[Farmall] 1952 Super C

[Geoff Gauger]

That is quite a harrrowing story Art!! I am glad to hear it has a happy ending. Looking forward to seeing you and my baby at RPR 2009. I hope to have my current project ('54 Super H distillate) there and maybe we can talk Paul into bringing Maynard too. 

-----Original Message-----
>From: Arthur Umland <artsd at aol.com>
>Sent: Jul 16, 2006 8:55 PM
>To: farmall at lists.antique-tractor.com
>Subject: [Farmall] 1952 Super C
>
>    The past few days have been an exciting time for me as I traveled to 
>WI with my wife Beverly to pick up a 1952 Farmall Super C. This is not 
>just any Super C, but belonged to long time ATIS list member Paul 
>Bazzetta and was completely restored by Geoff Gauger. When I arrived at 
>Paul's home to load the tractor, I was greatly surprised to find Geoff 
>there as well. It was a pleasure meeting both of these gentlemen, and I 
>regret now not having allowed more time to visit before heading down 
>the road to SD.
>
>    As I do not have a great deal of experience with hauling tractors, 
>Paul's assistance made the difference in successfully hauling the 
>tractor to my home. I failed to arrive with enough hardware to tie the 
>tractor down and Paul was able to provide what was needed.
>
>    The return 500 mile trip started well enough late Saturday morning, 
>and after driving a short distance I stopped at a rest area and checked 
>chains and straps and all was tight. Past experience is that I have 
>usually had to snug everything up a bit after a few miles. Stopped for 
>lunch and checked everything again, but only minor adjustments were 
>needed.
>
>    Interstate 94 in WI provided some rough spots, but it was I-90 in MN 
>that really put our handiwork to the test. Unfortunately, I naively 
>thought I had everything under control and did not frequently check the 
>tie downs as the drive continued until too late. Near Albert Lea, MN 
>this lapse of judgment caught up with me. While my wife was driving, 
>the double axle trailer had a blow out of one tire on the right side. 
>Unfortunately, I did not have a spare tire with the trailer!  After a 
>short hike to a gas station near the the Albert Lea exit, I found a 
>towing service to contact, and they referred me to a tire service to 
>better deal with the problem. Of course, it is after 6 PM on a Saturday 
>evening so it was emergency service and about a 45 minute wait.
>
>    While waiting around for the tire service, I was better able to piece 
>together what happened as the trailer tire itself did not simply blow 
>out. The chain attached through a clevis on the drawbar and back to the 
>trailer frame had a tightener on it, and the handle of the tightener 
>was tied down with wire. Somewhere along the line, the rough road and 
>some larger bumps were enough to break the wire and cause the tightener 
>to open and the chain to loosen. I also had a wide strap tightener 
>running from one side to the other of the trailer and across the rear 
>rims of the tractor. After the chain loosened up, the strap also pulled 
>loose and then the metal part of the strap tightener dropped under the 
>tire and flattened it! I have yet to fully appreciate how much force it 
>would take make the lever of the chain tightener held tightly down with 
>wire to come on done, but I am sure it was considerable!
>
>    But the the grin on my face from owning this fully restored Super C is 
>still there in spite of the trailering episode. I am looking forward to 
>showing it off at the Humboldt Threshing Show the second weekend in 
>August, which is held only about 12 miles from me. And IH Collectors SD 
>Chapter 21 will host its state show at Twin Brooks near Milbank, SD the 
>third weekend in August and I plan on being there as well with the 
>Super C!
>
>    Who knows, perhaps with Red Power Roundup slated for WI in 2009 I may 
>be able to have it there so Paul and Geoff can see it again.
>
>    Art
>    
>
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