Forrest Pence collection

[Andrew Yeary]

I just got word the other day from Dan Ehlerding who left the collection and its new owner that all the loose mags, carbs, and lubricaters were stolen. Its a shame that people are like that. Just thought I'd pass the news.

[Craig A]

That's a dirty shame!!!!!!!!!!
It's also part of the price of "celebrity".......and it's very unfortunate.
From what I have HEARD that must have been quite a pile to abscond with.
I doubt the "new" owner, a neighbor/friend, has internet access but it would sure pay to keep an eye on Ebay and swaps out that way for a while.........IF anything COULD be POSITIVELY identified..................
Nobody could possibly NEED that quantity of stuff so you KNOW it's gonna show up somewhere sooner or later................I'm betting SOONER.......
Craig

[Andrew Yeary]

There was over 100 Mags from what I understand. Those alone are extreamly valuable. I don't know that they could be postivly Identified . The amount of the things taken has to be worth some pretty good jail time. Its a shame peoples values are that way. It would be great if the guilty one or ones could be caught. Just leaves a sour taste in your mouth anyway you look at it.

[Rennie Elliott]

I'm just wondering how practical it would be to put identification on or inside the mag or carb or lubricator, on the one hand if you mark the visible exterior you would alter it's value, and if you are going through the flea market or looking on ebay it might be tough to demand an internal examination. Robbing mags, and then carbs, seems to be the most common theft. A friend of mine had a special mag robbed from his barn during a lawn sale and he knew of only 3 engines that could use it, the owner of one having been there that day, but that isn't proof. The next most common thing is someone stealing the radiator, especially at current prices for copper The only thing I can see that would come out of id engraved inside a mag is depending on the honesty of someone rebuilding it, and since there are a number of places that rebuild and sell vintage mags and carbs, all someone has to do is say they came out of their uncle's or grandpa's barn or garage. A friend of mine literally had a locked strap put over the 4 cyl. mag on his tractor because twice it was stolen during the local county fair, and that was 30 years ago! Probably the only more annoying thing is when someone pops off the brand and serial # plates

[Ross Clarke]

Stories like above are the reason I am leary of "advertising" what I have in my yard and collection.
A good friend of mine still has his father's rather impressive collection of engines and tractors.
He showed some people thru one day.
Not long after he realised the carb was missing off a very complete unrestored Waterloo Boy.

[John Tysse Jr.]

When I saw this posted on Harry's I called the fellow who has Forrests Collection now. He was on the farm but I talked to his wife and she knew nothing about anything have been stolen. That evening the owner called me back and he said he knew nothing about anything missing and said nothing was gone as far as he knew. I don't know why people start such stories with out checking things out first. Is as much truth to this as there was a while back when a fellow had seen a Avery Undermount so large it made the 30 & 40 Averys look small. John Tysse Jr

[Andrew Yeary]

Well John I don't know why I would have been lied to. I did not call the owner of the collection to verify the story as I had no need to. I have never been lied to or have any reason to doubt what I was told by the guy. I guess you found out otherwise. My intentions were not to stir up a post but rather to inform if it did happen that ther might be some stuff thats stolen showing up. The next time I post I'll clear it with you John and make sure you agree with what I say.

[John Tysse Jr.]

Andrew Yeary. I have no idea as to why someone would start such a story and have no intention of "stirring up a post" but as you say if something was stolen wanted to know for sure so in case something was offered for sale might be some of the stolen items also felt sorry for Jerry losing that stuff so thats the reason I called him and found out was nothing to it and might say was happy to hear that as I know the feeling of having something stolen. When this does happen anybody could be a suspect so the sooner the crook is caught the better for everybody. No need to check with me on any future posts as that is not my intention but if I see something that find out or know is not correct will comment on it. John Tysse Jr

[Tony Thompson]

Wonderfull news gentlemen ! now we can focus on the fact that this alledged theft was only a rumor. Antique tractor collecting continues to be the fastest growing hobby on the planet (I checked,that is a fact), and the vast majority of its people are good ,honest, and make sincere friends. Take this enjoyable, and informative global forum as a good example - EVERYONE can participate. We are free to chant our litany of frustration,share embarrassments, and laugh together, and yet it stays in control. Pat yourselves on the back guys and gals, your the best

[Craig A]

Thanks to all in this thread.
Perhaps Dan simply misunderstood a remark or statement and things went from there..........a simple mistake..........
At any rate, no harm done, it has a happy ending and the lesson to be learned is valuable...
Craig

[Rennie Elliott]

There always seems to be a tendency for clubs or hobbies to get people who want to control everything, buy and sell everything, or put their noses up and tell people they might better scrap something than try restoring it, (but they'd gladly haul it away for you) I've seen it happen with antique cars, trucks and railroad equipment, so I stick with what I know (Linn) but I like anything that can plow snow or dirt or move logs. I can see why tractor collecting is the fastest growing, it's for people who don't mind getting dirty and making lots of noise

[Ask The User]

Not to stir the pot but it's possible that the new owner doesn't know how much may be missing. I wouldn't discount the information if I personally heard it from Dan, which I didn't. I've known Dan long enough and been on enough trips with him to tell you, once he's seen a part, he never forgets where it's at. Just another viewpoint.

[Dick Hamilton]

Rennie, thanks for changing the topic for a short minute. I like that picture you posted of the Linn with trailer. Is it in somebody's collection or just a wish it was in mine? Dick in the warm Finger Lake Region of NYS.

[Rennie Elliott]

It's from the 1921 Linn Catalog, units like this were supplied to the Carter Oil Co. and Hope Natural Gas Co. building pipelines in Western VA, etc., nice little Continental 40 hp 4 cyl with Brown Lipe model 60, 4 speed, weight under 5 ton. The really neat variant was by 1919 they not only offered the wheeled semi-trailer, but one with sled runners for logging. I'm having trouble re-sizing small enough to use pictures here so am pirating pics already in thumbnail size
Funny thing about rumours is sometimes they get started by accident, I once enquired about a logging job site, asking if any machinery such as a Linn powerunit was left at the sawmill when a contractor went bankrupt, a friend asked around, within a year everyone was sure that there was equipment there because people were talking about it. Another friend of mine did track down the power unit to a junkyard in Utica, NY but got there a week too late.

[Rennie Elliott]

This is a Linn tractor shooting itself in the foot, paving roads which steel cleats are banned from. Although if you took the patented v-shaped grousers off it wouldn't be as bad, they did try rubber pads but they lost a lot of traction. Because Linn was never track steer, they used the v-shape to prevent side slipping on slopes, this also mattered when pushing a plow through deep snow. Linn had experience with Lombard equipment using straight edge cleats and spike track inserts on ice and found they didn't work as well, and chewed up the ice. As you know when they built the "ice roads" for logging they had to plow and water the roads at night so they would freeze thick enough to support 12 tons of sleigh and load, I believe that this was as enviromentally friendly as you can get as far as hauling logs from the forest (well maybe not the part about driving logs down river in spring?). Linn argued for retaining the horse for skidding out to the main hauls where sleds were loaded, rather than driving the tractor to the stump, obviously it was to his advantage, science has since proved it was the wisest forest practice.