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Posted

Researching whether I wanted to try and model one of these, there were many things I didn't understand because none of the photos I find ever get into the construction. Mystery solved.

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  • Like 1
Posted

I would love to see this built. They offered a few different versions of these. My fathers friend has one that is gear driven and my father had one years ago that was chain drive. I started to build a model of it but could never find a chain that looked right. Here are some pictures of my fathers before it was finished and a wheel I made from an old pill bottle cap. I hope you build this, I'll be watching for sure!

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  • Like 1
Posted

Beautiful. That wheel looks sharp. Could you make a mold and cast a few? Might be easier than trying to scratch build another.

There is no "Wrong" way to build one, since every one was hand built is a shop or barn, by a variety of craftsman, from skilled to 'not-so-skilled'.

I look forward to seeing where this build goes,

  • Like 1
Posted

Cool little "repurposed" machines.

Everyone over a certain age (?) has probably seen Ts and As converted to farm implements, stationary pumps, sawmills, etc,, but I've never seen anything like the detailed conversion project documented here.

Gotta love the shots of Mr. Gentleman Farmer in his white shirt, sleeves rolled up, and tie too.  :D

  • Like 1
Posted

Notice that the one in the last drawing in the article, on the bottom of the last page, has what looks like a cut down Speedster body. THe body end just under the gas tank. Notice how clean, and smooth that last drawing is. I've seen more than a few Doodle Bugs. I've never seen one that refined. In most are just the opposite! Many are so crude, that when you see them in the boneyards at farm auctions, it is hard to tell them from the junk. I've seen them with wooden crates for seats, and old pulleys for steering wheels. Most farmers that built these had large scrap piles and no cash, so everything was scrounged from their junkpile or a neighbors pile.

Also, these are not exclusive to America. I've seem pics of them in Canada, and Scandinavia. Some of the Scandinavian ones were built after WW2, presumably due to a shortage of tractors, and other motive power. 

  • Like 1
Posted

Been to more than one farm auction around here and seen these. Honestly I had no idea they made these until the first one I seen for sale.  I of the the auctions even had one running and gave a good example of what they were used for.  I was a young kid at the time and I learned a lot that day about these. Went home to tell dad and he just giggled and told me a little more about them.  

Posted

I love the old "Doodle Bugs" these were as unique as the farmer that made them. Nearly all started with some kind of Model T or Model A as a base, but from there it was whatever the farmer could get his hands on. They were never a commercially available tractor, all were hand built. Though there may have been some conversion kits made. 

From a model standpoint, you can build it wrong. Start with a Model T and raid the parts box. Just identify a year that the farmer would have built it, and choose parts older than that year. 

A lot of these were built in the years following the Great Depression, spending money on a tractor was just not an option. They used anything they could get to farm whatever land they had. 

These could be a really fun little project. 

  • Like 1
  • 2 weeks later...
Posted
On 3/18/2023 at 9:06 AM, mchook said:

I would love to see this built.

Okay, this has been growing on me like a fungus. I'm pulling the trigger and doing it. It's in "All The Rest."

 

 

Posted
On 3/18/2023 at 9:06 AM, mchook said:

Here are some pictures of my fathers before it was finished

BTW Mark, thanks for posting these. I find myself referencing back to them occasionally to look something up.

  • Like 1
Posted
31 minutes ago, Lunajammer said:

BTW Mark, thanks for posting these. I find myself referencing back to them occasionally to look something up.

No problem. Sorry I put that pic of my fathers Doodlebugs in the build thread, I thought I was putting it here. I must have clicked the link for the build from here and not payed attention to where I was. Anyway if you need any pictures of more I have plenty of the ones we've fixed over the years.

  • Like 1
Posted

Mike, glad you have committed to doing more work on the Tractor.

And, when you paint it is pretty much impossible to "over-weather" it.

  • Like 1
Posted

Just figured I would share this here too, I hope it's ok. I went to a friends house today and helped him get his 1930 Model A Doodlebug running. He wants to buy a new carb for it because the needle valve keeps getting stuck. I tried to talk him into a rebuild kit but it's his choice. Anyway, I got it running pretty good and went for a ride, it made for a good day.

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  • Like 1
Posted
3 hours ago, mchook said:

Just figured I would share this here too

That's in pretty good shape. Big wheels, yes, but a cut down Model A must be a pretty quick little hot rod too, (home built frame?). Thanks for sharing the pics.

I would invite anybody with pics of their own to post them here, especially detail shots or construction points. Might as well add to the knowledge.

  • Like 1
Posted
1 hour ago, Lunajammer said:

That's in pretty good shape. Big wheels, yes, but a cut down Model A must be a pretty quick little hot rod too, (home built frame?). Thanks for sharing the pics.

I would invite anybody with pics of their own to post them here, especially detail shots or construction points. Might as well add to the knowledge.

Thanks, the frame is from a AA truck that was cut down. It has 2 transmissions, a 3 speed up front & 4 speed in the back so if the rear one is in high gear and you just use the front 3 speed it's pretty fast. The lower the gear in the rear trans the slower it goes but if you put them both in reverse it goes forward but it's so slow you have to through your hat on the ground to see if it's moving.

 

  • Like 2
Posted

That's a really cool how-to and it would probably be a fun project to try in scale. But it strikes me that nowadays - if you don't already have the parts on hand - it could be difficult to build the 1/25 version for $50!

  • Haha 1
Posted
On 4/15/2023 at 9:56 AM, mchook said:

I found some pics of my favorite Doodlebug build.

Whoa, that is amazing. Every detail considered. Really well done.

  • Like 1

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