Antique Tractors Forum

[Old Binder Guy]

Mike1111,
Thanks so much for posting that link! Our farm near Lewistown, Montana, was about 5 miles southwest of the upwind pattern exit of Runway 25 at the Lewistown airport. During WWII, the Army Air Base at Great Falls built their east base, now Malmstrom AFB, but they built bases at Lewistown and Cut Bank, Montana. My friend Austin Monk, who built the Peerless steam engine that pulls the 20-bottom plows I used to run, was a "Cat skinner and grader operator" on that B-17 base at Lewistown. They built miles and miles of runway there. Lewistown is still regarded as the most complete B-17 base extant. It still has the hanger, tie down pads, some other structures and lots of memories for guys like me. Lewistown was chosen as it is only about 50-75 miles from the badlands of eastern Montana, where they did their practice bombing runs, saving much in fuel and time. I'll remember those B-17 planes roaring overhead forever! I only wish I could impart that sound and image to others.
Gary
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Life is what happens when you were on the way to do something else.

[DaYankie]

Love the photos!!

[Old Binder Guy]

Thanks DY
_________________
Life is what happens when you were on the way to do something else.

[20 Reeves Highwheeler]

My friend Mike of Helena, Montana is a former Pennsylvanian, as the owner of this Stanley Steamer Mountain Wagon (three rows of seats) is. Mike took this picture at Sommerset, VA at the Steam and Gas Pasture Party this past summer. Willis Abel, owner of the 20hp (the big engine... The small one is a 10hp in the automobiles) Stanley Steamer takes this car many places. He has had it at Wauseon, Ohio and Mason, Michigan and who know where else? It will cruise at 75 mph with the freeway traffic and will easily pull out and pass darn near anyone he wants to with it. I have a Stanley Steamer hubcap in my hubcap collection in "memory lane" threads, and it came from my friend Willis. He has restored several Stanley Steamer automobiles.
Gary

[20 Reeves Highwheeler]

I debated about posting this picture in the "Ford tractor" area, but I chose to put it here. It is an automobile - conversion to tractor sold by Montgomery-Ward and is owned by a friend near Kalispell. Many of these conversions were taken on and off, as needed on the road, or in the field. This one never went back to being an automobile after it was converted, as I know the grandson of the original owner.



Everyone who has studied old cars has heard of the mighty Stutz Bearcat speedster of circa 1912. Everyone with "spunk" wanted one then, just as people with "spunk" want a Corvette nowadays. (yes, I had spunk back in the 1960s. I had a 1965 Coupe. Yes... I wish I still had it.)

Anyway, this huge Touring Car with its magnificent wire wheels is a Stutz Bulldog. This picture was taken of me peering into it in 1958 on a trip through Rapid City, South Dakota. Something that fascinated me, as I was a smoker (yuk!) back then, it had a cigarette lighter on the dashboard. The element faced outward and had a button on the side. If you pulled on the dash piece, it pulled outward and reached into the back seat area, on a retractible device, like a window shade or trouble light in your shop. It was quite a car!
Gary

[20 Reeves Highwheeler]

I think I may have posted this beautiful touring car in the steam thread, but it belongs here as well, if in fact I did do that. I don't remember what I had for breakfast.

This is friend and "cousin" Dan Tombrink of Columbia Falls, about 10 miles from where I'm sitting. He is seated behind the steering wheel of his brother (my friend as well) Dick's 1924(?) Stanley Steamer Touring Car at Worden, Montana. Worden is about 40 miles east of Billings and they have a fine steam show there each summer, which Dick is the principal steam engine owner.
Gary

[20 Reeves Highwheeler]

BettyP,
You asked me something quite a while back regarding Glacer National Park. I don't remember answering you, but it is a stunning place. The "Going to the Sun Road" is one of the most awesome and breath taking rides possible. The road was built with CCC labor in the depths of the Great Depression. The cost to build it today would out of reach, and you'd never get anything in court to halt the lawsuits trying to stop such a project. I love old number one, Yellowstone National Park, but the second, Glacier National Park is more pristine.

Now with all that said, this postcard of mine shows some of the old red White Motor Coaches that used to haul passengers in the park (Yellowstone used Yellow colored White Motor Coaches.). Notice that front huge old touring car. That is a 1929 Cadillac the park owned and used to haul special people. Dale is a good friend of mine in Whitefish, who operates the school bus system, motor coaches and Hertz Rent-A-Car agency #1. He bought this Cadillac about 8 years ago at a huge estate auction in Kalispell and with it came a photograph of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the back seat. It is still a beautiful old original touring car.



This is a picture of Sharon's grandparents and her father & siblings on a campout in the Little Belt Mountains, the southwest border of the Judith Basin. That is their Oldsmobile V-8 touring car there, I believe.



I really like this picture of my wife, Sharon, of 45 years. She is shown running a hose on their farm near Moore(Eddie's Corner), Montana. The truck is a circa 1928 Chevrolet and the car was their 1936 Ford Fordor Deluxe. She was five years old, so this is a pretty old picture, I guess!
Gary

[20 Reeves Highwheeler]

This is a picture of me driving a good friend's 1925 Star Coupe for a wedding parade back in the late 1960s. It was a real nice automobile, as I recall. That 1959 Chevy Belaire wasn't real new then and less new now!



This is a picture I found of my good, late friend Austin Monk, going for a ride with me in the 1925 Model TT at our local tractor show about 6 or 7 years ago. I often pick up old timers and take them for a ride. They love it!



This is kind of a delapidated old 1918 Model T Roadster my brother owned, but it was fun to drive. I remember taking it to Lewistown to be in parades. The crowds seemed to like it and it ran like a top. Some of the reason it ran so well was it had an Atwater Kent distributor ignition. Bill got this Model T for hauling it away. It wasn't drivable and didn't have a front axle or wheels under it, but that is still a pretty cheap price!
Gary

[20 Reeves Highwheeler]

I just posted this photo in my Memory Lane thread, but it belongs here as well. My lovely wife of nearly 45 years, Sharon, is posing on her fairly new bicycle in 1952. I don't know what kind of car that was back there for sure? It is likely a Buick or Oldsmobile... something General Motors anyway and it was near Moore, Montana.



This next picture is of her father, Lynn Simpson, and the 1926 Model T Ford Tudor Sedan he drove circa 1930.



This next picture is of the same Model T Tudor, with her Mother, Cleo, standing by it in Lewistown while she and Sharon's dad were dating.



Soon afterward, Lynn bought this 1929 Model A Ford Coupe, which I'm sure made his drive to Lewistown much more pleasurable. While I'm a died in the wool Model T guy, the Model A was a much faster and more dependable car.
Gary

[JJ. in B.C.]

Thanks for sharing those Gary,
Love those ol' pics
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JJ.

[20 Reeves Highwheeler]

JJ,
I'm glad you like them! My lovely wife would say, "Don't encourage him!"
Gary

[20 Reeves Highwheeler]

I apologize for placing pictures of new cars on here, but this is my son Mike's 1957 Chevy Belaire, "Gertrude." He earned the money his hs junior summer and drove this to school his senior year. This picture was taken about 15+ years ago when Pam and he got married in Missoula. And, he still has it in his shpo at Helena, Montana.



This next picture is of my friend Chady Atteberry's 1915 Model T Roadster , "Henry," in Oklahoma.



This is my friend Chady's Model TT Truck. That cab is one of the early types build by cabinet or carriage makers. Notice the model operational Nichols & Shepard steam engine and threshing machine.
Gary

[brasherman]

OK, I will encourage you...


"MORE PICS PLEASE!!!!"

Does that work? I love your pics and knowledge. Should dig up the pic of what a 1936 truck looks like after being in MI for a few years!

[kiwi071]

Gary I will put my spoke in for more,you have the gift of writing so everyone
knows what your on about
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kiwicolin

[Red Rocket]

Gary, those are wonderful photos with wonderful stories to go with them.
Thank you so much for sharing them with us!