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While still employed as a trucker, Ken had traded in his 1956 International S160, a truck that had served him well. The man to whom Ken traded it, in turn sold it to a friend and neighbour of Ken's. In December of 1980 Ken approached his friend and bought back his original truck, now in very poor condition.A week previously Ken bought back another old friend, which he had first purchased as a used truck in 1965 - a 1956 International V190 gravel truck, known as a V-liner. Working on road construction west of Sundre at Mountain-Aire Lodge, one night Ken was toiling over the books when in walked the man to whom Ken had sold his V-liner years previously. Soon tipped over by the new owner, the truck had never been repaired. After negotiating, the owner permitted Ken to buy back this derelict on one condition: that Ken restored it.
That winter Ken began work on both trucks. Within two years he had them mostly restored, but it wasn't until 1984 that they were complete, with trucks and boxes back in mint condition.
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Ken's first International gravel truck, the S160, restored in 1984 with a grain box for farm work.1956
Ken Smithson's farm, north of Rimbey, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Ken Smithson
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The same truck with the grain box built up higher.1956
Ken Smithson's farm, north of Rimbey, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Ken Smithson
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International 1956 S160 hauling sand in 2000.1956
Gull Lake, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Ken Smithson
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Above is the restored 1956 S160 with the original gravel box, hauling sand at Parkland Beach, Alberta for a campground on the south side of Gull Lake.6
International S160 with a load of logs in 2000 or 2001.1956
Sam Kenney's farm, 17 kilometres NE of Rimbey, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Ken Smithson
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Above, Ken's versatile 1956 International S160 - with the box off and loaded with logs - is parked in front of the sawmill jointly owned by Ken Smithson and Sam Kenney.8
Pictured in 1984, International's 1956 S160, and on the right the 1956 V-liner, both fully restored.1956
Ken Smithson's farm, north of Rimbey, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Ken Smithson
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