I haven’t been really active this year among the tractor crowd. I only participated in one show. Interest in my Harley won more attention. That doesn’t mean I haven’t clandestinely been on the hunt for interesting new tractors for purchase.
I’ve actually acquired four tractors. I’ve been somewhat secretive, but I have hinted I’ve been up to no good.
All four are Shaw Du-alls. I keep telling myself the reason has nothing to do with vanity. Yes they were built by a guy named Shaw. Stanley was a lot smarter though. He lived a very productive 100 years.
My fascination with Shaw tractors has more to do with the rareness. They’re not real common. Very little is known about them. Records were destroyed in !962 when Bush Hog bought Shaw’s business.
My first acquisition was a barn find. Digger Dave Kemp discovered the tractor in Duane Stones collection. Dave asked Duane if he was interested in selling. Duane replied that he was, but he heard there was a guy in New Berlin with the same last name as the tractor. Digger chuckled, telling Stoney he knew that guy!
My good friend Steve Farmer got involved. Not sure what I’d do without his expertise. Steve does a lot of mechanical work for me and helps with research.
We discovered the tractor didn’t have the original engine. There were missing parts, but with some attention and money it could be a shiny gem.
We found a Briggs & Straton power plant from the right era for the machine. The unfortunate point is we can’t exactly date the year of manufacture for the tractor, Or can we?
My next one was a parts buy. Although it may be resurrected. We’ll see. There were definitely some great parts for the barn find build.
By the way. Jerry Rawlings has also gotten involved in the barn find project. I may not claim to be adapted to mechanics, but I know the right people. Doug Edwards has been alerted that there will be need of a Krylon overhaul.
I did manage to gain a couple of implements with the parts tractor. That made that auction bid all that much sweeter.
I retrieved one,I bought last fall, while away on my TN vacation, Ironically, this one had been owned by another guy with the last name of Shaw.
Kevin Shaw is a very creative fellow, himself. If I’m not related to Stanley, he definitely is. Kevin admitted to be kindred spirits. Kevin likes to repurpose parts. Stanley was notorious for that.
On a side note ~ Kevin custom builds musical amplifiers. Just an FYI for my musical friends.
Another Shaw came up for sale before Thanksgiving. This N8W Wisconsin powered was homed in Clarksville. Tim Cash had actually bought both the N5 and N8. He only had wanted the 8 though. Tim sold the N5 to Kevin.
No offensive, but you Tennessee Boys don’t hang on to old tractors long! Maybe you two know something I should?
Anyway, Tim and I came to an agreement, and the tractors are together again. Currently, during the writing of this article, they’re snuggled together in a U-haul, Illinois bound.
Well, anyway, I may have been out of sight in the tractor world, but it wasn’t out of my mind. Happy Holidays, and I hope all my fellow collectors have been finding the right ones for their collection
I’ll be sharing further information as research progresses. Stanley Wilbur has a pretty fascinating story. As earlier stated, records have been lost and there is much fact and speculation to be sorted through.
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