By By RANDI K. PICKLEY / Niles Daily Star
NILES - For Carl Harris of Eau Claire and Ed Radewald, of Niles, John Deere is a household name. Both have had a life-long fascination with the tractors and other equipment made famous by the agricultural company over the years.
But their real interest in the Deere tractors are the two cylinder models.
According to Harris, John Deere bought out the Waterloo Engine Company of Waterloo, Iowa, in 1918, selling the previously produced Waterloo Boy tractor as its first model. Then they began selling the traditional John Deere machines and have become an icon for quality farm equipment ever since.
The two cylinder tractors were built from 1917 to 1960. "Anything newer than 1960 is not a two cylinder," said Harris.
Radewald added, "The new ones are four and six cylinder."
Radewald and Harris share their passion for two cylinder engines with 134 plus members of the local "Michiana Two Cylinder Club". After gathering unofficially with other enthusiasts for several years, the club finally chartered in 1990 with Two Cylinder Worldwide, which is based in Waterloo, Iowa.
The local group is in contact with a large confluence of other members. According to Harris, they extend from Lake Michigan to the Detroit area on the Michigan side, and span the same distance on the Indiana side as well. Niles was the first chapter to form in that district.
Radewald grew up farming on the same property in Niles that he lives on today. His parents were farmers and he took an active part in the non-stop responsibilities of running a farm.
Later, he and his brother, Stanley, inherited the property and developed Radewald Farms, which raised and sold a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. They also had a cold storage and packet house, plus four horses, 250 chickens, 25 hogs, and dairy cows as well.
Radewald was used to the cows when growing up. "Mom said we should keep dairy cows because it would keep us kids home at night. We didn't get too excited about it at the time," he said.
And all that hard work and expertise paid off. He learned to repair and restore the farm equipment and eventually convinced his parents that John Deere was the best investment they could make.
He was also impressed with the staying power of the equipment.
Originally the Michiana Two Cylinder Club got started because the farmers needed to replace parts or find new ways to solve a repair problem. They trusted the John Deere line because, with proper maintenance and repair, it outlasted many of the other brands.
But there is a lot more to appreciating the John Deere than practicality. It has become a social event as well.
The Michiana Two Cylinder Club has an active schedule of shows, fairs, and parades in which they display their restored tractors.
They also have regular meetings on the third Thursday of each month with dues of $20 per year.
In addition, they host an annual dinner for which the wives take charge.
Virginia Radewald and Janet Harris are enthusiastic supporters of their husbands' passion for John Deere and are active in the club's activities.
They are on the scholarship committee which awards $1,000 annually to someone planning a vocation in a field related to agriculture.
Virginia said, "The ladies get real involved in youth committees. Actually, they're on lots of committees."
Another aspect of the club is the hobby of collecting John Deere memorabilia. Many of the fairs they attend include vendors who specialize in John Deere items which range from t-shirts and hats to jackets and sweatshirts.
Even the youngest John Deere fans can purchase a tractor. Pedal tractors are child-size replicas that can be pedaled like a tricycle.
The Michiana Two Cylinder Club is rarely idle. They put out a newsletter which Janet and Carl Harris publish. The Harris' gather articles from members and add their own information to the finished product.
The club also has a hefty schedule of shows during the year. "Plow Day" will be held at the Buchanan Community School Farm at Old Gardner School on Andrews Road in Buchanan on Saturday, April 23. Members will bring their restored two cylinder tractors to the site for the public to see.
Many of the club members have as many as 100 two cylinder John Deeres they have restored themselves.
Ed Radewald refurbished a John Deere caterpillar which now looks brand new. "It took me over four years to do it," he said. He also has several models of tractors that he has re-done.
Explaining the difference in tractors, Radewald said, "If a model is an 'unstyled AO', the A stands for the model and size, and the O stands for "orchard."
Radewald explained, "An orchard model will have fenders that cover the rear wheels so they can easily go through limbs and fruit. The field models can have fenders over the rear wheel to protect the operator. They're different from each other." Most members of the club can tell the difference by sight.
And according to Radewald, the green and yellow colors define the use of the equipment. "Yellow indicates industrial machines. The green ones are for agricultural use," he said.
Carl Harris also commented on the famous color scheme. "Do you know why they paint them green and yellow? So you can hide in a fence row and nobody will find you," he said.
Harris was one of the founders and the second president of the club. He remained in that position for nine years. "That's because nobody else wanted the job," he added.
The Radewalds and Harris' have gone long distances to pursue their interest in the two cylinder machines. "We drove to Peach Blossom, Pa. just to get some fenders," Virginia said.
Explaining how they brought home such large equipment and parts, Ed Radewald explained, "We load them on goose neck trailers behind our trucks."
In 2001, the Michiana Two Cylinder Club hosted one of the biggest shows held in the U.S. Over 700 restored tractors were displayed in the three day fair located in Berrien Springs.
Virginia said, "There were lots of vendors, too, with parts and tractors and memorabilia. And believe me, it took the whole three days to see it all."
The clubs' calendar also includes parades and festivals. On July 4 last year, they did a show at the Cherry Festival at Eau Claire in the morning, then repeated it at Berrien Springs that afternoon.
They take part in the Niles Apple Festival Parade each year as well as the Discovery Day Parade in Stevensville. Memorial Day parades are also on their list, displaying what Ed calls, "lots of model this and thats."
For those interested in further information or scheduled activities, they can write to the Michiana Two Cylinder Club, P.O. Box 72, Berrien Springs, 49103.
Or they can phone Carl and Janet Harris at 269-461-6140 in Eau Claire.
But when you call, plan on hearing a story or a joke.