By the time this newsletter comes out, the Christmas season will be in full swing. Finding fun or useful things can be difficult, especially if the recipient has a penchant for old obsolete machinery. If you know where to look, there are a number of items to tempt the Binderphile on your Christmas list.
TOYS
Toy Trucker Magazine has come out with a special-run die-cast KB-5 toy truck made by Die-Cast Promotions. Those familiar with DCP are already aware of the incredible detail and quality that go into these trucks. This one in particular should be of interest to anyone that lives in Oregon. This one is a replica of a fire truck owned by the City of Coburg, Oregon, which is near Eugene. This is a 1:6 model, and is 15 ½” long, and weighs 3.5 pounds. The hood, doors, cowl vent, and even the glove box open and close. The hose reel spools and the ladder extends. And the detail items like the siren and light, fire extinguisher, and bell make this a real heirloom. DCP trucks are usually quick to go, so order one before they are all gone!
To order, call Toy Trucker Magazine at 800-533-8293, or 701-883-5206.
BOOKS
October 2007 saw the release of a brand new book by Motorbooks, International, entitled PayLine: International Harvester’s Construction Equipment Division. Written by Oscar Will, this book is a large softbound book profiling the rise and fall of the IHC and Hough construction lines from the 1930s to the 1980s. This book is one of the best there is if you love earthmoving equipment. There are hundreds of color photos of crawlers, scrapers, skidders, dump trucks, dozers, and the like. This book is not intended to be a restoration guide, but has beautifull original photos as well as recent photos showing both restored and vintage equipment still working for a living. In addition, this book also has statistics on each model produced, as well as the production numbers for each year. ISBN: 978-0760324585
Also released in June 2007 by Graphic Arts Publishing was International Harvester, McCormick, Navistar: Milestones in the Company that Helped Build America. Written by Kenneth Durr and Lee Sullivan, this hardcover book is 247 pages of binder bliss with color photographs and history of our favorite company. It roots Cyrus McCormick's perfection of the reaper in the efflorescence of invention and innovation set off by the nation's founding, and traces its growth through the agricultural expansion of the nineteenth century and into the age of modern industrial enterprise, culminating in International Truck & Engine’s modern cutting-edge innovation. This is one of the nicest IH books you will find, on par with Wendell’s and Crismon’s as a must-have for the truck and tractor enthusiast. ISBN: 978-0760324585
To order, call Powell’s Technical Bookstore: 800-878-7323 toll-free, or 503-228-4651.
2007 also saw the release of a second volume of the book History of the Old Time Farm Implement Companies and the Wrenches They Issued, by P.T. Rathbone. The first book was published in 1999 in 520 pages, plus a 176-page supplement. There is also a Part II to this book that was published this year that is 320 pages long, plus another supplement. Both books are hardbound, and cover over 500 old tools by different manufacturers, including McCormick and International Harvester. These books list every wrench by part number and by manufacturer. There are hundreds of photos of tools and old advertising posters. These books are a must-have for old tool collectors and IH collectors alike.
To order, call Mr. Rathbone at the Lucky Star Ranch at 208-896-4490.
SIGNS, CLOCKS, POSTERS
One of the best places to find stuff for the IHC nut in your life is a place called Neon Concepts. This company makes neon signs and clocks, and is one of the few companies that makes and sells licensed International truck products. They have neon signs for International Trucks, Scouts, Scout IIs, and IH Trucks. They have backlit clocks with your choice of the 100th Anniversary emblem, the 1960s pickups and Scouts, or the late-model CXT. And they make a reproduction of the old IH dealer clocks that is spot-on. The signs are reasonably priced: the dealer clock with neon is $198, and the most expensive neon International script window sign is $255. They also sell tin signs; they offer a very unique Metro sign for only $39. And they also have many unusual reproduction posters for less than $10. (Samples of each are shown below.) Get one of these for your significant other and watch his or her face beam with pride! To order, call toll-free at 888-245-6295 or 336-789-2907; or order online at www.neonconcepts.com.
MAILBOX
One of the best gifts that you can give your more rural friends is a Farmall mailbox. These are sold by a company called Distel Grain, and are the large USPS-approved box, painted in red, with a Farmall M on top. They are a beautiful addition for the red power enthusiast, and are Made in the USA. Distel also sells the newer Case-IH mail boxes, as well as John Deere, Allis-Chalmers, and Oliver. Show your price at the gate!
To order, call Distel Grain toll-free at 800-426-1848 or 507-665-6776; or order online at www.distelgrain.com.
KEY FOB
One of the cheapest and most used gifts is a nice key fob. However, there is not much to choose from in the way of IH fobs. You can get a sweet custom fob courtesy of IHCC Chapter 30. Cut by a water jet from 3/16” stainless steel, this key fob will last virtually forever. Not only is it stylish and holds your keys, but it also makes a good bottle opener! Looks good on your dog, too. They only cost $25, but they are currently out, so if you want one in time for Christmas you need to call now so they have time to make more. To order, call Brad or Stephanie Anderson with IHCC Chapter 30 at 541-937-1921. Please allow 3 weeks for delivery!
GIFT CERTIFICATES
Old iron collectors always
need parts or services, so why not get your Binder fiend a gift certificate
for something they really need?
One suggestion is to get a GC for Philbin
Manufacturing. They specialize in rebuilding old distributors and
magnetos. Does your husband drive a Scout? They can rebuild his
distributor, including rebuilding the worn out vacuum servo that is no
longer available. Is your sister into old F-series Farmalls? Philbin can
rebuild her magneto or distrbutor, and even install a solid-state Pertronix
ignitor kit into it for reliable starting. Are you a collector of old
McCormick stationary engines? Philbin can rebuild and repair even obsolete
mags, and can even custom-build a solid-state ignitor for that too, room
permitting. To arrange a gift certificate, call Mark Nikolay at
800-869-7301 toll-free, or 503-287-1718.
Another good choice is to
give your lucky someone a gift card for new upholstery. Bright Auto
Upholstery is one of the best. They are quick and local, and can give you
something inexpensive or will go the distance for a spot-on
restoration-grade seat rebuild for your vintage truck. The seat is the part
of your truck that you interact with the most, so make it an enjoyable
experience and get the padding and vinyl replaced. These guys were one of
the few selected to work on the Danner Boot Company project Scout II, so you
know they must be good. Call the owner Mike and let him know that you want
to give a gift certificate, and he will make it happen.
To order a GC, call Mike Wilson at Bright Auto Upholstery by calling 503-231-6055.
Merry Christmas!