Blog 3364 – 01.18.2025
Another Restoration Project
About thirty years ago when my son was a little guy my wife’s dad, Jay’s grandpa, wanted to give him a bicycle. Wallace Stokes was a farmer, but really made his living buying used tractors and farm equipment, repairing and selling them for more than he had in them. Being a true mechanic his thought was to buy used, to repair, and to restore so the bike he gave his grandson was a used restored one. I found it in the attic this morning rummaging for old toys to clean-up and fix-up for Jay’s daughter, my first grandchild Emma Grace.
This will be my biggest Emma project yet. My first toy restoration project for her was a spring horse that Jays’s cousin Greg had passed down to him.
And the second one was a wagon that we had bought new at Toys R Us for Jay. I should have taken before pictures to compare with the completed projects but did not.
This time since the project will require a lot more investment of time and money I took the first picture above to show you what I started with. Well, almost. I have already invested a couple of hours time disassembling the pedal bearing assembly and the rear-wheel bearing assembly to see what parts need replacing. So far I have ordered a 16 x 1.75 rear wheel with coaster brake, two 16 x 1.75 white tires, and inner tubes.
I am reminded of an old car that Tim Allen (Tim the Tool Man) restored on his hit sitcom Home Improvement show some years ago. Before it was completed, and it took many months, he figured that he could never sell it for what he had invested in it in parts and labor. But it had been a labor of love.
That is what Jay’s old bike/Emma’s new bike will be for me. I want to build upon the investment that Emma Grace’s great grandpa made in his grandson that she is also the beneficiary of.
Stay tuned and I will post updated pictures as the work of restoration progresses.
Your friend and fellow traveler also handyman,
David White
Handyman
theencouragingword 