Parade Tractor Is A Real "Blast"

Parade Tractor Is A Real "Blast" FARM HOME recreation 27-6-22 Parade goers love it when Al Wilhelm drives by with his home-built tractor. They're treated to big blasts from a 2 1/2-ft. long air horn. At the same time, every few seconds a pair of toy stuffed bears pop up out of a milk can on front of the tractor, then drop back down out of sight. It's all done using air pressure supplied by a small air compressor mounted on a trailer that's pulled behind the tractor. The compressor is powered by a 3 1/2 hp gas engine. Exhaust from the tractor's 2 hp Fairbanks Morse gas engine enters the milk can and makes a continuous hollow sound "somewhat like a poor man's Rumely Oil Pull tractor," says Wilhelm. He started with the frame, seat and steering wheel off a 1940's Montgomery Ward garden tractor. The tractor's engine was missing but the belt-driven 3-speed transmission was still in place. He installed a Fairbanks Morse engine and mounted a big pulley on it that's used to belt-drive the transmission. An air hose leads from the compressor up to the milk can and also to the air horn. The compressor's original tank didn't have enough volume so he installed a bigger air tank under the tractor seat. Whenever he wants to blast the air horn, he pulls on a rope connected to a lever on one side of the tractor. The lever releases a steam valve which then delivers air to the horn. "It gets a lot of laughs at parades. Kids love to see the stuffed toy bears popping in and out of the can," says Wilhelm. "The air horn delivers a booming bass sound that really gets your attention. I bought the air horn, which came off a semi, at a flea market." The tractor's front tires are original, while the rear tires are donut-type spare tires. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Al Wilhelm, 17902 182nd Ave., Big Lake, Minn. 55309 (ph 763 263-0587).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.