My brother called me about a month before my wedding, and said that he had a gift for us. He said it was big enough to need a trailer to take it home. I was curious, and asked what it was. I should have known better. Our wedding present was a Massey Harris Model 30. (Try explaining THAT to your bride-to-be!) After convincing the wife-to-be that it really wasn't my idea, she became a little more receptive to the idea. Then we went to pick it up. It was sitting in the weeds, visible mostly because of the white plastic high back bucket seat, stolen from a boat. It had four flat tires, a dead battery, and those were the good points. Then my brother tells me it hasn't run since he 'fixed' it. We finally are able to get it to run long enough to get it on the trailer, flat tires and all. As you can guess, my wife was less than impressed. She was sure that somehow this was all my idea. I think she still believes that in her heart. But the story gets better. Three weeks later, at our wedding, my little brother tells my FIL that the Massey had 110 horsepower when he bought it. Unfortunately, he also believed it. After my brother went to talk to some other people, my FIL asked me where the other 100 horsepower went. I guess it must have leaked out onto the ground with the oil, since I still haven't found the missing horses. From that moment on, the Massey has been knows as 'Ol Hunnert Horse'. If anybody finds those missing horses, please e-mail them. The old Massey could sure use them. . . . I guess that 'Never look a gift horse in the mouth' applies to tractors as well. Jeff Kinney, aka Slo Mo, IN, entered 2000-09-16 My Email Address: Not Displayed |