Weekend Christmas Picking!

[whfan74 2,066]

Went up to Michigan for family Christmas this weekend and had a good time seeing family members that I haven't seen in quite a while. It was a very adventerous trip to say the least.

Saturday morning the family loaded up in the truck with the landscape trailer in tow. Had to make a little detour on the way to drop off a 654 to a gentleman up in Michigan. The problem was there was a small sheet of ice all the way from Fort Wayne, IN to Ann Arbor, MI. Saw numersous slide offs, two cars flipped over, and plenty of emergency personnel earning their money unfortunately. Needless to say we made it safely, just turned a 3 1/2 hour drive in to a 5 hour one.

Woke up Sunday morning and the wife and kids headed back with mom to Indiana, while Dad and I hopped in the truck at 9 a.m. and headed north. Met a really nice couple that had a Wheel Horse dealership that unfortunately had to close down due to the poor economy. We stopped in at the old shop and purchased a few things.

Was able to grab two lighted signs that are in perfect shape, just need a real good cleaning. Here they are with Dad making sure everything was secure for the long ride home.

We made it in to the shop and grabbed the rest of their Tecumseh parts and a handful of Briggs Parts. Grabbed a few 3 ring binders of Kohler, Walbro, etc manuals. Also had every microfiche card known to man thrown in on the deal. Anything from Wheel Horse to Kohler and everything in between.

Then we headed over to their home and felt like American Pickers as we were allowed to crawl, climb, and search through their unwanted items. The back of the truck was full as well as the back seat in the truck. It was a great day and more importantly another journey that dad and I were able to share in the hobby. Made it back home at 6:30 and was very glad to look over the goodies, but more excited about finally being out of the truck for a while!

[rexman72 210]

good find and good to see some white stuff on the ground somewhere.

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330]

Santa started his trip early... Great to see you get those signs and preserve them in your awesome shop !!

[dclarke 4,032]

Nice find Scott, be sure to post pics of some of the other "goodies" you got.

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Can't wait to see the rest of the Wheelhorse sign when it's all lit up, and in it's place. Did you also get all the individual letters in order to customize it's message?

Looks like everyone had wonderful trip in spite of all the bad weather.

Merry Christmas to all there. :text-merryxmas:

[whfan74 2,066]

Thanks guys! We were very fortunate to find all of the goodies. As far as pictures of some of the other things, that may be tough. Worked a few hours over in the barn this morning organizing all of our exisisting Tecumseh parts with our new ones and putting them in bins to be stored. Still have quite a bit to do but now we will be able to locate parts much more efficiently.

We brought back an idler pulley for a tiller, lift bar for a snow thrower, front tach-a-matic, spindles, mower deck parts, draw hitch, and some other odds and ends that have already been placed in boxes. Also grabbed a plastic insert for Echo chain saws lighted sign. No framework, just the plastic. That will be for sale once I get it cleaned up.

Picked up two large Kohler 3 ring binders that are about 5 inches thick each, as well as Walbro shop manuals and a bunch of kits.

Another nice score was the big load of microfiche cards to go with the one's that we already have. Cards include, Wheel Horse tractors and attachments, Kohler, Briggs, Tecumseh, Lawn Boy, AYP, Kawasaki, McCulloch and some others that I can't think of off the top of my head. We will go through everything and see what we have duplicates of and maybe take the extras to some swap meets, shows, etc.

All in all it was a fun trip.

**Craig........only received the letters that were already mounted in the sign. Looks like I will be ordering some soon to make it personalized for our shop.

[stevasaurus 22,764]

Great trip Scott.

That Wheel Horse sign looks like one I picked up from TomWH1971, and took to Brrly1, who gave it to Carl...who lives in the house that Jack built. :rolleyes:

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Man, if that's the same sign, it sure gets around.

[71_Bronco 1,072]

Man, if that's the same sign, it sure gets around.

Kinda like my Bronco... LOL

Nice signs there!

[Jake Kuhn 1,555]

Very nice finds Scott! I have the same big sign but don't have any room to put it up at the house so might have to put it up at the farm.When I see yours up it may motivate me,Jake

[Trouty56 567]

That Wheel Horse sign looks like one I picked up from TomWH1971, and took to Brrly1, who gave it to Carl...who lives in the house that Jack built.

Steve, that really put a smile on my ol face....thanks. Haven't heard that for a looooong time

[whfan74 2,066]

Nope this is a different sign taken down off of a pole at an old closed up Wheel Horse dealership in Michigan!

[stevasaurus 22,764]

Trouty...I think that Scott may be tooooo young to appreciate all that.

[whfan74 2,066]

Come on Steve.......I took my diaper off more than a few years ago!