This machine was purchased in the early spring of 1977 from a coworker that used it for several years doing custom tilling. At one time he and his father had two of these machines. I bought this machine because I needed something to work my 5,000 square foot garden, it was in running condition, and the price was right at $75. Included was the another machine minus engine, wheels and tiller hood. Depending on the tine holders used, these machines can till 20" or 26" wide and 9" deep.

Over the winter I refurbished the engine and transmission. Every piece was disassembled. All bearings, bushings, and seals were replaced. The cylinder was bored .040" oversize because of severe scoring. At the time Frazer Farm Equipment in Auburn, Indiana was my major source of parts and technical information. The shop there bored the cylinder and did the fitting of the piston. During the winter months of 81/82 I refurbished the tiller section. After all repairs were made I painted it with the proper color paint purchased from Frazer Farm Equipment.

I then used this machine to work my 5,000 square foot garden until about 1990. It was then that we gave up planting a garden. The garden area was greatly reduced and used for growing sunflowers, wildflowers, field corn, millet, etc. Basically my son turned into a small bird habitat area. The Rototiller didn't get used too much after this. I do keep it in running condition and "play" in the dirt with it from time to time.

Through communication with Frazer Farm Equipment, I learned a lot of the history of this machine. Shortly after my tiller was made, Graham-Paige became Graham-Paige-Frazer and later Kaiser-Frazer. Rototillers were sold at their car dealerships. These machines were expensive. Suggested retail price was around $435, which was probably close to the price of a vehicle in 1946. Visit Donald's Antique Rototillers website for interesting history on ROTOTILLER and Graham-Paige. Another excellent history source is a book by Garden Way Inc. titled Gardening beyond The Plow and of course Donald Jones book entitled The Rototiller in America.