A couple of hard working Oliver tractors

Back in the late 1940’s Earl Shoebottom of Southgate Ontario decided his heavy horses had worked enough. Earl broke down and bought a new 1949 Oliver 60 from Scarborough’s farm supply in Ilderton. The little gas tractor did short work of the heavy work around the farm. Just a few short years later Earl purchased a 77 Oliver Standard. This bigger tractor was used to run a saw mill and other machinery around the 150 acre farm in Middlesex County. 

Fast forward to 1980 Earl’s great nephew was using the Oliver 77 to haul grain wagons between farms. The load wasn’t hooked up right and little Scott was thrown from the tractor as it rolled into the steep ditch. Thankfully no one was hurt and the old 77 was pushed into the back of the shed. 

Jump ahead now to 2017 when Tom (Earl’s nephew) loaded up both the Oliver 60 and the damaged Oliver 77 and took them to get repaired and running. The Oliver 60 was repaired/tuned up and was eventually picked up. Tom had moved north of New Liskard by this time.

Tom’s grandson Max drove him absolutely crazy bugging him to let him start the Oliver 60. Finally Tom gave in, and winked at Max’s mom saying “he’ll never get it started”. But go on then Max go and try and start the 60! We had to pick Tom up off the floor when he heard the roar of the Oliver engine through the opened window. Now Tom didn’t always move real fast but, there was no dust on his boots getting out the door to see what the heck his grandson was up to! Max was so very proud to show his Papa that he could start the tractor all on his own. 

Step ahead to March 2021. Papa (Tom) was fighting a battle he wasn’t going to win. We never thought to ask…what had happened to the Oliver 77?

So if you’re out there and you did some work on Tom SHOEBOTTOM’s Oliver tractors and you think you might have an idea where the 77 is, there’s one grandson who would love to write the final chapter to this story.

Max Shearer
Ontario, Canada

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