This Tractor Runs on Pepsi
Back in mid July of 2001, Gene received an email from Ray Borland in Ohio. The conversation went something like THIS:Gene, I have a John Deere H model and was approached by one of our Carroll County Antique club members about taking my Tractor to the Fair which is being held this week July 16-22. Years ago there was a local dealer who set a John Deere on Coca-Cola bottles and ran the engine idling and had an ad that said that this JD Tractor even runs on Coke. I wondered if you had any reference to this and any info that would tell where to place the bottles if doing so. Thanking you, Ray Borland P.S. They're not going to try this until Thurs. or Fri. Yeah Ray, I've seen pictures of it, but I know not WHERE!! Probably in one of the magazines and I'd NEVER find it. The idea was that the tractor's engine was balanced so well and idled so smoothly that it could be balanced on soda bottles and wouldn't fall off from the vibrations. You would just locate three or four bottles under the most likely "jacking points" of the tractor. Lift the tractor up with four OTHER jacks, and set it down on the bottles. You would want to find some of the old fashioned HEAVY glass bottles. (Hint: the two-liter ones won't DO!!) Have fun... and take a picture for me, okay?? Gene Gene, What do you know!!! We have the John Deere H setting on three old Pepsi bottles that were purchased in Canada about 20 to 25 years ago and are still full of pop. We started it up and put it in gear and watched in amazement as the rear wheels rotated around and the engine was idling and purring like a kitten. I took some pictures today and will send you one as soon as I get the film developed. What is your mailing address? I don't have a digital camera or a scanner so would like to mail you a picture or two if you would let me know. Thanks again for some of your ideas on trying this episode. Ray Borland
RAY!!!
Although it is not evident in the picture, the tractor is actually jacked up an inch or so above the ground. When Ray started it up and put in in gear, it must have been a VERY eye-catching display! |
"Makin' Whoopie"
Speaking of old Pepsi bottles, Gene claims that back in the very late sixties or early seventies, Pepsi Cola ran commercials on television with a song set to the old tune of "Makin' Whoopie". No one else ever seems to remember this, so Gene is wondering if it was his imagination?? Some of the words he remembers start out in the middle of the song, run to the end of the song, and go:
"When you say 'Pepsi please',
So go ahead, and drink the drink |
Can anyone help substantiate Gene's claim that this really happened? If you remember the commercials, or the rest of the lyrics, please email HIM or ME. Since this page was originally published, a few people HAVE written in to say that they remember the song. So... Gene is vindicated!! Quite some time later, in March of 2003, the following picture was sent in by Craig Albers of Cedar Rapids Iowa. It is from a 1942 "Better Farming" catalog, and it shows an early 40's Model A on what looks to be Coke bottles. The original caption is quoted below the picture.
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