The reason we collect Tractors
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The reason we collect Tractors |
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| This Article is from our Fall 2001 Horizon
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Oliver Tractors are what Rolland Bowman loves
to talk about. We spoke with Rolly at the Port Hope Fair this year where he
was showing his beautiful Oliver 66. This tractor has special significance
because it was his Dad’s. “ I have the original Bill of Sale.” he said with
pride. The tractor was purchased new from Virtue’s Garage in Tyron Ontario
in 1951 for the sum of $1975.00,
this included a trade in of a three wheeled General Tractor and cultivator.
There was no tax on that sale.
The Oliver 66 came with no
PTO, a six speed gearbox, four cylinder Waukesha engine, belt pulley, and no
hydraulics. Rolly recalls how five years later his dad purchased a New
Holland baler, PTO driven, and had the PTO installed on the tractor. “Dad
called the dealer and the guy came, I watched him install the shaft and bolt
it in place.
In about 15 minutes we had
Live Power Take Off”. After serving faithfully on the family farm for a
generation, the tractor was sold. When you are young and the tractor is old,
there isn’t much sentiment at the time of the sale. But as we grow older we
search for ties to our youth, and memories of the tractor dad owned, and you
drove, take on a new meaning. How many of us have said “If only I had kept
it.” Fortunately for Rolly, dad’s tractor did not disappear for ever. It was
found, in a state of deterioration from years of sitting idle under a
makeshift cover. The
engine was seized solid recalled Rolly. The
hood had a big hole carved into it to accept an after market muffler, the
head lights were sagging down, the throttle lever was jammed tight with
rust, it was a sorry sight, but it was home again.
Restoration began with a complete over haul of the engine. The engine kit
included a new set of pistons fitted into over bored cylinders. Rolly
figures the stock 20 horsepower has increased slightly with the larger
volume. The hole in the hood has been closed up, and not a trace is left of
the scar. In place of the wrong muffler is a stock exhaust system with the
classic straight pipe coming up through the hood, where it is supposed to
be. The original 6 volt electrical system is intact with rebuilt starter
and generator. The instruments were beyond repair and have been replaced.
The driver’s seat had a special rubber torsion suspension system that was
adjustable to suit the operator’s weight. This was also to badly
deteriorated to be used , and was replaced by a new reproduction, built on
the original metal core. This seat suspension was an Oliver innovation that
improved driver comfort explains Rolly. The rear tires are original, even
after all this time. Additional ballast was supplied by iron wheel weights
instead of the traditional fluid in the tires. The metal surfaces were
cleaned by Diamond Sand Blasting. Shirley Beckett made a new set of labels
and Rolly did the painting. When all seemed ready for the initial start,
water streaming from the radiator caused a halt to the proceedings until a
new core was installed.
Rolland Bowman and his Oliver 66
The Bowman’s have several Oliver tractors but
the 66 is special. In spite of its status as the Family Heirloom , it still earns its keep by providing
the power to sew grain, haul wagons and drive a PTO driven wood splitter.
The 66 is also taken to shows such as the Port Hope Fair and HAHC annual
Antique Machinery Show. It took second place at the Port Hope Fair this year
for the Oldest Family Owned Tractor.
Rolly is active with 4H Club
Plowing and has used the 66 in competitions and in coaching and plowing
demonstrations for the club members. He has installed a draw bar adjusting
lever for competition plowing and hopes to continue with the 66 and its
matched two furrow plow in local matches. Now
that his dad’s tractor, restored to its original condition, is safe back at
home, Rolly says it will not leave the family again. His three sons are all
avid tractor collectors
so it should be a safe bet that the 66 will
remain in the Bowman name for a long time to come. The bill of sale has been
carefully laminated to keep it in original shape as well. Congratulations to
Rolland Bowman and his family for their contribution to the restoration and
preservation of our Agricultural Heritage.
Thanks to Editor Glen Bradley for this for a great
example of our clubs purpose.
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