A visit to Keystone

RedMF40 · Mar 30, 2021

I first learned of the Keystone museum when it was mentioned on this site. I knew I had to go, so yesterday with the nice driving weather I took off work and made the trip down south. It is in the Richmond, VA area--town of Colonial Heights to be exact.

I took a lot of photos. It's allowed. I'll post some now and again because dumping a bunch of them all at once is a bit overwhelming. There's a lot of stuff there.

The first series is a tractor that I probably spent more time on than any of the other exhibits. It was built from scratch by a man who not only fabricated the whole thing using an Indian motorcycle engine for power, but also built the AC welder that he used to build the tractor. Check out the level of fabrication, the big hydraulic cylinders he put on it. One thing's pretty certain: After he'd tightened the last nut, welded the last bracket--he's the only one who would have been able to operate it.

Also outside the museum was a neat exhibit I call the "Rust Carrier." Car carrier and cars as they found them, unrestored.

Gerrit

paul · Mar 30, 2021

What, exactly, is being pulled or used behind that Indian tractor with the big cylinders? Kinda chopped off in the pics?

Yea looks like an interesting place!

Paul

SweetFeet · Mar 30, 2021

I like the rust carrier
and its cargo.

RedMF40 · Mar 30, 2021

(quoted from post at 19:20:24 03/30/21) What, exactly, is being pulled or used behind that Indian tractor with the big cylinders? Kinda chopped off in the pics?

Yea looks like an interesting place!

Paul

I thought it was a dirt scoop, could be wrong about that. And it looked like it would only work with tractor in reverse. Maybe someone here who's visited the museum could give a better idea. It wasn't your typical 3 pt setup and whatever was back there he'd fabricated himself. Couldn't buy it at TSC.

Gerrit

RedMF40 · Mar 30, 2021

(quoted from post at 19:27:30 03/30/21) I like the rust carrier
and its cargo.

SweetFeet, that was one of my favorite exhibits--and it was just a bunch of rusty junk parked outside hahahaha!

Funny thing about it, when I first arrived I saw it there. Even saw it from the big highway before I took the exit. So I went over to take a look. Two older guys were checking it out, their car nearby had North Carolina dealer plates. They asked if the rig was mine. No.
Then I realized they probably didn't know they were in the parking lot of the truck and tractor museum. So I told them about it, suggested they check it out if they were interested in old stuff like that. Anyway, I didn't allow myself nearly enough time, got there later in the day, with about an hour and a half to walk around. If you're out this way, give yourself at least 3 hours and time to sit and enjoy some food in the caf. Just a great experience,

Gerrit

RedMF40 · Mar 30, 2021

(quoted from post at 19:27:30 03/30/21) I like the rust carrier
and its cargo.

Since you're so fond of rust you get a bonus pic---a detail of the back of one of the rust-carrier cars. Lic plate is stamped 1962.

Gerrit

Tom OConnor · Mar 30, 2021

I have had the pleasure of meeting the gentleman that owns that museum. Super nice man by the name of Keith Jones. Most all of you have one time or another met one of his trucks
on the road. Abilene Motor Express. Mostly dark green tractors with white 53 foot van trailers. His museum is not only a tractor museum but has an equal number of outstanding
antique trucks. Tom

Dean · Mar 30, 2021

Seems to like 56 Chevys.

Dean

MSD · Mar 30, 2021

Went there on Youtube just tonight.

kcm.MN · Mar 31, 2021

That's a neat Indian!! I take it this is a one-of-a-kind?

John Deere D · Mar 31, 2021

Thanks for the pics........
The Indian powered Tractor has more AIR CRAFT surplus, Rams.. OIL PUMPS, etc etc ..
This Tractor was a fantastic invention / creation by a very bright individual.......

Bob..

Fawteen · Mar 31, 2021

I'm having a little trouble understanding how an air cooled motorcycle engine survived in that situation. Low speed, heavy loads, VERY limited cooling air flow.

TBA · Mar 31, 2021

They are having a auction of
excess inventory. Look up Aumann
auction. Also a video on Classic
Tractor Fever on the sale.

showcrop · Mar 31, 2021

I visited there two years ago, and it was the day before they opened a new addition. I am planning to go back in two weeks so that I can see all the trucks and tractors that they put out just after I stepped out the door, LOL. When I was there I had a chat with the owner. He is a very personable gentleman.

Traditional Farmer · Mar 31, 2021

Doubt many people know where Keith came up with the name Abilene for his trucking outfit.

DRussell · Mar 31, 2021

Nope, don't know the story. Please share.

Welding man · Mar 31, 2021

I have been there myself. It's hard to leave when you get there, so much to see. The truck collection is awesome. As for the owner,Mr Jones also owns this:
Abilene

Dean · Mar 31, 2021

I'm sure that it did not.

It's certainly not practical.

Dean

47fivewindow · Mar 31, 2021

I highly recommence a visit. Even Ms windows was impressed. Allow at least 4 hours.

Dennis(IA) · Mar 31, 2021

I was there a few years ago. The most interesting ( to me ) display was the truck that had a extra engine mounted in front of the stock engine. I think the son of
the owner was complaining about the truck not having enough power. Owner would not buy a newer truck, so he mounted another engine in front of the truck
and hooked it to the stock engine. I believe the first engine was Wisconsin V4, it could not take the high rpms. Then he mounted a Buick V8 engine on it. I
guess it would pass anything on the road after that.
They had the front engine covered with its hood. I would have loved to get up close and inspect how that was mounted and hooked to the trucks engine. It
always amazes me how these backyard engineers can put together stuff like that. Yes, the Indian tractor was very interesting.

showcrop · Mar 31, 2021

(quoted from post at 14:31:27 03/31/21) I was there a few years ago. The most interesting ( to me ) display was the truck that had a extra engine mounted in front of the stock engine. I think the son of
the owner was complaining about the truck not having enough power. Owner would not buy a newer truck, so he mounted another engine in front of the truck
and hooked it to the stock engine. I believe the first engine was Wisconsin V4, it could not take the high rpms. Then he mounted a Buick V8 engine on it. I
guess it would pass anything on the road after that.
They had the front engine covered with its hood. I would have loved to get up close and inspect how that was mounted and hooked to the trucks engine. It
always amazes me how these backyard engineers can put together stuff like that. Yes, the Indian tractor was very interesting.

Dennis, I was there two years ago and spent some time looking at that twin engine Diamond T. A 300ci Buick V8 was attached as a helper engine to the original 450ci International Harvester 6 cylinder. The V8 still has its automatic transmission, and its output shaft runs through a hole in the radiator and attaches to the crankshaft of the IH engine. The grill appears to be from a Diamond T 222.

RedMF40 · Mar 31, 2021

Dennis, I was there two years ago and spent some time looking at that twin engine Diamond T. A 300ci Buick V8 was attached as a helper engine to the original 450ci International Harvester 6 cylinder. The V8 still has its automatic transmission, and its output shaft runs through a hole in the radiator and attaches to the crankshaft of the IH engine. The grill appears to be from a Diamond T 222.[/quote]

That truck was featured in a publication somewhere, I recognized it the minute I saw it. Maybe Hemmings? I forget where I saw it, but a few of the exhibits were profiled in different magazines and other publications over the years. I also wondered how the front "helper engine" hooked to the truck's engine. Throttle linkage worked in tandem?

Gerrit

RedMF40 · Mar 31, 2021

(quoted from post at 04:55:14 03/31/21) Nope, don't know the story. Please share.

Abilene was the museum owner's/founder's home town in Virginia. Apparently no longer on the map. It's the name of his trucking company now.

Gerrit

Traditional Farmer · Apr 1, 2021

Still a country store there,located in Charlotte county VA.

A visit to Keystone

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