Sharon and I took my parents around the area today. Our first stop was Joughin’s Hardware in Painesville. Joughin’s is located in a historic building in downtown Painesville and has been in business since 1877. It’s one of those buildings you have to see if you are ever in town. This afternoon, there was a motorcycle on display on the first floor. It looked like a homemade vehicle as the front forks and handle bars were made of iron plumbing pipes. At least that’s what it looked like. The only indication of it’s origin was the name plate on the engine cover. It said Speed Queen and had the face of an indian chief in between the two words. What is this thing?
After much wondering, I decided to call Joughin’s today during my lunch break. When I called, the owner of the motorcycle, Larry Medwig, was in the store and filled me in on his creation. He calls it a tractor cycle and made it out of a variety of parts:
- The engine is an International Harvester LB from a cement mixer.
- The transmission is from a Crosley automobile.
- The frame and forks are made out of pipe fittings.
- The wheels are from a David Bradley.
More pictures are listed at: http://www.farmallcub.com. And now for the question you have all been wanting to ask:
Andy: How does it drive?
Larry: Like a picnic table