This is Model W 20-30 Rumely Oil Pull. These were made 1928 to 1930, and were rated for 30 horsepower on the belt. The old tractor does pretty well for about 95 years, peaking at 27 horsepower. Kids are special. The little guy doesn't realize that he is getting a rare treat, riding around with his dad on an old Oil Pull tractor. He will figure that out soon enough. This touching scene happened at Rollag, Minnesota, Labor Day weekend, 2023.
I appreciated it when Dad moved the young man away from the belt and pulley.
ReplyDeleteMy first job after active duty was a service tech with Clayton Manufacturing. They made boilers, automotive test electronics, and engine and chassis dynamometers.
Some of the dynos were drive onto models and they were used to test the torque in the car and included units large enough that a diesel tractor would be driven onto the dyno, then chained in place so the truck could be tested at road speeds and road load.
During the test the driver sits in the cab and controls the dyno with a pendant.
We got an emergency service call from a truck repair place near Baltimore one day and the highly excited voice on the phone said that when they were testing a tractor under load, the roller brakes applied themselves and the truck launched off of the dyno, and proceeded at a great rate of speed through the shop, exited via the luckily open doors and finally was brought to a stop in the yard by the driver.
No damage, no injuries, and I strongly suspect that a new set of work clothing, and a thorough cleaning of the seat might have been needed.
I was the tech that had to go on site, and when the screaming died down, I produced the numerous previous inspection reports that said the dyno pit tended to flood, and that sooner or later the flooding was going to cause short circuits and problems.
In each case the service manager was both the one screaming and the one whose signature was on the inspection report.
I spent the day moving all the electrical boxes out of the pit and onto the wall near the pit.
I had not remembered that for quite some time.
My minds eye pictured the events quite clearly, and I'm pretty sure that the tires weren't the only screams.