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40 of 41 found the following review helpful:
 Old Tractors Jan 21, 2008
By A. D. Cox
Old Tractors
I find myself on a back road, late at night, with a flat tire. It's not snowing heavy--well, not yet--but there are flurries dancing in the beam of my headlights. Okay, headlight--I still haven't fixed the passenger side headlight after I hit that deer. I take the flat off. I hate having to do anything with my car. I am male and so I am obliged to pretend I know something about cars. I mean, if there is steam coming out from under my hood, I will open the hood and stare at the engine just like I am diagnosing the problem. All the time, I am hoping someone will stop by and help, or at least offer me a shotgun so I may put the car out of my misery, but hey, I can handle a flat...
I believe that's why I find the tractor books by Roger Welsch so appealing. The first rule of writing is to write what you know. If you write all you know, and you don't learn anything new, then what is there to write about? Welsch is a retired college professor from Nebraska who was about as mechanical as myself. He had never even changed the oil in his car. He still doesn't, and so what could be more natural than writing a book about how to get rusted piece of iron running again?
Old Tractors and the Men Who Love Them is about rebuilding a 1937 Allis Chalmers WC tractor. Welsch is a folklorist and humorist who has appeared on the CBS News Sunday Morning program with a segment called "Postcards from Nebraska". There's lot old Rog doesn't know, and he's the first to admit it. "Okay, so I don't know many of the answers," explains Roger. "Thing is, most books like this are written by experts who have forgotten the kinds of problems beginners like me run into." He may not have all the answers, but he knows all the questions.
So, why restore an old tractor? Well, for one reason everything is right there. You don't even have to lean over to reach the oil filter. It's at waist level, right where any sensible person would expect it to be. An Allis WC has exactly four wires, one to each spark plug, which sits right out in plain sight. You don't need a lot of tools to work on them. It was understood by the manufacturer that these tractors were going to be worked on by a farmer without a lot of time and who owned a couple of wrenches, a screwdriver with a broken tip, and a hammer.
Sometimes, it is just as important to know what not to do, and Roger gives many examples of his mistakes. For example, you should never eat peanuts in the shop. Anyone who has ever had red squirrels in their attic can identify with the why. These little pests will stash peanuts in transmissions, valve covers, rag boxes, and everywhere else they can squirm.
There's some good solid advice for a mechanical novice. Welsch covers the basics like the shop, tools, safety equipment, and resources. He does all this with a quirky sense of humor, observations on life, and how to manage to stay married while dragging home yet another pile of orange rust. He makes tractor-restoring sound therapeutic and fun and heck, I feel like even I could do it. If you enjoy this book, be sure to check out his follow-up, Busted Tractors and Rusty Knuckles. Thing is, learning is a process. Hmm, maybe instead writing what I know, I'll write about what I want to know...
Author of "Hobo Finds A Home" and editor "Of A Predatory Heart"
8 of 10 found the following review helpful:
A New Look at Old Tractors Jan 18, 2000
This has been one of the most entertaining books I have read in a long time. Makes Tractor restoring sound like anyone could do it (he says he had never changed the oil in his car). If you are not sure whether you want to restore antique farm tractors, this books for you. You'll be tractor hunting when you finish it.
5 of 6 found the following review helpful:
You have to read this book! May 05, 1999
This book is one the antique tractor restorer - and anyone with an interest in tractors or machinery - *must* read. Welsch's humor and tales add a great deal to the subject matter - I laughed out loud a number of times while reading the book. There are many not-so-obvious and simple-but-great ideas about working on old equipment, all of which are presented from the viewpoint of a person that considered himself a very beginning amateur (he had never even changed his own engine oil). This book is understandable and enjoyable regardless of your skill level or mechanical ability - I suspect many will read it just for the humor.
4 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Roger and Tractors - Old Iron meets it's match Jul 06, 2002
By Sean P. McInerney
Roger has a great story to tell about Men and Tractors. Using a homey kind of "front porch" story telling, Roger tells us about his steadfast affection (obsession) with old forgotten tractors. It read like I was right there in the shop with him looking over his shoulder. Given his keen wit, there is something to make you smile on each page.The book is punctuated with articles he has written for various publications and of course advice. Lots of advice. For the novice restorer, there are plenty of tips and the appendix contains a good deal of information. A tractor lover would appreciate this book the most, but any tinker who is even slightly mechanically inclined will appreciate it as well. Thanks Roger!
4 of 5 found the following review helpful:
this Central Nebraska humorist is great Dec 27, 2001
For anyone from rural anywhere, you can recognize people from your own town in Mr Welsch's writing. He is not the typical Nebraska farmer though. Not in the same vein as those who have struggled to make ends meet.. Mr Welsch ads humor to a life that can't be beat. It reminds me a lot of why we do it.. Because I wouldn't do anything else
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