[Farmall] OT: NY Times Online Article on IH Travelall + Memories

[Chuck Bealke]

Folks,

For those of you into IH trucks and other non-tractor vehicles,
there is an interesting article in the New York Times online that
describes the Travelall as the first SUV.  It was just about 50 years
ahead of its time.  The article lives at 
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/02/automobiles/collectibles/02INTER.html?ex=1190174400&en=4b0970686c14b133&ei=5070 .

Viewing the online NYT requires registration, but for this and most
other articles, I think it is still free.  (At least, I have never been asked to
pay or given them CC or other billing info in my years of use.)

The page opens with a splendid color rendition of a '53-'54 Travelall.  Among
other things, the piece notes that in 1910 International was the 
fourth-largest company in America (ranked by value of assets).
There is also a too-short slide show of the company trucks - starting
with the Auto Wagon in 19O9 and ending with the latest descendant, 
the biggie pickup - listed in the article for viewing at
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/08/31/automobiles/20070902INTER_index.html.

The write-up brought back lots of memories.
While it was my good fortune to operate the company's Farmalls
for several years, the only IH truck I ever drove was a neighbor's
1936 International Panel truck.  

The truck was heavy as sin, with mechanical brakes and stout 
wire wheels - definitely not a vehicle for the physically challenged or those in
a hurry.  Rear vision from the driver's seat was, shall we say, limited.
It was one rugged machine.  Bumpers, door handles and
such were solid and looked and felt like they would last
forever.  Neither quick stops nor freeway road speed were available.
Stamina was. It was already twenty-years old when I drove it and 
had been in constant service.  (The farmer's brother had been an IH truck mechanic.)
The stout straight-six engine had a distinctive sound, and even
though it had a decent muffler, you would never sneak
up on anybody with it.  Kinda miss it and the folks that owned it.
The neighbor peddled vegetables out of the back of it and also used it to haul
the other fruits and vegetables he raised. Most of the years I knew him, he had a big
Percheron and Belgian team to work his ground.  They took way more acres for hay than he had 
in vegetables. But when the horses got old, he finally bought a Farmall Super A.  He
missed the horses for a little while but then grew quite fond of the tractor. Me too.

_|___\  __   
|_____/    \  ~ Chuck Bealke ~ bealke at airmail.net ~ 
( )       \__/             http://www.plowsong.com