you for sharing!
that's one hell of a story, amazing how you got that crawler put together! the fact all those tractors got scrapped makes me want to cry though
UDLX . Way before there time.
Man would be one step below the Holy Grail Thank You for your knowledge and taking the time to share the MM story.
Great video! I used to go to the tractor shows in the Southeast with my dad in the 1990's, and saw a few MM's there. Great to hear some of the history behind them!
I came to your channel for the meticulous restoration (that I'll never be able to do) and stayed for the storytelling. Great job!
Thanks for sharing a great story. I could almost see the ear to ear smile on your face after the first start up of X253 and drive the drive around the yard.
Thank you for sharing the history of how and why about these tractors! It’s too bad that the UDLX prototype was destroyed! At least you have been able to save a bit of the history.
Thank you for sharing the wholesome story. Really interesting.
Just love old history like this, to hear stories like yours are priceless! I could listen and look at those pictures for days! Just love old MM’s when I grew on the farm, dad and grandpa had an old Diesel, I think it was a U- ? You got on it from the back stood on the platform, dad had to put a extension pipe on the hand clutch, so I could snap it in! When I was six years old in ‘66 I really thought that tractor was like a locomotive! lol My brother knows who still has it when dad sold it at auction probably in the early ‘80,s. Great video!! 👍 Thanks
Thank you very much.
Fascinating history and Amazing story!