Dreams do come true!

I have been privileged to meet, know and become close friends with many collectors out there. Collectors share a passion for their interests and that is what connects us all. One of my close collector friends is the late Alan Schurman. He had amassed a very large collection ranging from bicycles to brass fans to steam traction engines and everything in between. I met Alan briefly at the Best Show on Tracks in Woodland, CA in 2008, but did not get to really know him till 2010 where he spent an entire weekend climbing all over a Best 75 Tracklayer at the Best of the West show in Santa Margarita, CA. He had a note pad and a tape measure and was diligently writing numbers and making small diagrams. When asked what he was doing he just simply said that he was going to build a Best 75. There was no mistake in what I heard. The conviction in his eyes and confidence in his soft simple words was undeniable. I was watching the beginning of something special happen.

Over the years I enjoyed catching up with Alan and hearing about progress. I learned that not only was he building a Best 75 Tracklayer, but he was also building a Best 75 Round Wheel tractor. I was fascinated by our conversations. I mentioned to Alan years ago that I would like to have a Best 75 one day. Fast forward to the end of 2018, Alan's time was running short and he shared his wishes in regards to the fate of the 2 Best projects when he was gone. Alan had stated to his family and a small group of friends that he wanted his Best 75 Round Wheel tractor to go to fellow collector and friend Tom Madden and the Best 75 Tracklayer to go to me. Tom and I feel a great responsibility to complete these projects in honor of our friend Alan. We are humbled by the task ahead of us and privileged to be trusted to complete what Alan set out to complete all those years ago with a notepad and tape measure. No doubt we will be able to pick up where you left off. Rest in Peace Alan, we have this handled now.

To Marcella, thank you for respecting Alan’s wishes and having faith that we were the right people to get these projects. Tom and I look forward to completing these tractors in honor of you and Alan and the crew at the Schurman Iron Ranch!

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Well Congratulations there buddy this is like opening a new chapter for you .now we’ll see how you do with a real project

Congrats Chad, looks like you’ll have something to work on for a couple weeks anyway. Good deal.

BP.

Tom, We are happy to hear that you got the round wheel project. Allen used to come to our place
to measure the 1912 Holt 30 - orchard.

John and Mike Boyajian

Congratulations and good luck guys. You'll be busy. Now get those young sons to work.

Biggastrractor

Awesome will be looking to seeing the progress!

Don G.

Hi, Folks.
Congratulations and commiserations.

Firstly, congratulations to Chad and Tom on their good fortune in being given the two project tractors. I will hope to see both blowing smoke at Santa Margarita in the not too distant future.

BUTTTTT, commiserations and sympathy to Alan's family and friends for their personal loss and to the Cat, Holt and Best collection communities for the loss of one of the really great collectors and restorative talents of these respective families.

Just my 0.02.