192X Wilford shovel

[artc]

on a farm in Bristol, CT this shovel has been sitting 35+ years, since it completed removing a nearby gravel bank.
it's powered by a Fordson, no doubt stuck, and built by William Ford, brother to Henry Ford. Hense the name WilFord. In 1928 or 1929, Wilford became part of Universal Crane (Unit Crane) and since the Fordson was no longer produced in the US, McCormick power (regular) was used.











the maple tree here has sent roots through the tracks and is around the left track sprocket. We tried to free it and let the tree remain standing, but that proved to be impossible. tomorrow, the tree comes down and we'll attempt to cut it free of the stump.

we've removed the drive chains from the axle sprockets, and will use our HD5 Allis crawler to pull it onto a detach trailer.

[Bigdog]

Art - I sure hope you get some pictures of the rest of the process!

[Cecil]

It should be running by Connecticubfest right?

[Virginia Mike]

Great project! Keep us posted.

[VinceD]

Sounds and looks like you have your work cut out for you. Great project. Keep the pictures coming.

[Rudi]

Art:

It amazes me the different pieces of mechanical history you and your fellow members have been able to save. This is no exception. An interesting piece of machinery. Looks like another great project

[artc]

we continued to hack at it on Sunday.



the tree stump still has a firm hold on the sprocket, and a root is coming out between the last idler and the drive wheel.

Getting parts to repair / replace the engine and drive will not be a problem, as one of our members is all about Fordson, so much so that the first of his books on Fordsons should be in printing shortly. Those of you who get Antique Power Magazine are familiar with his byline, the Yankee, Ed Bezanson.

[SONNY]

Looks good!! keep up the good progress!---AND keep postin the pics!---thats a neet shovel!--I HAD an Austin that looked almost like that, only it was a drag line bucket and Herc. engine! thanks; sonny

[artc]

the combination of the 20 ton porta-power and our HD5 Allis with 2 parts of line to it finally overpowered the stump. now of course the tracks have no hope of turning, so we've got to skid it on the trailer...we will re rig with 4 parts of line for that operation.

[artc]

i couldn't go out there on Thursday, but some of the 'boys' decided they were going to load it. Now when i say 'boys' ....the youngest of the four was 71, and the oldest 82. the HD5 and rigging with 4 parts of line (like a block and tackle, for those of you not familiar with the term) skidded it on the de-tachable trailer, but it wasn't easy, i was told.

i hope i can still put in a days work at any of their ages! the shovel is at the Museum and being unloaded today. A difficult recovery, to be sure.

[SONNY]

Lookin' good!! glad you got it moved!--- they can be beastly to skid if tracks don't roll! thanks; sonny

[Into Tractors]

Getting parts to repair / replace the engine and drive will not be a problem, as one of our members is all about Fordson, so much so that the first of his books on Fordsons should be in printing shortly. Those of you who get Antique Power Magazine are familiar with his byline, the Yankee, Ed Bezanson.

Art, that unit looks a lot like a picture of one I have here in an article of a 1927 Universal Power Shovel that is powered with the running gear of a '28 Fordson F tractor.

If you'd like, send me a PM with your address and I can make a copy of the article and picture and send it to you if you want.

[Cowboy]

Awesome Art

I love that old equ It would be fun to put it back to work

Billy

[Ida Red]

YOU GOT A LOT OF YEARS experience behind you, so that is why this project is on the go. What a beast!