Well today John and I had opportunity to meet a big time fellow International enthusiast, and experience one impressive collection of IH K-, L- and R-series trucks, Scouts, panel vans, Travelalls, buses, original stock parts, and even two functioning IH refrigerators. Didn't even know those existed.

It all started with a post on our site from Mike Schmudlach, the Wisconsin show co-chair for the 2009 Red Power Roundup that was held in Madison. Turns out Mike lives fairly close to us, and was happy to show us around his place.

Wow. I thought John was truck-obsessed. Mike has maybe four gorgeous outbuildings he calls "sheds" full of IH glories in various states, plus a few more modest parts shelters, and a couple of acres of pretty solid parts trucks, rarities, and works-in-progress. He started by showing us a Travelall on a heavy-duty rotisserie that Mike claimed he just welded together himself after studying one of the things for a bit. I could see the gears in John's brain working away at ways to fit one of those into our own rather more urban-scale garage.

I asked as many questions as I felt qualified to ask, and learned quite a lot. For instance, who knew that IH made an automatic tranny in 53? Most experts claim they were only first available in 54. Or that for a time IH made the engines for Ford trucks? Or that in 1926, IH made a truck that was a 3-speed but had a two-speed differential that could turn it into a 6-speed? Or that for a period of time IH trucks had "hidden" door hinges, but that was offered for less than a year? Or that almost no IH truck came with a radio until the 1970s, but those that were made were manufactured by Motorola?

Or that IHs retain their unique glory even without benefit of an engine? We took this shot with our camera phone.

It was a wonderful day for a drive and IH field trip. Thanks, Mike!