Teenager Collects Rare Antique Garden Tractors
With nearly 3 acres of lawn to mow you wouldn't think that Tyler Cunningham, 15, would have a fondness for garden tractors. But he has more than a fondness; he's a collector. He often mows the grass with a 30-in. cut 1980 Snapper he and his dad, Bave, rebuilt together when Tyler was 12. When he was a toddler, Tyler immediately figured out how to open the safety-latched cupboard doors that took his father two hours to install. As Tyler got older he enjoyed taking off doorknobs with a screwdriver. Restoring a 1946 John Deere B tractor with his dad cinched Tyler's interest in old tractors of all sizes.
"We just learn as we go," Tyler says about the restoration process.
When he fixed a cast iron antique Briggs and Stratton motor for someone, Tyler was given a choice of a Volkswagen Beetle car or a Gravely walk-behind garden tractor as payment. He chose the Gravely.
Other garden tractors in his collection include a 1969 Sears model SS12 with a 3-point hitch and disk, which he uses to plow the garden; a 1960's Locke reel mower; and a 1962 Allis Chalmers model B1 tractor manufactured by Simplicity.
"The owner had the AC tractor completely taken apart," Tyler says. "It has a snow blade on it. I've only seen snow twice in 15 years."
The model that made his heart beat wildly was a rare Snapping Turtle mower he found in a scrap iron pile at an estate auction.
"We'd seen them on the Internet and at tractor shows. They are extremely rare," Tyler says. "I knew what it was. The auctioneer didn't have a clue why we were so interested in it."
The lawn mower wasn't part of the auction, so Tyler asked the estate manager what he wanted for it. The manager suggested $5 and said he'd even throw in a Sears rototiller.
When the young Jackson, S.C., collector was featured in a "Lawn and Garden Collector Magazine" article recently, he was amazed by the number of readers who sent him copies of Snapping Turtle manuals, parts and information.
Tyler's mother is not surprised.
"People are amazed at the knowledge he carries around. They want to go out of their way for him," she says, adding that Tyler mows lawns and does other chores for people to thank them for giving him old mowers.
In order to continue to support Tyler's passion, the family may have to add sheds for his collection.
"I'm always looking for them - older models up to the early 80's," Tyler says.
To support his hobby in the future - and so he can make his own parts - he's planning to go to school to be a machinist.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tyler Cunningham, 404 Old Nail Road, Jackson, S.C. 29831 (ph 803 302-4807).
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Teenager Collects Rare Antique Garden Tractors AG WORLD Ag World With nearly 3 acres of lawn to mow you wouldn t think that Tyler Cunningham 15 would have a fondness for garden tractors But he has more than a fondness; he s a collector He often mows the grass with a 30-in cut 1980 Snapper he and his dad Bave rebuilt together when Tyler was 12 When he was a toddler Tyler immediately figured out how to open the safety-latched cupboard doors that took his father two hours to install As Tyler got older he enjoyed taking off doorknobs with a screwdriver Restoring a 1946 John Deere B tractor with his dad cinched Tyler s interest in old tractors of all sizes We just learn as we go Tyler says about the restoration process When he fixed a cast iron antique Briggs and Stratton motor for someone Tyler was given a choice of a Volkswagen Beetle car or a Gravely walk-behind garden tractor as payment He chose the Gravely Other garden tractors in his collection include a 1969 Sears model SS12 with a 3-point hitch and disk which he uses to plow the garden; a 1960 s Locke reel mower; and a 1962 Allis Chalmers model B1 tractor manufactured by Simplicity The owner had the AC tractor completely taken apart Tyler says It has a snow blade on it I ve only seen snow twice in 15 years The model that made his heart beat wildly was a rare Snapping Turtle mower he found in a scrap iron pile at an estate auction We d seen them on the Internet and at tractor shows They are extremely rare Tyler says I knew what it was The auctioneer didn t have a clue why we were so interested in it The lawn mower wasn t part of the auction so Tyler asked the estate manager what he wanted for it The manager suggested $5 and said he d even throw in a Sears rototiller When the young Jackson S C collector was featured in a Lawn and Garden Collector Magazine article recently he was amazed by the number of readers who sent him copies of Snapping Turtle manuals parts and information Tyler s mother is not surprised People are amazed at the knowledge he carries around They want to go out of their way for him she says adding that Tyler mows lawns and does other chores for people to thank them for giving him old mowers In order to continue to support Tyler s passion the family may have to add sheds for his collection I m always looking for them - older models up to the early 80 s Tyler says To support his hobby in the future - and so he can make his own parts - he s planning to go to school to be a machinist Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Tyler Cunningham 404 Old Nail Road Jackson S C 29831 ph 803 302-4807
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