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Mike: I think most of your respondants knew the benefits of the M & W device giving live pto and hydraulics, however many seemed uncertain about the IH hand levers that really only did the same function as the clutch pedal. I think you will find these were nothing more than personal preference options. You've got to remember, for many of these users it was the first step from steamers, moguls, titans, oil pull tractors, etc., all of which were complete hand controls. Many of these farmers operated these old tractors before they operated a car or truck. They were just not clutch and gear oriented as we are today. In plain and simple terms, they were comfortable with hand controls. I guess we could describe them as being as stubborn as my wife. She drives and loves her Buick LeSabre, with column shift. She will drive our F-150 auto column shift, but she doesn't like it with cap. She absolutely refuses to drive our Toyota Camery, auto consul shift. We've had a good many discussions over this, and each time I ask her why the hell it matters as long as the gear selecter is within reach and has Park, Reverse, Neutral, OD optional, D, 2 and 1. She complains about parking spaces around town getting too small for the Buick. This Camery is an 88, much shorter than Buick or new Camery's. I guess some folks just don't like change as they age. This suits me, I love that little Camery for beating around on errands. Bear in mind also, my mother had a K car, consul shift. One day in winter, my mother had both drivers side doors open with K car on high idle. She was putting something in back seat when car slipped out of park. At 72, she quickly closed back door and proceeded to get in and stop car. Not being as quick as she once was, car moving backwards, driver door knocked her down and front wheel ran over her leg, between ankle and knee. luckily she suffered only bruises, got up and followed car 1/4 mile across field until it came to a hill and stopped. She got in, drove car back, put it in garage and initially didn't tell anyone until her leg turned black and blue and her blood presure went out of sight. My mother was ok after she calmed down. Try as I will, I can not convince my wife, the problem was K car and not the shift lever. You couldn't convince my mother that either after that incident. Evolution, my friend, we may not change our ways, but new generations will.
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