[AT] Tractor collecting question - wishing

[Ken Knierim]

On Sun, Dec 20, 2009 at 5:55 PM, Herbert Metz <metz-h.b at mindspring.com>wrote:

> Ken, you would certainly enjoy the Tulare, CA tractor show. We were at the
> April 2008 show (they were featuring AllisChalmers); the number and huge
> variety of CAT, Holt, Best was certainly an exceptional situation to
> experience. The facility is state owned, and almost all packed sand (with
> large water trailer spraying as needed); so the track units were permitted
> to drive around some and participate in the daily parade.  Will probably
> never get back there again.  If you have not been there, you need to
> somehow work it into a business/training trip, etc.
> Ken or Gene,      The Cases -- an early L was a crossmotor?  and the
> exhaust whistle?   and the opposed 4's?   I have seen several, but never
> running when I was around.
> Thank You
> Herb
>
>
Herb,
    I intended to catch the Tulare show about 8 years ago or so, when I went
to get a D Case for parts (which ended up being an operable DV after
replacing a bevel shaft bearing). I met with Karl Olmstead and a friend of
his and with everything involved I didn't get to see more than the outside
edge of the Tulare show and have always wanted to get back there. Heck I
finally made it to the Portland show this year and didn't have enough time
to spend there either.

The Crossmotors were a different design from the L's though how different
I'm not sure. The Exhaust whistle showed up in some of the catalogs and was
an option you could buy. I've seen one at the local shows and it's something
"for the man who has everything". I'd probably be ahead making my own since
I'll probably never be able to afford one. :)

The opposed 4's don't go fast, but look like they're made from bridge iron.
They seem to go slow and stately along, though I'm sure they were more than
a handful trying to keep them going in a straight line across a field. Those
were the days when torque was important and lubricants and fuel were rather
primitive (I am not sure the fuel is much better, but I bet it's more
consistent). There's something about air-cooled valve gear that speaks from
a bygone era to me. :)

Ken in AZ