After a lot of thought, I’ve decided to discontinue my John Deere rocking tractors. In the past year and a half, I’ve made 15 of them for various customers, but they have become a real weight around my neck, which I don’t need. Finding materials for them is getting harder and harder — I was making them from pine but can no longer find a local source of rough sawn 8/4 pine. The nuts and bolts of the wheels are also becoming very difficult. I can no longer find a source for the threaded dowels in them. Finally, trying to ship them anywhere is nearly impossible and the cost is prohibitive. FedEx and UPS have both damaged almost every one I’ve tried to ship. Some friendly folks have driven to my place in Iowa from great distances to pick one up — as far away as West Virginia. I am very thankful and appreciative to all the customers who have purchased one in the past.

So, to those of you who did purchase one, you now have a “limited edition.” I hope you will enjoy them for a long time to come.

Chuck Harpham

This Monster Truck is experiencing a recent up-tick in popularity on my Etsy shop. It’s about 10 inches long, 6 inches wide and 8 inches high. I make the body from cherry – four plies of 3/4 inch pieces and the wheels from walnut – two plies of 3/4 inch pieces.

I designed the truck based on a TV commercial I saw for a Monster Truck show at the local fairgrounds. They showed one “climbing” over some other cars and trucks, and then “peeling” off them to the finish line. They also showed spectators laughing, yelling and clapping. A lot of them were kids. That’s when it occured to me that kids would really love a replica made of wood. I used the basic design I had been using of a tractor — the tractor had two big rear wheels. I gave the Monstor Truck four big wheels and added a few embelleshments.

I’ve had two Monster Truck orders in the last two weeks. Looks like people like ’em.

Last fall I was selling my wares at a craft show in Des Moines. I had my usual stuff on the shelves — wooden handmade cars, airplanes, helicopters, antique replicas, etc. One of my items was this replica of an eighteen wheeler, a “big rig.” I call him “Rubber Duck” named after the truck in the sixties song, Convoy.

One morning, an older guy came through the aisle and stopped when he saw my truck. He walked around it once or twice, very interested, looked at it for a long time, and then walked away. I thought, like most lookers, he was comparing it to other stuff he’d seen.

That afternoon, he came back. He studied the truck carefully. After he had been there for at least 5 minutes, I said, “Are you a trucker?” “Used to be.” he said. “I’m retired now. This truck is beautiful! It reminds me of the one I used to drive. It’s a refer and so was mine.  I drove for 35 years. I’m on Social Security and I couldn’t afford to buy it, but it’s just beautiful!”

Sometimes, we have chances in life that we just miss — for whatever reason, they just pass us by. I wish now, I had just given the truck to him. It would have made his day and more. And, I’m sure, it would have made mine.

God forbid that I miss another opportunity like that!

Our family has had a tradition for a number of years -making homemade egg rolls whenever we get together for holidays, reunions or any other time we can find an excuse.

Number 1 and number 2 daughters go to the local Asian store and get the supplies — wrappers, sticky (sweet) rice, vegees, dipping sauce, etc. etc.

Then the whole clan gets involved. There’s filling to be mixed and cooked, what seems like 100’s of egg rolls to be wrapped, rice to be soaked and then steamed, and finally, egg rolls to be fried in vegetable oil. There’s lots of different sauces to dip them in, like soy sauce, plum sauce, hot cock sauce, mustard sauce, sweet and sour sauce, just to name a few.

Along with the egg rolls, the sticky rice is amazing. You grab a small handful, roll it into a ball and dip it into your favorite sauce(s) before you chow down on it.

This is the look of total bliss after you’ve devoured a half dozen egg rolls and a few hunks of sticky rice…. need I say more?

My son is coming over this week to help me figure out a reasonable way to mass produce 10 of these John Deere rocking tractors. In the past, I’ve gotten individual orders and made them one at a time. I painted them by hand and at first, I was unsophisticated enough to fabricate and assemble the whole tractor, then paint it.

I smartened up after doing a couple of tractors and waited to paint until I had sub-assemblies done, then painted them and assembled them — still painting by hand.

Currently, I have orders for 10 rocking tractors. No more hand painting, for sure. We’re going to try to figure out how to fabricate, do sub-assemblies, spray paint the sub-assemblies and then assemble them. We’re going to try to figure out how to make the best time and most efficient use of time and energy and resources.

Back in the 90’s I read a book called “The Machine That Changed The World.” It was about the Ford Company and how they revolutionized their manufacturing processes in order to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and beat the competition. I guess, on a mini-scale, that’s what we’re trying to do.

Stay tuned…

Got an order a couple of weeks ago from a gal in Australia, Lauren Watson — she wanted one of my Walton Truck replicas for her son whose 1st birthday is coming up in May. Her son, Max, was born 13 weeks premature last year, and they weren’t sure whether he would survive! Happy to report, he is alive and doing well and the family is looking forward to celebrating his first birthday, with BELLS ON! Lauren also ordered one of my “Chubby Lil’ Biplanes” for her other son, Oliver. Oliver is 2 1/2 years old.

Here’s wishing the Watsons much happiness and, especially the boys — happy play time!!!

Fifty years ago I decided that I wanted to be a teacher. My first major in college was journalism (I wanted to write) but that soon changed to English. When I graduated, I got a job as an English teacher in a small high school.

I loved teaching, but I couldn’t make a living at it, so I took a job as a corporate trainer. Later, I transitioned to HR and became an HR Manager. Then I went into consulting and ended my HR career as an HR process consultant.

 I retired in 2007. I considered HR consulting during retirement, but something was “bugging” me. I had always thought that I should have been in architecture. My woodworking hobby began to present itself as an option. One thing led to another, and now, I seem to have created a customer base for my wooden toys.

The point? Don’t close any doors. Pay attention to your passion. Go back and examine your initial inspirations. Do what you love!!!

I’m working on a new replica of a John Deere A, circa 1948. It’s very challenging – probably the most intricate piece I’ve ever done. Very time consuming, but it’ll be worth it!

The A was John Deere’s first true row-crop tractor. The tractor’s appearance was changed in 1939 with the “styled” look. In 1940, the engine was increased from 309 ci to 321 ci. In 1941, the transmission was changed from four forward speeds to six. There were several variants of the A.

I used to stay with my uncle on the farm in the summers back in the early 50’s. He had an “A” and I used to ride with him to mow hay and plow with an old two-bottom plow. I got to sit in front of him and steer and I was the happiest kid on the planet!

Wheelbase:	-unknown-
Weight:	3783 to 5228 pounds
Front tire:	24×4
Rear tire:	50×6

Fuel:	14 gal [53.0 L] 18 gal [68.1 L] (gas engine)
Aux. fuel:	1 gal [3.8 L]

Manufacturer:	John Deere
Factory:	Waterloo, Iowa, USA
Total built:	300,000
Original price (USD):	$2,400 (1952)

Got a message today from a customer in Canada who had just received a cho-cho train I made for his son. I was worried, because I sent the train over a week ago and he hadn’t received it yet. But it got there today and he sent me this picture of his son, “cho-choing” down the hall. A picture is worth a thousand words. This is why I do what I do!

The 1935 Ford, Model 48, had a 221 CID (3.6 L) V8 engine. The body was lowered and new “Center-Poise” seating improved comfort. Visually, the 1935 Ford was much more modern than previous models with the grille pushed forward and made more prominent by de-emphasized and more-integrated fenders. The 1935 Ford’s combination of price, practicality, and looks vaulted the company ahead of rival Chevrolet for the sales crown that year, with 820,000 sold.

I made this Ford replica from oak and walnut. Brings back memories of when I was a kid and most of the cars on the road were Fords and Chevy’s like this one. The grain in the oak makes it look really nice. It is 16 inches long, 6 inches wide and 6 inches high. The radiator, fenders, bumpers and trim are made of walnut — adds a nice touch. Could be used as a toy or as a keepsake/display piece for car lovers and old timers like me. You can see more at www.Etsy.com/shop/grandpacharlieswkshp