The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE DUMB MECHANIC

A COMMON STORY TOLD AMONG TRUCKS AND MECHANICS:
BACK ABOUT 1930 WHEN I WAS HAULIN' COAL OUT OF
CADIZ (SOUTHEAST OHIO), I BOUGHT ME ONE OF THEM
NEW WHITES WITH A DIESEL ENGINE. ONE DAY, THAT BIG
BASTARD JUST WOULDN'T RUN FER SHIT, SO'S I STOPPED
AT HANK'S (SOME TRUCK STOP) AND SAYS, "HEY, HANK,
TAKE A LOOK-SEE AT WHAT AILS THIS RIG." "WELL,
HANK PROPS UP THE HOOD WITH A 4 X 4 AND STARTS
MONKEYING AROUND. SHORTLY, HE JUMPS DOWN SAYING,
'WHY, HELL MAN, IT'S A WONDER THIS THING RUNS AT ALL.
IT AIN'T GOT NO SPARK PLUGS.'"

Submitter comment: TOLD TO ME ABOUT 1957 BY A PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC
WHO DROVE SCHOOL BUS AS PART-TIME JOB. HE WAS
ABOUT 60 AND TOLD IT IN THE FIRST PERSON. HAVE
HEARD THE SAME STORY TOLD IN THIRD PERSON BY A
HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR WHO USED DIFFERENT
LOCALITY (HUNTINGTON, W. VA.), DIFFERENT KIND
OF TRUCK AND OTTO'S TRUCK STOP.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON