1
tique Tractor Collection
war years. He described the event
as “I saw her and she saw me.” Of
their long marriage, he said, “She’s
still in good shape.”
When the war ended, Kistler
was ready for bigger and better
things. He told his wife they either
needed to move or get into busi
ness. They stayed in the little com
munity of Linport where he set up
Kermit K. Kistler Inc. by selling
farm equipment, which he has
been doing ever since.
At first he sold Massey Harris
tractors, but in 1955, he switched
to John Deere models only. Later,
he added lawn and garden equip
ment now their primary busi
ness with nine employees.
The couple had five children
and seven grandchildren.
Kistler is of the generation that
used horses and remembers steam
engines and oil burning engines.
Perhaps it is the excitement of the
memory of those first tractors that
causes him to love old tractors and
brings a reportorie of stories about
them.
According to Kermit, “Deere
didn’t start producing tractors until
1918, prior to that they had a short
product run called Dain. For two
years, John Deere also produced
tractors in four different colors as
MIS BROS. INC.
Lincuttr, PA
717-291-1048
LEHIGH AG
EQUIPMENT
Allentown, PA
610*398-2553
LOST CREEK
IMPLEMENT
Oekland Mills, PA
717-463-2161
LONE MAPLE PIKEVILLE
'.ES & SERVICE EQUIPMENT INC.
' Alexandria, PA Hr PA
1277
AW... GET UP TO 38% TORQUE RISE!
■ Outstanding lugging ability for ■ Continuous power response
high-performance power at all between 2,100 and 1,680 rpm.
engine speeds.
■ 2,100 rpm engine
greater reliability.
an appeal to housewives, Kistler
said.
Kistler learned the disassemble
and put together engines and
trained many mechanics to do the
same.
“I outlived three or four of the
mechanics I trained,” the
octogenarian said.
His expertise at blacksmithing
comes in handy for parts that are
no longer available.
It wasn’t until 1986, that Kistler
purchased his first antique tractor.
Now between his son and him, he
estimates they have about 100.
People from as far away as New
Zealand come to admire their col
lection that includes not only John
Deere but also Waterloo Boy,
Massey Harris, American Tractor
Company, Ford, Terratrac and
others.
They don’t buy tractors to resell
but for their own pleasure.
A 1919 Waterloo Boy is Ker
mit’s favorite. He has the first John
Deere crawler made. The high
crop tractors are more valuable
than the standard, he said. They
have the John Deere series from
430 to 830.
MILLER’S POLE TAVERN
EQUIPMENT EQ. SALES CORP,
RD #1 Rt. M 870 Rta. 40
Fairmount City, PA Elmar, NJ
809-358-2880
MILLER-LAKE INC.
Ballavllla, PA
717-935-2335
I
SCHEFFEL
EQUIPMENT CO.
Rad Gooaa Rd.
Somaraat, PA
814-4454500
GEORGE V. SEIPLE
& SON
Easton, PA
El 0-251-7146
“We need a 330 John Deere to
complete the group,” Kermit said.
“If you hear of anyone who has
one, let us know.”
They also have many original
signs advertising tractor compa
nies, and equipment such as gas
engines, potato cutters, equipment
for sawing wood, grinding feed,
shelling com, pumping water,
churning butter, washing clothes,
running lathes, cutting ice, and
generating electricity.
The Kistlers built a large shed to
accomodate most of their collec
tion. They transport them to vari
ous antique tractor shows and will
show them to visitors if they aren’t
too busy with regular business.
“People realize the value of anti
que farm equipment It’s rare to be
able to buy and sell for a profit”
Kermit said.
Even if they were offered a for
midable price, he said, “Certain
pieces we would not sell.”
If they wanted, the father and
son team said they could keep busy
full-time showing their
collections.
“But we got to make a living,”
the elder Kistler said.
SMITH’S WINELAND
IMPLEMENTS, INC EQUIPMENT, INC.
Mtrctrtburg, PA p *
717-328-2244 814-793-21 M
S.P.E., INC.
Rd.l, Box 157
Towanda, PA
717-265*4440
TOBIAS WALTEMYER’S
EQUIPMENT CO., INC. SALES & SERVICE
Halifax, PA R,d Uon, PA
7-362-3132 717-244-4168
■ Excellent load-starting and
mverability.
110-hp6.8L.125-hp7.6L,
iS-hp 7.6 L engines.
n
M.S. YEARSLEY
& SONS
W«»t ChMttr, PA
610496-2990
Uncmw Farming, Saturday, Stpwnbtr 10, IM4-813
Sometimes the Kistlers need to rebuilt, sandblast, paint,
and re*letter the tractors. That’s where Ronald’s precise
working skills result In “a better than new tractor.”
Cook’s Question
(Continued from Pago B 12)
Green Bean Supreme
18-ounces French-style green beans
ttcup butter
2 tablespoons dried minced onion
1 tablespoon flour
Vt teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese
V* cup fine dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Cook beans and drain. Melt '/* cup butter in small sauce
pan. Stir in onions, flour, and salt. Gradually stir in milk. Cook
over medium high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture starts
to boil. Remove from heat and add cheese. Stir until cheese is
melted.
Combine cooked beans and cheese sauce in 2-quart cas
serole. Combine bread crumbs and 2 tablespoons melted
butter. Sprinkle over top of bean mixture. Bake, covered, in
350 degree oven, 20-30 minutes, removing lid for the final 5
minutes. Serve hot. Serves 6.
ANSWER Evan Weidman, Westfield, wanted recipes
for making fudge in large quantities such as 5 to 20 pounds at
a time. Thanks to Glenna Shaner, Hughesville, for sending a
recipe that makes about 5 pounds.
Chocolate Fudge
5 cups granulated sugar
1 can evaporated milk
Pinch of salt
2 packages chocolate bits
1 pint marshmallow creme
V» pound butter
Vanilla, if desired
Nuts, if desired
Cook together ingredients for six minutes after it starts a
rolling boil. Beat well after cooking.
You Ask "• ?
%? T ?
You Answer
This column Is for readers who have questions but
don't know whom to ask for the answers.
“You Ask You Answer” is lor non-cooking ques
tions. When a reader sends In a question, it will be printed
In the paper. Readers who know the answer are asked to
respond by mailing the answer, which will then be printed
in the paper.
Questions and answers to this column should be
addressed to You Ask You Answer, Lou Ann Good,
P.O. Box 609, Ephrata, PA 17522.
QUESTION Stanley Siedlecki, Jarrettsville, Md., writes
that his woodburning stove emits a strong wood burning smell
during humid days and nights. The flue has been cleaned. Is
there something that can be done to prevent this odor or
condition?
QUESTION C. Van Horn, Mt. Pleasant Mills, would like
to know what works and is safe to remove yellow and grease
stains from old china dishes, especially ironstone. She would
like something that makes the dishes white again.
QUESTION —E. Otis Dyer, Rehoboth, Mass., would like to
know the name of the company in Pennsylvania, the address,
and if the company is still in business the one that makes a
farm fence kit consisting of two channel irons and hinges. The
farmer supplies the wooden cross piece measuring
2xB-inches and barbwire strands.
(Turn to Pag* BIT)