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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

The Earthworm Tractor Company

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Alberta Mike

01-11-2005 05:29:48




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Does anyone here remember any of the 112 episodes of "Alexander Botts and the Earthworm Tractor Company" that were in the Saturday Evening Post magazine from 1927 and ending in 1975? The author was a fellow by the name of William Hazlett Upson. It also appeared as a cartoon strip (Alexander the Great), radio show, and a movie (1937 starring Joe E. Brown). Several books were published over the years with selected episodes within.

My friend recently gave me one of the books which I am now reading, it was published in 2001 and has 14 stories in it. It is hilarious reading, Botts was supposedly a salesman/sales manager for the Earthworm Tractor Company and it is essentially a take-off spoof on Caterpillar etc. He gets himself into some real tight spots which he always escapes from due to pure good luck for some reason.

Parts of the Movie were actually filmed in the Caterpillar plant in Illinois in 1937. Rebadged Caterpillars were used in the movie. I wonder if it ever made it into VHS format for home viewing? It's great reading and anyone who enjoys old tractors would like the book. This current one is published by Voyageur Press (Stillwater, MN) at 651-430-2210 (books@voyageurpress.com) and is distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books, 9050 Shaunessy Street, Vancouver, BC (V6P6E5).

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Donwisc

01-11-2005 10:12:31




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 Re: The Earthworm Tractor Company in reply to Alberta Mike, 01-11-2005 05:29:48  
I can still remember the stories from the Sat Evening Post. I ordered the DVD 5 min after reading this post. I will enjoy it with the grandkids

thanks for the tip and bringing back the old memories.



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rustyj14

01-11-2005 10:02:22




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 Re: The Earthworm Tractor Company in reply to Alberta Mike, 01-11-2005 05:29:48  
Oh, yes, i remember the Earthworm tractor Company!! And Alexander Botts! My family got the SEP delivered to the house by local kids who had a regular route! I also had a delivery route! After i got done with my route, if there were any mags left, i'd sit and read them, including those tractor stories! Great stories/ great writing! By the way--when i was in France during WW II, as the truck was pulling out of the staging area to go to the front lines, there was a photographer there, who hollered :"Smile--you'll be in The Saturday Evening Post"! I was standing holding onto the front slats of the 6x6, in the bed, so i turned around and smiled and waved at the camera! I wrote home to inform them about it, and 2 months later, there i was, in the SEP, big as life! Mother saved that copy, and i still have it to this day! But, i can't remember if Mr. Botts is in it! by: Rustyj

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Alberta Mike

01-11-2005 14:57:20




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 Re: The Earthworm Tractor Company in reply to rustyj14, 01-11-2005 10:02:22  
Well now, that is a story in itself. September of what year? I will keep my eyes open, sometimes I see old copies at flea markets and antique shows, etc.



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jdemaris

01-11-2005 05:45:20




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 Re: The Earthworm Tractor Company in reply to Alberta Mike, 01-11-2005 05:29:48  
As I replied in the other forum you poseted, : Yes it is on VHS. I have it. I bought two copies last year. Package reads: Joe E. Brown as Alexander Botts, EARTHWORM TRACTORS, with June Travis, Guy Kibbee, etc. 1996 Nostalgia Family Video, P.O. Box 606, Baker City, OR, 97814



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Sloroll

01-11-2005 05:38:29




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 Re: The Earthworm Tractor Company in reply to Alberta Mike, 01-11-2005 05:29:48  
Thanks for the tip. I'm going to read or watch that. It looks great!



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