Busted Tractors and Rusty Knuckles: Norwegian Torque Wrench Techniques and Other Fine Points of Tractor Restoration

by Roger Welsch

Knee-slapping fun for everyone! Well-known humorist and columnist Roger Welsch recalls with wit the missteps, mishaps, and local characters he encountered along the way to fixing up a pile of rusty sheet metal to a beautifully restored Allis Chalmers WC he lovingly refers to as Woodpecker. Listen-in as Roger tells the humorous story of the challenge that led to the Woodpeckers restoration, and the victory party that followed.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 18, 1997

About the author

Roger Lee Welsch (November 6, 1936 – September 30, 2022) was an American news reporter who was a senior correspondent on the CBS News Sunday Morning program, and was featured in a segment called "Postcards from Nebraska." An author, humorist and folklorist, Welsch was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, the only son of Christian Welsch, who worked in a Goodyear tire factory and Bertha (Flach) Welsch, a homemaker.[1] He lived outside of Dannebrog, Nebraska.

Welsch earned a bachelor's degree in 1958 and a master's degree in 1960, both in German and both at the University of Nebraska. He also studied folklore at the University of Colorado and Indiana University.[1]

Welsch was the 2005 winner of the Henry Fonda Award from the State of Nebraska Travel and Tourism Division.

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a perpetual tinkerer and putterer, Roger's books are a joy to read. He totally gets that essence of exploration and satisfaction in taking something apart, figuring out how it should work, figuring out why it does not work, fixing it, putting it back together, and having it work again.

But beyond the technical aspect, it is sort of like what Erma Bombeck did for suburban household life. Roger finds the humor in workshop experiences and spins it into a good tale.

If you find yourself listening to Car Talk on NPR, watching Red Green on Canadian Public television, or enjoy a quiet afternoon in your garage or basement workshop, you're probably going to enjoy Roger's books.

[mkfs · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those "aw, shucks" columnists documents the restoration of an old Allis Chalmers tractor.

Entertaining enough, and a good characterization of what leads a guy to start accumulating old iron for repair and restoration, or just out of downright curiosity.

On the Internet (circa 1997):

What I mostly saw was people wasting way too much time and energy arguing about a $40 tool when they could have just bought the damned thing and gone to work in their shops.

I'm looking at you, Hobby-Machinist forums.

[Dean Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second time through this one from my own library. Roger Welsch is entertaining, informational and easy to read. I am a fan of vintage farm tractor restoraton, so the descriptions of his toil and fun with that hobby amused me and encouraged me to tear something apart....so that old garden tractor is gaining new life at my unskilled hands. Thanks Roger!!

[Joseph Landau]

not too bad

[Duane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anybody that is interested in old tractors and the trials and tribulations that go along with fixing them up, will absolutely love this book. Roger does a great job of giving us his daily journal entries as he goes out to his workshop and lovingly works on a old Allis he calls, Woodpecker. With humor, insight, and old country charm, Mr. Welsch takes us through his gauntlet of emotions and experiences as he conquers yet another historic tractor restoration. A great book for any tractor lover. The only thing missing...a nice photograph of the finished tractor.

[Avis Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering that I read this book and I have zero interest in tractors or mechanical repairs, I can say it's definitely recommended to those who are.

[John Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most informative.

[Chris Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like how he explains his working habits, and has some good advice that modern repair manuals just don't offer. The anecdotal style makes it easier to understand.