Story of PV1734

Well after looking through my acmoc magazines it must have been in 1998 when PT1734 became my girl. So I will continue with the story. From purchase date to the National Show at Chillicothe, Il in August 2000, I was just broke the engine loose removed, the broken springs in the clutch, removed the radiator and had a new core installs while dad brazed up the lower tank, lined the fuel tank, removed alot the shed metal and determined what was needed.
My grandmother died right before the National show of 2000. So we took my grandfather up on Saturday to the show to take his mind off of the past few days. This is the Sam grandfather that saw the auction and helps pull her out of the timber. So he enjoyed seeing all the early machines that where around as he grew up. He is now 91 years young and grew up in the logging, sawmill, farming,and conservation excavation industries. So he WA close to all the machines at the show.
At this show I spent more than I actually spent on her. I came home with side curtains, seat sheet metal, lower track guards, and a new Hahn seat. But she still set waiting for a proper restoration. I did take her to a local shop who worked the head over and got the head gasket, but that is as far as they could go. So I bring her back home and again she sets. During this time I was able to find a good radiator on the acmoc site.
This old girl has been stuck in the I either had the money and no time to work on her or the time but no money to put into her. Then on 7-7-07 I married the love of my life and the real world put her on hold again.

This part of the story tells how PT1734 has lead to other Cats and construction equipment. After I got the 10 I got a horse drawn Baker grader to tie the Ten to my horse drawn machinery collection, we took tow trips to above Fargo, ND to get an Adams elevating grader, and then I found a Stover lime crusher. As for as Caterpillar the Ten led to over 200 Caterpillar ads from the gas era.
The ten also lead to a Diesel 40with Baker blade that was a local tractor. This was locked up in both the diesel and pony so was sold. Then came a low serial number PL20 that was sold at auction at a loss. Next came my 22 serial # 2F3094sp and #4 Hi-Way Patrol with terracing wheels, which became my local show showpieces that really draws the crowds. After these two I brought he 2 2 ton Cats that end up being the trade to get old PT1734 restored, which is in the process now. Next a had a #9Auto Patrol grader that had a 28 motor in it, which ended up being scraped when the city of Carlinville decided to clean up my dad's property and didn't allows to get my machinery off it (I lost over $10,0000 of horse drawn and other machinery). Lastly me and my grandfather took a trip to an auction near upper Lake Michigan to bring home PS12947 which is a cold package 30 with belt pulley on her. This is a keeper even though she put the financial pinch on me amd family.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE PV1734 HAS GIVEN ME YELLOW FEVER FOR GOOD.

Now comes the rest of the story. This past May I listed my 2 tons on this site for $2000 or the even money in restoration on PT1734. Justin Frakes of New Boson, Il took me up on the later part of this. The 2 tons would have required a third machine to make on and his had the radiator and head stolen off his. I had both of these items plus he gained a blade with hydraulics, a belt pulley, and a tow hook engine cover.
On Memorial Day weekend Sunday Justin drove down to Carlinville,Il and got the worst of the 2 tons along with PT1734 and took them home. The 2 ton for part of the trade and PT1734 to get restored. I have asks Justin to add to this post to give the rest of the story of bringing my girl Betty (after my grandmother who passed before Chillicothe's National Show) back to life. I have told him that I had waited since 1998, so for him to tale his time and get her right. THANKS JUSTIN FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE WITH OUT HURTING MY BUDGET. I HOPE THIS TRADE WILL HELP YOU OUT TOO WITHIN YOUR BUDGET.

Pictures will follow once I get to a computer.

Rodten, Great job posting the history of the ten that has become the back corner of my shop. I will start taking pictures of it throughout the rebuild to post on here. I'm sure I will have questions which I will post so I can gain some of the finer details of how the machine was originally. Currently I have the head going back on after freeing up some stuck valves and very lightly stuck pistons. I have always worked on such a variety of equipment since I could hold a wrench. It's something I enjoy doing very much and I have jumped at the opportunity to work on a piece of history. It's right in there with my 1923 Model T and several other pieces of equipment from the same era. Unfortunately I was diagnosed with a chronic pain disease about 3 years ago, so my days of burning the candle on both ends have come to an end but I just work at my own pace and keep plugging along. Just as soon as this humidity lets off I will start prepping some of the tin work for primer and paint. I also should not be far from getting her to pop to life, can't wait. I'll keep you guys posted as I go along!

Thanks Justin for taking this project on. It is a win win situation for both of us. Sorry to hear of the chronic pain you are going through. Do not feel rushed to get her back to me as I have waited long enough as the story states so a little more time will not matter. I told my seven year old that I was getting PT1734 running and he can drive it and he was ready for her, even before it went home with you. But I assured him he had to wait. I quess though that I will need to pull both the horse drawn Baker grader and the ? make road center hump leveling thing a bobby up for restorations to pull behind her at shows like the 22 and Hi-Way patrol are mated.

The first three pictures are of how she set when I got her ohh so long ago. Next are some of my few ads for your enjoyment, ending with my favorite that pertains to PT1734.

rod ten,

great story.
to clarify as the tractor is a ten the serial number should be PT 1734, if it was a fifteen( big fifteen) the serial would begin with PV.

regards. Rohan

Ya it is PT1734 just too many late nights with work and kids.

So it is a FIFTEEN with a TEN radiator. I wondered too about the prefix.

Love the story as well! Keep us posted.

Pat