Sometimes, An Old Tractor Just Has Soul

July 8, 2012

Sometimes an old tractor can just have soul. Just ask Randy Cole.

It’s no doubt that Cole knows mowers — he’s a master technician and, with Scott Taylor, co-owns Hendrix Service Center on Highway 29 in Molino. He sells the latest and greatest in mowers, complete with comfortable seats, cup holders in the just the right spots and lots of horsepower with a zero turn radius.

But Saturday morning, Cole was out mowing grass along Highway 29 on a 1949 McCormick Farmall Cub with a 412 Bush Hog deck. It just sounds good if you read that out loud.

Cole restored the old fashioned beauty using parts from two different “Cubs”. As pretty as she might be, it’s the story behind the tractor that gives it soul.

For that, we’ll let Randy Cole tell the story in his own words:

“When I was about four or five years old, I spent countless hours riding on the Cub in my granddaddy’s barn. I would sit on the spring loaded seat and bounce up and down all day long. My granddaddy would park it in the barn and turn the gas off.

I watched him do this many times. I also watched him start the Cub by pulling out on the ignition and pulling the starting rod. One day, while in my granddaddy’s barn, I got on the Cub and cranked it up. It was in reverse and I backed it out (unintentionally). It went back about 20 feet, right to the water faucet where he would fill up the radiator.

It would have gone farther but the gas was off and it ran out right there. I ran inside excited. I hollered to my grandaddy.

‘I have the tractor out ready to put water in it.’

I was in deep trouble. He gave me a good whoopin’ and I wasn’t allowed to play on that tractor for a long time. That was the start of my career as a Master Technician. After 50 years I finally decided to build one like his.”

Pictured: Randy Cole on his restored 1949 McCormick Farmall Cub with a 412 Bush Hog along Highway 29 in Molino Saturday. Submitted photos by Charlie Cole for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

11 Responses to “Sometimes, An Old Tractor Just Has Soul”

  1. Tommy Hagren on July 12th, 2012 11:28 pm

    Glad you got her goin again after all these years, I think I remember when you got that one. I got to use one, a later model but the same tractor, a couple months ago. They are a little unwieldy in tight areas but surprisingly maneuverable with the split brakes.

    We ought to do a tri-cycle one, custom fab it all up.

  2. jim cromwell on July 9th, 2012 9:16 pm

    proud to be one of your nite school students

  3. jeeperman on July 9th, 2012 10:19 am

    Sadly for all of the new stuff sold today……………………..that ‘49 Cub will still be running long after those shiny new ones have been sent to the scrapyard.

  4. JC on July 8th, 2012 4:16 pm

    Been trading with that place for 30 yrs or more..seen alot of the same people still employed there! They are good people! Was wondering who are the new owners? Is it still Randy and Scott? Good people!

  5. TW Thompson on July 8th, 2012 3:52 pm

    That’s a nice machine Randy!

  6. Jane on July 8th, 2012 2:40 pm

    Very NIce!!!! I really like it! There’s just something special about the old tractors and farm equipment!

  7. BD on July 8th, 2012 2:17 pm

    Kudos Randy on the rebuild, looks great. Knowing your on a machine as old or older than its operator does add some prespective. I still cut with a ‘51 8N rebuilt with my son 10 years ago, its not a tractor, its a family member.

  8. Mckinley2971 on July 8th, 2012 10:21 am

    Farmalls are great tractors…we have a model H…there are websites where you can use the serial numbers to date month and year manufactured.

  9. Ben on July 8th, 2012 8:27 am

    Randy,……… “You jess a sooooul man!!!! Good job bro!

  10. kevin enfinger on July 8th, 2012 7:59 am

    Keeping the molino traditions alive. I love it randy

  11. Lawson on July 8th, 2012 5:38 am

    Good job, Randy! I like it!!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News