You have to read this book!, 06 May 1999
This book is one the antique tractor restorer - and anyone with an interest in tractors or machinery - *must* read. Welsch's humor and tales add a great deal to the subject matter - I laughed out loud a number of times while reading the book. There are many not-so-obvious and simple-but-great ideas about working on old equipment, all of which are presented from the viewpoint of a person that considered himself a very beginning amateur (he had never even changed his own engine oil). This book is understandable and enjoyable regardless of your skill level or mechanical ability - I suspect many will read it just for the humor.
Lighthearted and witty, 23 Mar 1999
Roger Welsch looks at the both the trouble and the glory in tractor restoration. He does so with a keen sense of humour, and manages to keep the reader entertained, while educating him on the basics of tractor restoration.
I'm a Land Rover owner, and don't restore tractors as such, but I felt right at home with Welsch. Most of the agonies of tractor restoration have their counterpart in LR restoration.
This book can be very useful too: The list of things to do to get your wife to allow you to buy even more tractors is very useful, to say the least. I found other "gems" too.
Absolutely worth it's price.
Clear insight into the love affair between men and tractors., 20 Dec 1998
Just why do men love these old hunks of metal so much? Roger Welsch has it right on, and even makes a believer out of a doubting wife (or at least provides a little comprehension). My husband is a "doer," not a "studier," but he couldn't put this book down. I have no doubt that he found many useful tips, and I know he certainly related to Roger's blow-by-blow description of his love affair with his tractors. He probably even picked up a couple of tips on how to hide them from his long-suffering wife! A "must read" for any man who loves to tinker with old junk--and sometimes even gets them running!
A must for tractor lovers worldwide......, 23 Jul 1998
I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. Witty and light-hearted tales of a man wrapped up in the love of old tractors. A must read for tractor lovers and gearheads worldwide.
Enjoy.
A whimsical look at tractor restoration., 19 Feb 1998
A whimsical look at the trials and tribulations of tractor maintenance and restoration from the perspective of an absolute beginner. Entertaining reading but only very basic and sometimes obvious information.
Tractor Jokes Plow Deep Smile Furrows!, 02 May 2004
My father's family grew up on a farm in central Illinois where they raised corn, soybeans, cows and pigs. Naturally, one of the joys of being a youngster was to visit our grandfather and to crawl all over the farm equipment. While there, I remember a particular brand of humor that was both drier and more restrained than the humor I was used to in Southern California. Reading 101 Uses for an Old John Deere brought back all of those wonderful experiences for me.
The book is a handy size to carry around, so you can share the good humor inside its pages with those you meet.
The 101 uses are arranged as follows:
Matters of Growing Up, pp. 8-27
Matters of the Heart, pp. 28-35
Matters of Everyday Life, pp. 36-79
Matters of Fun, pp. 80-91
Matters of the Soul, pp. 92-95
Matters of Growing Old and Wise, pp. 96-108
Each use is illustrated by either a drawing, an old advertisement, a painting, or a photograph. A brief headline captures the "use" and a short sentence explains the use.
What makes the book charming is that the uses are very unexpected and humorous. Here are some of my favorites:
High Chair; Jungle Gym; Lego Set; Goal Posts; Hiding Place; Anatomy Lesson; School Bus; Flight Simulator; Driver's Ed Vehicle; Guy Magnet; Hot Date; Ride to Lover's Lane; Wedding Present; Honeymoon Cruise; Volkswagen Bug; Lamborghini; Muscle Car; Convertible; Taxi; Minivan; James Bond 007 Spy Vehicle; Stealth Fighter; Lunch Counter; Posture Builder; Beach Chair; Exercise Bike; Dog Walker; Mother-in-Law Apartment; Lawn Ornament; Insurance Claim; Fertilizer; Junk Pile Starter Kit; Sci-Fi Movie Terror; Christmas Tree; Second Husband; Sex Symbol; Time Machine; and Perfect Ending.
To give you a flavor of a "use," let's look at "Goal Posts." "The exhaust pipes on a John Deere Model D were just right for kicking field goals in a friendly game of football." The image is face on towards a tractor. "Christmas Tree" has two tractors festooned with colored lights in front of a house similarly lit on a snowy night.
If you personally love John Deere tractors, this book will bring you much delight. Even if you don't, you should give it as a gift to someone who does love this American icon.
After you finish smiling your way through the book, consider what other parts of our American heritage can regularly bring a smile to your face. Do you have enough samples of these other symbols around to keep you smiling all the time?
