Little Tractor Dad Built

This is the tractor our father built for my brothers and I around 1950. when he originally built it, it had no reverse, he later added Maytag wringer washer gearboxes, so we had reverse. After we outgrew it, a neighbor's youngest son used it to drive around their farm until he outgrew it. It then sat in their barn over 50 years until last August (2023) when I picked it up and brought it from central NY to my home in Colorado. The Maytag parts disappeared sometime during its idle time in the barn, so I had to use some donated gearboxes to get it going again. This is my 12-year-old granddaughter test driving it, I need to make some ratio adjustments, it is a little too slow.

[@davidwicks1210]

As the neighbor's youngest son, David Wicks, I lost use of right-side in a sledding accident at age 5 (TBI). While there were many things I could do, riding a bicycle was not in the cards. Paul's dad, Floyd and mine, Frank, best of country friends all their lives, arranged to have the "little tractor" provided me freedom to get around and cover MANY MANY MILES not only to enjoy driving but more to the point I had a place to vent my frustrations. Paul's dad drove a six-cylinder1955 Chevy station wagon, his pride and joy. When the tractor broke down, I remember getting off the school bus, speaking of frustrating times, Flold had fixed the problem, and I was able to ride again. Today in my early seventies, I often think of the time spent riding my "little tractor". I feel so fortunate to have had it in my life.

[@paulthompson5272]

I am glad to be able to bring it back to operational condition, even though I had to use non original parts. At least the gear boxes were donated in true family tradition, Dad always tried to use whatever was available and inexpensive when building things for us kids and for the farm. Dave, I am not sure who put the most miles on it, me and my brothers or you, but it definitely traveled a long way in its life. Now maybe some of my grandkids will enjoy it until they outgrow it.

[@davidwicks1210]

@@paulthompson5272 So nice to see it operational again! It's likely to serve many more generations!

[@thanks3150]

fork lift version 0.5