Oct. 07, 2025
Meeting Place: Gilbert High School Classroom – 7 p.m.
Welcome \ Introductions: Don kicked off our meeting.
Guest and family additions: none
Treasurer Report: $1,400~
Old Business: Pay your dues we still have people who owe.
New Business: Bob talked to a gal about us touring the Blood Dairy or Marshall Ridge Dairy for out Dec. 6th club meeting and Annual Winter outing. Time to be there should be 10 a.m. Where to eat is to be determined. It might have to be back at Ames at Chicken Ranch.
The annual toy show in Dyersville is Nov. 9th
Discussion Items: A guy name Dosh is looking for his grandpa’s tractor. It was an Oliver 1600 sold to someone in Gilbert around the May 30th, 1960. If you know of anyone who may have bought or have this tractor, please let us know.
Auction or Threshing events: None
For Sale or Wish List: Bruce still has Olivers, 8n Ford and Ford Garden tractors for sale. A friend of Al’s has a 61 John Deer A, runs, and it’s for sale.
Presentation: Harley Trapper, has a John Deere 730, 1959 tractor. It’s the same year he was born. One of the last jobs it was used for was drying corn. For a while it was parked in a barn with an Alis parked in front of it. Nine years ago, they pulled it out so he could restore it to surprise his dad. Eventually they pulled it 20 ft and it actually started. He started actually restoring it in Feb. 2025 and finished in June 2025. He had to hurry to get it done so his dad who was in the VA could see it. They took a 4-generation picture with the tractor. It was his dad, his grandson, his son and Harley in the picture with the tractor. It never had lights when he picked corn or baled hay. The tractor was rebuilt in a city garage at his new home in Ames. Most of it was sand blasted; however, the body was not sand blasted as he didn’t want sand in the bearing, seals, and such. He did sand blast small parts. He used a wire brush and industrial oven cleaner on the body. He took it down to the raw metal and used primer where possible.
People talked about and mentioned Brian Ihle 515-964-9095 of BC Auto Electric by Slater. He called some guy to help with electrical on light switch.
The tractor has a 24 volt electric start which is unique. Harley called a guy in West VA. For tractor wiring help. After a 45 min. call it was determined it was the starter and bad regulator. The guy was John Brilman, founder and CEO of the company where and when the wiring harness was originally made.
He hired Mike to paint the tractor. Mike, the guy who painted the tractor, didn’t like the JD paint and repainted some areas for free once he found out the tractor was going to be on display at events. Mike came to his garage to redo the hood. Then he saw something on the seat he didn’t like and redid that as well. Some of the repainting was where there were decals. Harley bought new decals, but the painting was redone at no charge.
Harley worked for Maytag as a repairman, and at the post office. He had his tractor on display in the shop.