Today was the day to go look over the old Case Cross-motor listed here in the photo ad's. I'd been in touch with Steve Radoesevich (age 95) and his 'kid', Alex age 67. We had settled on a price if all looked good, and it sounded good over the phone. His address was listed as Maybell, Colorado...only 300 miles from me. Well, he explained how Maybell was the closest town, but he was 60 miles west-actually 3 miles into Utah. I found a proximity map on Map-quest and with my good friend Wess Crozier (mechanic extraordinaire and tractor fanatic) and Jim McWilliams (best friend that sold me my SI and farmer extraordinaire), we lit out of here this morning at 4:00 with a gooseneck and a 1 ton truck. Headed west of Rawlins to Creston Jct and went south to Baggs (Yep, great Uncle and great Grampa's namesake). Got to Craig Colorado and it's almost fair farm country. Saw some old Case's along the road and a few farmalls, Allis, JD, and some other old iron. Got on the road to Maybell, and the road started getting narrow and twisted. Dry as Heck and sagebrush, greasewood and a few junipers. Maybell was pretty quaint and we were 60 miles away from the Cross-Motor. From there it started turning into purgatory. Blacktop frost heaved twisty hot dusty he11! It got worse the farther we went. Smoke billowed from a forest fire off to the south, and the country was cloaked in the smoke that burned your eyes and stung your nostrils. We cross the Yampa River and it was almost dry. But we endured and at the Utah line the road turned to dirt and then it REALLY got bad. We crossed Willow Creek and saw a place to the north. It was the first place we'd seen in 20 miles and we never passed another vehicle the entire 60 miles. We pulled up on a bench then dropped into the ranch. There was the crossmotor nestled in by a couple cottonwoods in all her glory. I was awe-struck. We pulled up to the main house and I knocked on the door and was greeted by the most pleasant 95 year old gentleman you could ever meet. I introduced myself started up the conversation. Jim and Wess went over to the tractor. I asked how long he'd lived there and he said he started life around there by coal mining in Rock Springs, then started Game Wardening in Wyoming. I said no kidding, my Dad was a Game Warden for 35 years! Well, he knew Dad, and about a dozen other old wardens that I knew growing up. We traded some good old stories for awhile. He finally said I better go see the tractor, so I went over and actually touched a cross-motor for the first time. It was as straight as an arrow. The engine and steering are stuck, and there's three cracks in the manifold, but it's complete. Mag, carb, radiator in good shape. The water bath air cleaner is in Great shape with the original tag plum readable. All the grease cups are there and not a crack in anything but the manifold. We broke out the non-digital cameras and got pictures with Steve. He was the second owner, an old boy named Harry Carr who lived below them got it first. I'd love to know how they got it back in there back in the 20's. He died and gave it to his brother Gene Carr. He said he had always liked the tractor and had asked if he would sell it to him. Gene had told him "No, I won't sell it to you." He said that had gone on for quite a few year, then one winter Gene had come up on horseback to pick up something Steve had of his, and he asked Steve if he still wanted the tractor. Steve asked how much he wanted and he said "I told you I wouldn't sell it to you, but I'd trade it for a horseblanket to put on my legs for the ride back." So that was the deal struck. That was in the late '40's he figured. Gene died right after that. Steve loved that old tractor and it put his place on the map. Said he used it hard and it was a fine old strong tractor. He listed it last year but after about 100 calls he decided not to sell it. He truly loves this tractor. I felt bad for him, like losing an old friend, so I asked him if he was sure he wanted to sell her now. He said, Yep, he was glad to see it go to someone he almost knew and who new alot of his old friends...I was very touched and told him so. I will never forget that moment. We unhooked the steering an got it on a snatch block and pulled it onto the tractor in no time flat. It was 108 then and about noon. The smoke billowed just south of us as we pulled out and I'd promised Steve he could have permanent visitation rights. I also told him I'd do my best to see to it she had a good home and would be back to her former glory. This wasn't your normal transaction...not even close. It was like taking a piece of a persons soul home with you. We got her home at 7:00 tonight and unloaded her. I hope she likes me.It still has the original serial-# plate on it. It says "A12-20" and the number "A319141" Yes, I've checked it over a dozen times and it is a six digit number. Doesn't match any number I have for that time frame for any Case's, but I think the "A"s might mean its the later Model A, making it that much rarer to boot. I started hitting her with pb-blaster, grease, and diesel before dark. She hasn't had much attention for a long time except for the grandkids playing on her. But she's home now and it won't be long before she's inside. My wallets a bunch lighter, but it was worth twice that just have the experience. It was a long time dream of mine to have a cross-motor and now I've got one. I'm still in awe, but I hope I don't wake up and find it was all a dream. But until I do wake up, just call me "Cross-Motor Baggsy"...
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