SO EXCITED ... and perhaps a bit sentimental (UPDATED)

scaredychicken · May 25, 2021

I don't have many photos with my late father who passed away in 1985 when I was 20 yrs old. One of my favourite photos however, is with Dad, as groundskeeper for the community hospital. I was 2 years old, and we are photographed on his Jacobsen Chief lawn tractor. I saw that photo for the first time when it was given to me three years ago, after my mother's passing. I decided that I wanted to try and locate a Jacobsen mower, and possibly restore it. Using the photo, the search was on, and I had never actually seen such a beast.

Yesterday, while casually looking for a freezer in the local online ads, I saw a ride on mower believed to be a Bolens brand. Closer inspection showed me that it was actually a JACOBSEN SUPER CHIEF 1450 lawn tractor, 14 hp, manufactured between 1969-1971. Wow ! I contacted the seller within 45 minutes of the ad being posted. The machine was in a neighbouring Province so I couldn't even consider buying it, without having a solid plan to have it picked up. To complicate things further, there are Covid-19 Travel Restrictions in place at this time.

I called a friend who agreed to pick up the tractor and hang on to it for me, if I was able to buy it. I paid for the tractor, and even now the details are still getting sorted out. So 50+ years after that photo with Dad, I will have a Jacobsen lawn tractor. That made my day !!!

It is a working machine, and I will be looking for a mower deck yet. This is going to be fun.

Happy

Thomas · May 25, 2021

Outstanding.

scaredychicken · May 28, 2021

Thank You Thomas, pretty cool find - I should have it home in July.

MossRoad · May 28, 2021

Very cool! Hope it works out for you. Nice to restore an old machine, but having that sentimental value is priceless.

can do · May 29, 2021

scaredychicken said:
I don't have many photos with my late father who passed away in 1985 when I was 20 yrs old. One of my favourite photos however, is with Dad, as groundskeeper for the community hospital. I was 2 years old, and we are photographed on his Jacobsen Chief lawn tractor. I saw that photo for the first time when it was given to me three years ago, after my mother's passing. I decided that I wanted to try and locate a Jacobsen mower, and possibly restore it. Using the photo, the search was on, and I had never actually seen such a beast.

Yesterday, while casually looking for a freezer in the local online ads, I saw a ride on mower believed to be a Bolens brand. Closer inspection showed me that it was actually a JACOBSEN SUPER CHIEF 1450 lawn tractor, 14 hp, manufactured between 1969-1971. Wow ! I contacted the seller within 45 minutes of the ad being posted. The machine was in a neighbouring Province so I couldn't even consider buying it, without having a solid plan to have it picked up. To complicate things further, there are Covid-19 Travel Restrictions in place at this time.

I called a friend who agreed to pick up the tractor and hang on to it for me, if I was able to buy it. I paid for the tractor, and even now the details are still getting sorted out. So 50+ years after that photo with Dad, I will have a Jacobsen lawn tractor. That made my day !!!

It is a working machine, and I will be looking for a mower deck yet. This is going to be fun. Happy

Hey scaredychicken! Your story gave me goose bumps ! & That is awesome &

, That You will be able to do a tribute/restoration in memory of your Father! Can't wait to see how it goes.

scaredychicken · May 29, 2021

can do said:
Hey scaredychicken! Your story gave me goose bumps ! & That is awesome & , That You will be able to do a tribute/restoration in memory of your Father! Can't wait to see how it goes.

my friend in Alberta is picking the tractor up in a couple of hours, we will meet (for the first time) when she delivers it here in the summer.

can do · May 29, 2021

scaredychicken said:
my friend in Alberta is picking the tractor up in a couple of hours, we will meet (for the first time) when she delivers it here in the summer.

I'm sure your going to be quite happy taking possession soon! Keep us posted

.

tibadoe · May 29, 2021

That's a tough looking tractor.

scaredychicken · May 29, 2021

UPDATE: my sweet friend in Alberta picked up the Jacobsen tractor for me this afternoon. She seems very pleased with it and says that it hums nicely. She has it in her possession now and is going to take it for a drive around the block later today. I need photos, video.

... come to think of it, I may need to bribe her just to have her let it go

I might never see it otherwise.

excited

scaredychicken · May 30, 2021

Safely tucked away at my friend's place. It looks to be Larger than I anticipated (yay), and she says that it is loud (yay ?) and hums nicely.

this is the second photo that I have (tire chains are on the seat)

scaredychicken · May 30, 2021

Here is the original photo of my dad and I on the Jacobsen tractor ... 1966. I'm not quite 2 yrs old.

can do · May 30, 2021

scaredychicken said:
Safely tucked away at my friend's place. It looks to be Larger than I anticipated (yay), and she says that it is loud (yay ?) and hums nicely.
View attachment 700569this is the second photo that I have (tire chains are on the seat)

Glad see her! & that she has arrived,So I guess the 1st part You'll be looking for is the grille piece ! Shouldn't be to hard with the help of TBN members! Thanks for the pictures.

can do · May 30, 2021

scaredychicken said:
Here is the original photo of my dad and I on the Jacobsen tractor ... 1966. I'm not quite 2 yrs old.
View attachment 700570

That's cool

!!!!!!!

can do · May 30, 2021

scaredychicken said:
Here is the original photo of my dad and I on the Jacobsen tractor ... 1966. I'm not quite 2 yrs old.
View attachment 700570

Hey scaredychicken !I think I already found a good parts source for your 1969 Jacobsen Garden Tractor on E-bay I saw 2 front grills 1 for $24.00 & the other $ 25.50 also E-bay there is a link to Indiana Lawn Mower Parts & Accessories I visited this site a couple of weeks ago this has to be the largest riding mower yard in the world & it is organized in order of manufacture

! The site was on You Tube! You need to check it out & it's incredible

!& I also noticed on the same platform the following manufactures used allot of the same sheet metal Ford,M.M., & Oliver! Happy hunting & I would recommend this site to any other TBM members to view this site for there vintage Garden tractors or riding mowers part needs & they even sell complete used equipment

.

scaredychicken · May 31, 2021

can do said:
Hey scaredychicken !I think I already found a good parts source for your 1969 Jacobsen Garden Tractor on E-bay I saw 2 front grills 1 for $24.00 & the other $ 25.50 also E-bay there is a link to Indiana Lawn Mower Parts & Accessories I visited this site a couple of weeks ago this has to be the largest riding mower yard in the world & it is organized in order of manufacture! The site was on You Tube! You need to check it out & it's incredible!& I also noticed on the same platform the following manufactures used allot of the same sheet metal Ford,M.M., & Oliver! Happy hunting & I would recommend this site to any other TBM members to view this site for there vintage Garden tractors or riding mowers part needs & they even sell complete used equipment.

That is AWESOME, I will check it out.

scaredychicken · Jul 9, 2021

I'm getting that much closer to getting it home. I think that I will end up picking it up (6 hr drive 1 way) over the summer. Initial plan was that it would be delivered to me by a friend. Hoping it will fit in the bed of my truck, with the canopy on it... I might need to deflate the tires a bit.

Really trying to avoid a truck and trailer return trip, as I will be staying in 2 large cities, over several days.

shovelmike · Jul 9, 2021

Very nice, those are excellent tractors in their own right, the sentimental value puts it way over thbote top.
My father also passed when I was twenty. Ford had their garden tractors made by Jacobson, available in gear or hydrostat. Dad (employed at Ford Tractor) brought one home one evening for me to mow with, I was in hog heaven..to me they have always been the best.
I will be following your restoration.

Xfaxman · Jul 9, 2021

scaredychicken said:
I'm getting that much closer to getting it home. I think that I will end up picking it up (6 hr drive 1 way) over the summer. Initial plan was that it would be delivered to me by a friend. Hoping it will fit in the bed of my truck, with the canopy on it... I might need to deflate the tires a bit.

Really trying to avoid a truck and trailer return trip, as I will be staying in 2 large cities, over several days.

Arkansas Dave · Jul 13, 2021

Congratulations! Glad you found one that is a cool machine I have never seen one like that before should
be a fun build up.

Dave

scaredychicken · Jul 14, 2021

I haven't seen it yet either - hope to bring it home in the next few weeks. Just sent my truck and canopy measurements, so that we can figure out if it will fit in the box, under the canopy.

Then to find a mower deck