My favorite Doodlebug story involves my Uncle Paul, who was very proud of the fact that his cousin was Calvin Coolidge. I'm pretty sure Henry got chased by every loose dog in town at one time or another. The sound of that little four-banger straining up the incline on Grafton Street between Main and High Streets was like no other. A frequent sight on warmer school days in Chester was Henry Wilson from Popple Dungeon driving his Model-A tractor Doodlebug to school. I personally always liked the look of Doodlebugs built from Ford Model-A's. I think the first one I ever saw was when I was a young kid hanging out at the Bliss Farm in Chester. Usually, that was accomplished by adding another manual transmission to the existing manual transmission which would multiply the gearing.ĭo I personally know much about tractor Doodlebugs? Not as much as I'd like. However, the most common shared features are a shortened frame, the lack of a body, a rear axle from a heavy-duty truck with ag-style tires of some sort, and some junkyard sourced method to gear the thing down for increased pulling power. The definition of a tractor Doodlebug varies precisely because they are homemade and usually loaded with the builders' personal innovations. There isn't any record that I am aware of that dates that origin, but it probably happened in the 1900's when some clever farmer figured that a tractor of sorts could be made from an old Ford Model-T. Not all farmers could afford a tractor, so when they saw how useful tractors were, they had to innovate if they didn't have the funds. Around these parts, we all know that a Doodlebug is basically a homemade tractor used on a small farm.

Then there is the meaning that rural Americans immediately conjure when they hear it. The name also refers to single car self-propelled trains, and also the German V-1 rocket that rained down on Great Britain in WWII. The Ant Lion in its larval stage lives in sandy soil and drags its huge butt everywhere it goes, thus creating sand drawings of a sort that look like doodles. Then there's the meaning that is applied to an actual bug. The word derives from the word 'doodle' which refers to a dunce, a time waster, or someone who draws seemingly nonsensical things. The term 'Doodlebug' means different things in different places. If you're not familiar with Doodlebugs, I think it bears a bit of explanation.

Hugh is a regular reader and thought I should write about Doodlebugs. I received a voice mail from Hugh in Marlboro.

Define doodlebug