Hancock Elevating Pull-Type Scraper

[td25c]

Looking good kb9tci :thumbsup

 

[kb9tci]

Tire guy showed up today and popped the flat tire off the scraper. They left without putting Humpty Dumpty back together again, so I'm guessing they had to get a new tube or flap ordered.

 

[Aussie Leroy]

I was in the USA, Alamosa colorada recently visiting a friend and saw a hancock scraper its a model 282 I will post some photos of it soon Cheers Leroy

 

[kb9tci]

I need to post some more pictures of this old gal in action. I've been using it quite a bit this fall around the new house and on our sod airstrip. Cutting in some gradual tapered ditches to help with draining.

 

[Aussie Leroy]

Pictures as promised from the Hancock 282 scraper with 471 GM cheers Leroy

 

[Aussie Leroy]

More pictures as promised from the Hancock 282 scraper with 471 GM cheers Leroy

 

[RonG]

I am going to enclose the only pic I have of an old Hancock elevator scraper with a Michigan prime mover sporting a V671 with two stacks right beside the operators station.Talk about sound!!
I drove it back from the job site over the road and parked it where it is now,the weeds came later.Ron G

 

[JGibson]

Where is this? The bantam looks familiar

 

[RonG]

In Newington,the Bantam is a C366,it also has a V6-71 in it.I did a housing development off Quaker la. in West Hartford back in the late 80's/early 90's for T&M bldrs.I could reach all the way across the cellar hole with it if I wanted to.lol.Ron G

 

[RonG]

Hey, I have an abandoned equipment Facebook page that I run in my spare time. Michigan Scrapers are very rare, and especially one in Ct haha. I was wondering what the address for the machine is, and if it is possible to get photos of it. Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks, John

I am not sure what he has left now,they say after I quit him he folded and of course we wish we could brag about that...lol.The company name was WH Williams and it was second generation when I worked for them.Their shop was on a dead end street across from the Olympia diner which is on RT 15 south of Hartford.If you can tell me how well you know the area I will give you better directions.I don't go to those social sites as I don't care to spread my info all over the world for everyone to see.I still use ICQ because it tells me when I have email.Thanks for taking an interest,I am in a wheelchair with cancer and I was in a rehab when this post was new so could not reply to it.I just fixed my private message folder and sent you a message there too.Ron G

 

[stretch]

Hey Ron, I know Bill Jr.! Him and his dad did a lot of work with the Mareks down here in Southington back in the day and that's how my grandpa knew them. I actually met him as a fellow member of the QVEA/Zagray Farm Museum in Colchester. He's still around, company folded up several years ago and Bill Sr. passed a while back. He still has a few excavators, several dozers, and a few loaders and maybe the scraper. He keeps two of his D6s, his 1954 pulling a LeTourneau and a very nice 1963 B-series down at the Zagray Farm in Colchester. I've had the pleasure of running the 6B numerous times and it's a good ol' gal.

 

[RonG]

Thanks for the reply Stretch,it is nice to hear from Southington.I used to see Bill sr. on the jobsites occasionally although I cannot remember ever seeing him on any equipment.Say Hello to Billy for me when you see him if you think of it.When I first went to work for Ritchie he was doing a job up in Somers so I met him up there on the job site and Bill SR. was there and of course Ritchie introduced me to him.He started me out on the D6D and when Bill SR. saw me back up and pick up a rock instead of driving over it I think that I was hired so probably the old man hired me.I had to drive up there for about a week to finish the job.
I only saw one other D6 in the 5 or 6 years that I worked for them,an old one with the gas start motor on it with a brush rake on the front.It is rare to find anyone who can start them anymore.
No one has actually told me that they folded but I have stopped by the compound when in the area where they keep their equipment and everything was there so I just assumed that from what I had seen.
The old scraper used to be pulled by their D7 but that was probably sold off when they folded.
Their D6D was a nice machine to run,a hotrod,just fun to run,it did everything well.I thought all the D6Ds were a little nose heavy but just the nature of the beast.
I never got to run the D7/scraper combo but have run the 7 by itself numerous times.I trained on those old cable scrapers with D8s at Ft.Leonardwood in the army.
Thanks for the heads up and keep in touch.Ron G

 

[JGibson]

Hi ron, I never got the pm, i think there is something wrong with my inbox as it has happened in the past. After talking with stretch, we realized the owner is Bill Williams! Is the machine still at the old shop? Thanks, John

 

[RonG]

I have been having problems too,it says my inbox is full or the recipients inbox is full,that is why I posted in the thread as well so that eventually you would get it.
I have not been at his shop since I got sick so am not sure what is left there but he keeps his equipment at his property at the end of the street,he has a compound/fenced in area on the right adjacent to the turnaround where some of his stuff is inside the fence and some is outside.I am almost certain that he was renting the shop where we gathered sometimes "payday?" to start the day but I usually went straight to the jobsite.I would imagine that he would let the shop go right away if they folded.The picture that I posted was taken at the compound while sitting in my truck in the turnaround at the end of the street.I have quite a few pics of his stuff on different jobs that I did.
It was nice to hear from Stretch,we have chatted in the past,we all have contributions to make,thanks to this great BB for a place to do it.Keep in touch John.Ron G

 

[stretch]

I'm not on here too much these days, but Mr. Gibson made me think about checking in again. Good to see I'm welcomed back! I'll send Bill your regards next time I see him. The pony-start D6 with the rake is the one pulling the scraper at the farm. I think he picked up the scraper for it just a couple years ago, way too small and old to be productive on a D7. The cable control D6B he also keeps there came from the Hewitts down New London way and sat for several years before being resurrected. Stumbled upon his shop yesterday, pretty overgrown with a KW tractor and Link-Belt excavator and other misc. stuff sitting in the fence. I know you're wheelchair-bound but if you get some offroad tires put on it come on down to one of our shows. I'll check in once in a while!

 

[RonG]

Nice to hear from you again.That KW came after I left,he had an DM800 pulling the lowbed before that and that is all they ever used it for.I am surprised that he ever traded up for anything else.
I am pretty frustrated with this wheelchair thing,I have a lot to do before I kick off.I feel great but my body can't keep up with me.
I could still run equipment once I got in the seat but I don't imagine anyone would hire me at my age.Again,keep in touch Stretch.I still have not got my truck registered and according to the doctor I can't drive as I have spells occasionally that I lose touch with the rest of the world.I hope they can get that fixed.I do have my drivers license but did not have time to get my DOT medical card so I had to take the regular license instead of a class one but they say I have 2 years to do that with no penalty and upgrade to the class one again.
I would love to make a show someday in Colchester,we will see how it goes.
Ron G

 

[JGibson]

Thanks Ron, would be awesome to see you sometime at the show. I joined a few weeks ago and has been quite the learning experience. I'll pm you my email, holler if you're coming down.

 

[old-iron-habit]

Hey Ron, I know Bill Jr.! Him and his dad did a lot of work with the Mareks down here in Southington back in the day and that's how my grandpa knew them. I actually met him as a fellow member of the QVEA/Zagray Farm Museum in Colchester. He's still around, company folded up several years ago and Bill Sr. passed a while back. He still has a few excavators, several dozers, and a few loaders and maybe the scraper. He keeps two of his D6s, his 1954 pulling a LeTourneau and a very nice 1963 B-series down at the Zagray Farm in Colchester. I've had the pleasure of running the 6B numerous times and it's a good ol' gal.

Interesting post. I fail to remember who but I traded a few PMs with a fellow that was working on restoring the Letourneau LS at the Zagray Farm a couple years ago. I sent some dimensions of distances between sheaves and some photos of sheets out of an original manual so they could get the cables strung and the bowl adjusted properly. I'm pleased to hear they have it working at their event. It is one of the shows on our bucket list.

 

[RonG]

Having the proper documentation is priceless when repairing things if they are to work as designed.Many times we "jury rig" things to make them work but it is so nice and usually time saving as well to have the right service literature at hand while doing the repair.I do electronic servicing in my spare time and the internet has been a blessing to me.It is a good thing that I have this to fall back on as it is something that I can do these days.Ron G

 

[RonG]

Thanks Ron, would be awesome to see you sometime at the show. I joined a few weeks ago and has been quite the learning experience. I'll pm you my email, holler if you're coming down.

I am going to try the private message thing again and see if it works for us John.I will send my email address and see what happens.Ron G