Family story, WW II

I have a Silver King 3 Wheel, Model 41 tractor, that my Grandfather bought New in Late Summer 1941. It was the last Silver King to come to this area before WWII. It came through the Lindsey agency of Duncansville Pa. When it came off the truck, my Dad put his hand on the hood, the paint wasn't completely dry! After the war, Clifford Fluke Sold them from Waterside Pa. There were a lot of Silver Kings in this area.

I have a model 41 that my great grandpa owned. They sold it about 60 years ago when my dad was 5 or 6. I was able to acquire it back about 2 years ago. It had the pinion shaft bearing go out and was parked on a rockpile for 20 years. Another guy owned it, completely rebuilt the engine, had it all torn apart to restore. Well he had the parts in a little back shed, and the roof leaked and filled one of the final drives full of water. It froze and cracked at some point after that. Then the leaking roof rotted the legs off from a shelf that a lot of the rest of the parts were on. Well, it tipped over, dumping the parts, mostly transmission parts, in the dirt. Critters move in, covered the parts in dirt. Some were lost, most were just ruined from rust. I guess he just lost interest. It set in there for about 25-30 years. Luckily, he kept the engine in his heated shop all that time. He found out that I was asking some others about it, and came over and told me I could have it back, he was glad to give it back to the family. I was/am missing some parts still though. They are very scarce in my area of Michigan, not that I know everyone, but I only know one person that has one within about 50 miles. I managed to buy a mostly complete one for parts in southern MI at an auction last year, missing the seat and the engine. I missed the bid on a second parts Model 41 that was fully complete. Both of them went for $300 each, wish I wouldn't have missed that second one. But, now I am much closer to having all the parts I need. I have been scavenging EBay for the last year buying all of the transmission/final drive bearings, I'll only buy old stock American made bearings. So I now have almost all of them bought. Mine has the fastest of the 3 ring and pinion sets available. I'm still missing a seat and spring, a carburetor, a starter and a ring gear. Luckily I have a friend with a bunch of that same 140 Continental engine from some sort of Massey Harris tractors that will fit right on my tractor. Then I'll just need the seat and spring. My dad bought an R38 last year, it was stuck. I got it freed up, but the cylinders are so pitted they will have to be bored and resleeved unless I can find a different Hercules IXA block. So far, not having any luck. Hoping to start both restorations later this summer, then dad and I would like to take them to the Silver King show in OH, and also take them across the Mackinac Bridge. Pretty neat tractors, too bad only about 8,700 were built of all Plymouth, Silver King and Mountain State tractors, all models included. If you need any parts, I'll have plenty extras.

Ross