My new unexpected tractor

[formariz 11,987]

I am posting this here because although it is about my new tractor the real story is the sadness involved when one’s parents pass and the children have to deal with their possessions.

I never really wanted to buy a tractor , I was really just curious about it and wanted to take a look. 
  So in the town next to me there was an add about an estate sale. In the photos provided I noticed a horse in the garage. Started early in the morning but I forgot about it and when I remembered later in the day while running some errands and decided to check it out. It was already rather late in the day and I even thought it would be over. As I pull up there are no cars or people like usually at these events. The garage is open and I see a lady in there sweeping so I go in and introduce myself. I notice right away that she is not well . It was obvious that she had been crying . I asked her if she was ok if there was anything I could do. After a few minutes as she calms down she tells me that this was her parents home where she grew up. Her mother passed away and she now had to dispose of pretty much everything and the house. Her father had already passed away 16 years ago. What upset her so much was the fact that as she described the whole day was a total stampede of people turning everything upside down. She was alone and obviously not ready or counting on such a turnout. Even though she sold lots of stuff she felt guilty and sad having to do it aggravated by how the place was left.
 

  I now feel bad about her situation and apologize for showing up now and adding to her grief and tell her that I really just wanted to look at the tractor. Now she starts crying again. Her father bought it new and loved it. She and her children now adults learned how to drive on it. She says tractor still there , then that  someone even stole the gas cap off of it during the stampede. So tractor was indeed there . It is a Lawn Ranger with the proper plow still mounted and everything original on it nothing missing besides the gas cap . Her father obviously loved it . It is in great shape with his custom touches on it. It has character. There is also the right deck in great shape, a sweeper and an aerator.it hasn’t worked in 16 years but engine turns . I asked since her father bought it new if she had any paperwork for it such as a manual. Answer was yes her father kept everything. She goes upstairs for a bit and comes back with it along with other paperwork for sweeper receipts included and a photo of her father driving her children around taken 34 years ago. 
 
  Now I feel bad and can’t leave without feeling guilty about adding to her grief. My mind is racing on what to do. Then I think . A  little Lawn Ranger is a perfect tractor for a little girl. Perfect for my granddaughter.  That is it. I ask her what she would like for it. She thinks about it for a little and asks me if $150.00 is ok for everything. I told no it’s not enough . If she allows me to make a copy of her fathers photo I will double her asking price. Since I wasn’t planning to get a tractor much less with all the attachments I had to ask her if she could keep it for a little while .  I have received since then several texts from her on how happy she was I got it and if I could send her photos of it being used by my granddaughter when I got it going.  I was happy that I helped her day end on a better note than it started.

I will post better photos of it when I get it.

 

 

[Yossarian 208]

Thank you for being you.

 

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

Wheel Horse people are such nice people! 

and you sir, have the heart in the right place!

Looks like a sweet little tractor too.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,577]

Beautiful story…

Beautiful tractor…

Beautiful action on your part…

 

[Pullstart 62,902]

Awesome story Cas, not a better recipient than you!  Well done, as always!

[ebinmaine 67,531]

Beautiful work Caz. Absolutely beautiful. 

Ya done good Mister.  

 

@Yossarian Nailed the verbage I was after. 

 

 

[953 nut 55,260]

Cas, I frequently look at your posts the first thing in the morning. The touching warmth of your posts improves my days and this is one of the best ever.   

7 hours ago, formariz said:

will post better photos of it when I get it

Looking forward to seeing it. 

[oldlineman 1,481]

953 nut as always you have taken the words right out of my mouth! The happy people in this world have learned that it's not what we get but what we give to make this world better. Well done sir, small things make a great difference in other people's lives sometimes. Bob 

[pfrederi 17,741]

Sir, you are a true gentleman

[EB-80/8inPA 1,641]

Forget Honda; you meet the nicest people on a Wheel Horse!

[pacer 3,173]

You deserve several "atta boys" - "now you right" - "get DOWN!!! - etc etc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

do

[Ed Kennell 38,181]

Great story...thanks Cas.

[Handy Don 12,232]

 

Yeah all of that.

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,309]

Great story , just waiting on more photos and information on the Horse.

[formariz 11,987]

Thank you all for the kind words . I don’t deserve such praise. She is a nice lady caught in some sad circumstances. Her parents were there 60 years and it’s the house she always lived in until married. Lots of sadness getting rid of so much so meaningful to her. I can understand how she feels.

Due to the news I got last night I had to ask her today if she could wait a little longer for me to get it. I know that I got more than a tractor.

[formariz 11,987]

So finally I poked up the little Lawn Ranger. It was a sad event for the owners daughter Anette. She and the family will however be able to share in its future happiness. As I mentioned before I got much more than just a tractor. It will be for my granddaughter.

it came with plow ,deck,aerator, and sweeper along with all paperwork from when bought new. 
From the battery it looks like it las ran around 2008. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

[Handy Don 12,232]

Enjoy it in good health. The '67 and '68 LRs were affordable as well as sturdy, strong, and capable. The are terrific examples of the best of WH, in my opinion.

 

BTW, is that a 50's Pontiac hood ornament?

[formariz 11,987]

38 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

 

BTW, is that a 50's Pontiac hood ornament?

I am curious about that myself. I was told that owner was into old cars so it may be. Perhaps someone else here can divulge its origin.

[c-series don 8,708]

I’ve always liked the curl on those plows, looks like that baby could roll some snow!!

[Pullstart 62,902]

Glad you made it home safe Cas, and the Lawn Ranger did too!

[Handy Don 12,232]

8 minutes ago, c-series don said:

I’ve always liked the curl on those plows, looks like that baby could roll some snow!!

I've used mine to re-grade a friend's gravel driveway and it surprised me how well it worked--the fixed linkage gives it good height control. The LR has a lot of spunk for pushing, too.