A bit of history. my friends EB 20 was purchaced new in 1916 in eastern Colorado. It broke prairie and was used on the vast wheatfields of western Ks/eastern Co. In 1919 it was transported to western Co(Grand Junction) by rail.A son owned a ranch above Ridgeway in the mountains.The tractor was too big to fit on the narrow gage RR than served our area.The tunnels were too small.The tractor was driven about 70 miles,from GJ to Ridgeway. In those days there was no hiway.Crosscountry,it was wagon tracks across the desert. The tractor was too heavy for the few bridges,and one ferry across the rivers.So it had to be driven through the water.Some was probably deep.The wife drove the family car(Model'T'?)to meet up with the driver every day to bring supplys.Gas,oil,grocerys.....The trip took 5 days,dark to dark.It was put to work immediately plowing up the mountain hay meadows/pastures. they tore out sage brush,trees etc to plant small grains and alfalfa and grass.They hooked everything to it at once.Plow,disk,harrow...After all the 'farming' was done,the tractor powered a sawmill till the mid 50s.when it was parked.It still ran.Unfortunatly,the original plow and other implements fell victim to the WW2 scrap drives.The fact that it was grandpa's tractor and it was on the sawmill is what saved it.The tractor was reported to be 'stuck' in the early '60s and became a 'playground' for all the neighborhood kids. It was known as the "old tractor".Over the years parts were removed.The spokes became iron for repairing,the steering chain became a tow chain.......The beast was gradually forgotten as all the kids grew up.It sat till around 2008.At that time,the great grandson decided it was time to let it go and took it to a local consignment auction. It was well advertized,'potential' buyers came from all over the US.My friend however was determined it would be his. On sale day we all gathered to watch the 'show'I was standing beside him.My friend was just vibrateing.I may have poked him in the ribs a couple times...LOL.He got it!The 'resurection' took over 3 years. The head was broken(had a hole rusted in it).It had 3 aluminum pistons and one cast iron piston.A fourth aluminum piston was not to be found.A second cast piston was found,now it is at least balanced.No one liveing remembers it ever being overhauled.Could it have had the one iron/3 aluminum pistons since new? No one knows.... Much time was spent looking for parts. A head was no where to be found,so the old one was repaired,and is on to this day.Last sommer during a parade,the engine siezed! The oilpump failed.Only damage was a slightly scuffed piston. The tractor is now repaired and again funtional.The EB 20will remain unpainted.I was honored to have a (very small) part of this bit of history.
