My Grandfather’s Kissel - Story Now Goes "International"  (2/27/2011)

In the last story I gave an account of my grandfather which mostly involved the Kissel. You might have wondered what that has to do with antique trucks. This part of the story will make that tie in.

As you recall my grandparents semi-retired in Knowlton, Quebec, Canada. They were caretakers for a home for kids with mental disabilities on land that had a family connection. When I was a tyke about 5 years old, I would visit with them for a week at a time in the summer. One of the big excitement for me was to drive my grandfathers Cub Cadet. A few years ago I got the yen to get a Cub of my own. Rose was off X-mas shopping, so I got into Uncle Henry's and brought home a running model 102. If you're not familiar with Cub Cadet model #s the 1st two digits are the horse power and the end number is even for gear drive and odd for hydro. The larger the final number the more recent the series it came from. In an old picture of me driving my grandfather's Cub, you can see just enough detail to see that the model and 3 digits. Since it has round fenders, it can only be a model 100. Since the 1st Cub another 13 (so far) have followed me home along with a few Cub Lo Boys as well.

But we digress, this story is supposed to be on track for International trucks. My grandparents sold the Kissel in 1967 and fully retired. At the time, my aunt lived in San Jose, CA and my family was in Augusta. My grandparents bought a Holiday Rambler trailer and began a full time life on the road. They eventually upgraded the trailer to an Airstream. They wound up purchasing a used 1967 IH Travelall from D&H Motors in Gardiner. So finally we've made the IH connection!

When Fort Western Tire closed its doors, I attended the auction and bought a 67 1600 4x4, just couldn't resist the '67 connection. I bought a pair for trucks to get a fron drive shaft for this one and wound up with a 1947 KB5 with a Coleman 4x4 conversion under it. I may do something with this one. A few years ago I went the wrong way on Rt 27 i Farmington trying to catch up with the club on a tour to the tractor show. During my solo tour I found a 1970 Loadstar 2010A. Thanks to Bud Bowley we were able to get it home but it was a slow trip. Last summer I picked up a 67 IH 1600 wrecker in RI which I drove home and a 1967 IH V-190 from Steve Marshall. That's the story of my IH truck collection. Anyone know of a '67 Travelall - 4 speed that I can add to the collection?

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