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WHY ALL THE CRITICISM ABOUT A TRACTOR?

T

Ted Womack

Member
I 'll never understand why some people can appreciate all the
hard work you put into restoring a tractor and bring it back to
life. In making it the best you can and applauding you for effort.
Then some criticize everything about your tractor you've done.
Thanks to all appreciating all my hard work in restoring a 69
year old tractor and winning a lot for my efforts. Beating out
sometime 15 to 20 tractors. Sorry about the rest of you. I didn't
judge my tractor. Someone else did. I just brought it there for
the show just like everyone else. They know how much work
they put in theirs. I know how much work I put in mine.
Thank you,
a124805.jpg
 
I never understood that either. If you use one piece that is not original you will hear about it.
I don"t restore tractors I just run them. Mine are what some call field ready. They can"t pick on mine.
Nice Job!!!
 
Ted your tractor looks great and I would not worry too much about the CORRECT police !!! You did a fine job !!! As long as you are happy and everyone who smiles when they walk by that is what it is all about !!

Dustin IL
 
Ted,

You KNOW you "done good".

Sometimes, you just gotta be "thick skinned" when the jealous ones or nut cases pi$$ b i t c h and moan!
 
I wouldn't worry about the critics. Good looking little tractor. I put two of my tractors onto 12v systems, on the M I moved the starter button up on steering column like the H has it because I never liked the foot operated ones, and with 12 volts my hand can push it plenty hard so no problem. Not original but I like it. Nice and neat but different. OT, I looked at a B Farmall other day at a dealer. Had the correct single front wheel etc but some one must have removed the left rear axle housing and coupled it up like an A . It looked like it would tip over just sitting there. That kind of an alteration I don't care for. Unless I completely missed something along the way, IH never made a B that way.
 
I think it looks great and if you and the judges liked it who cares about anyone else. Never did like someone to tell me how to spend my money. I guess they will crap nails when they see the old A I am working on now with the dimond plate fenders and battery box. But there again I like it and don't care about the rest. And I like the monroe seats.
 
you know what some of us...myself included... forget these were used to WORK! That seat is hell-of-a lot more comfortable than the stock seat. I just restored a B that had the same floatride seat on it. The owner tossed the stock one not soon after he got it. The original owners didn't give a hoot about originality, dents, scratches, seats...just about doing the work and keeping somewhat comfortable. We are spoiled with our GPS AC DVD CD MP3 cab tractors.

nice job. It takes a lot to redo one of these things.
 
I put the old H back as original as I wanted to but I did keep the Monroe seat, barbwire stretcher, and converted it to 12 volt with alternator built brackets and hide the alternator up in the hood but some still complained. I have always thought that what the farmers id to them to make them work better gives them character.
 
all I seen was 2 guys question the aftermarket seat, I thought to myself the same thing they said but they already said it, neither one was saying anything negative about your tractor, some shows are obviously more strict about originality. just chill out, its a discussion forum, not a congratulations forum
 
Ted,

I believe the comments about the seat were a dig against the "correct police" not a dig against your tractor.

Regardless, we live in a nation of free speech and as such people are just as free to point out the "incorrectness" of your Monroe seat as you are to have a Monroe seat on your tractor.

All you can do is be a little less thin-skinned about it.
 
This is my first and only comment about the two recent shows you have been to. It's just that the seat looks weird to some of us. I grew up with those tractors and prefer the other seat. If your show judges and you don't care about originality, then that is their and your business. There are next to no shows in my area, if there were I would prefer that they not offer trophies, as it can cause hard feelings, as you have probably noticed. Otherwise the tractor looks fine. And yes I know the work you put in it. But, I don't do tractors to win prizes, I do them to satisfy myself. Keeps me from going nuts in my retirement. Whatever works for you is ok, you can ignore us.
 
I think mkirsch and cd1 are on the right track. The two comments, as I read them, were more a jab at the correct police and about judges not being sticklers for originality. They can be all over the board on that issue. Some have no objection to an after-market seat, for example, as long as it was contemporaneous with the tractor. But others will bust you for having a marked Grade 5 bolt where the original was a dot-head.

You should take a great deal of pride in the work you did on your tractor, and if it gets you some recognition, you durned well earned it. And I, anyway, didn't read those remarks as trying to diminish that.

And that also gets to the question of judging and whether it whould be done at all. A fellow two rows over who had searched high and low and parted out three tractors to make one just to have everything exactly original, and then done all the mechanical and body and paint work and done it comparable to your own, could be upset at you winning with an aftermarket seat. Not saying it's right, but that's the way those things go.

I much prefer shows where exhibitors get a little medallion or tchotschke to stick on the side or under the cover of their tool chest.
 
Nice tractor Ted. Even most of the "correct police" do not object when a correct period accessory such as a Monroe seat is on a restored tractor. Hope you win many more times.

Harold H
 
Beautiful little tractor.

I recently took my 200 through a parade. Some people comented about my use of base coat / clear coat. Instead of single stage. Some negative some positive.

Mind you these were the "older" people who jumped at adding any kind of hydraulic assistance to their older tractors which made them NOT original.

The way I look at it is:
Personally, I'm happy and that IS what matters.
Who cares what "they" think.

Joe
 
I use my tractors to do work. When the work is done I put them away. I usually paint the sheet metal if it looks really bad. I don’t like a raggedy seat so I put on a good seat or cushion. I want them to start and run when I need them. Other than that they set in the barn. I don’t enjoy tractor shows but I do appreciate the work that goes into restoring anything.
When I was driving airplanes everyday I was the same way. I flew in tough weather and played around with some aerobatics, but I don’t enjoy air shows. I do appreciate the work and skill involved in the flying and restoring of old airplanes.
Here is my point. If you are going to enter a tractor (or anything) in a contest to be judged by qualified people you have to follow the rules. If you want your tractor judged best then you have to follow the rules the best. If tractors are judged on how closely they replicate factory original then the one that it closest to factory original should win. (Remember judges are human) If all tractors entered are factory original then judging should switch to workmanship.
What I am saying is that tractors rebuilt to enter in contests should be held to a higher standard than ones rebuilt to look good.
Ted, your tractor looks terrific and you have every right to be proud of your work.
Dell
 
Went back and re-read your original post expecting to see that you have taken a flaming given the "all the criticism" and "pick on everything" comments. Truth is.....no criticizing was done, only a question about how the judging was done....and a fair question at that. Following your logic, you would be guilty of criticizing the fellows with the green tractors that "got sent home with their tail between their legs" even though they likely worked just as hard on their tractors. When you come fishing for compliments, you got to be understand there may be differing opinions.
 
You've got a real pretty machine there. I call them Parade Queens and that isn't a jab in your eye...but just what I think they are....all dressed up for a show. Without a doubt, you worked your cojones off making it look that way. Enjoy!

It'd be a sacrilege for me to own it...because I'd treat it just like Farmer Brown did, the day he brought home from the dealership....put it to work!
 
In the grand scheme of things one old tractor is not important - regardless of how well, or poorly, it is restored. We should all remember that.
mike
 
Well Ted, I clearly put my foot in it on that one! This is a problem with the written word...you cannot see the person's face and cannot hear how he says the words. I currently have a 2N torn all apart in my shop and a LoBoy half torn apart on the drive. I'm dirty, beat up, and my back hurts. My wallet is a bit thinner than it was this morning. And I won't end up with half the finished product you have in your picture. My point is I do half the job you do to get a reasonably attractive working tractor. I VERY MUCH appreciate your efforts. That said, I don't have a lot of use for a trailer queen but I am very grateful you and others do because I love looking at them at shows.
To me "restored" means "restored to original purpose".

My comment was in the form of an inquiry. I had always understood that you got marked way down even if you had the wrong bolts on your tractor. I was, therefore, really curious about your seat. Nothing I or Gene said was against you. It was more or less asking if it was OK to have modifications on a show tractor. Hope this clarifies what I said and why I said it. I am very sorry it was taken the wrong way.
 
The way I look at it is:
Personally, I'm happy and that IS what matters.
Who cares what "they" think.

Joe
Click to expand...
Personally, I agree. Judging old tractors will serve no positive purpose for the hobby of enjoying old tractors. Nor has judging served any positive purpose for any other hobby. It makes a "contest" out of what should be pure enjoyment by rich or poor, old or young, serious or casual participant.
mike
 
If your tractor is one of the later ones there is an excellent chance that it left the dealer with the Monroe seat.
 
Personally, I agree. Judging old tractors will serve no positive purpose for the hobby of enjoying old tractors. Nor has judging served any positive purpose for any other hobby. It makes a "contest" out of what should be pure enjoyment by rich or poor, old or young, serious or casual participant.
mike[/quote]

I agree with RedMist, when I watch the Miss America "Contest" it reminds me of the "pure enjoyment" and makes me happy I am still able to "participate" :)
Dell
 
Real nice tractor ,good job on restoring it .Looks like you worked a long time on it. Never mind the people who critise they are just jelous...Erik.
 
Everybody has their own opinions on good looking tractors. For me, yes, I consider my Oliver 88 and my Farmall 560 restored. They aren't perfect show tractors, but they do look pretty good. I still use mine on the farm on a regular basis. I restored my 560 for about $210 in supplies. I did the work myself and I like the outcome. I personally could care less about what somebody thinks of what I use, show, and pull because I like the way it is, and that's all that matters to me.
 
you put alot of work time and blood sweat & tears in your tractor YOU PAID FOR IT so who cares what people say if it aint 'RIGHT' its yours . i like them all faided or no paint all pertty an shiny on a tlr. or out of the dirt ., i have a red one and a green one and i get it from both sides green guys saying things about going red,red guys sayin they knew id come around. ive found out that that you CAINT MAKE THEM ALL HAPPY ALL OF THE TIME. im sure all tractor owners fell the same about there own BRANDS or cloros of paint you pay the biil to have it your own way .close to perfcet of to what your pocket lets you . i try to and if pepole dont like it they can look some where else im learning as i go
 
If a comment pointing out that your tractor doesn't have the original seat gets to you this bad, you need to grow some thicker skin.
 
I love IH tractors and this forum and have enjoyed reading it for years.Never had to post here all my questions are already answered if I search. You guys are some of the friendliest helpful people on the web. It pains me deeply to see a riff among you over what amounts to nothing. Lets all take a deep breath and get back to talking tractors.
 
Your problem is this you brag about winning first prize and your tractor isnt original. We can see from the pic and if we would look at the tractor probably would find more stuff that isnt oroginal so why keep posting about my tractor won first prize just what kind of a show and who did the judging sure didnt knbow their tractors. Some of us on this site know what was original and wasnt just wonder what kind of a "CONTEST"your group is running.
 
Your problem is this you brag about winning first prize and your tractor isnt original. We can see from the pic and if we would look at the tractor probably would find more stuff that isnt oroginal so why keep posting about my tractor won first prize just what kind of a show and who did the judging sure didnt knbow their tractors. Some of us on this site know what was original and wasnt just wonder what kind of a "CONTEST"your group is running.
 
OK I am a yankee living in the south..
Google found it but I still don't know what it means nor where it is used. I found one lady from Toronto using the term tchoxchkes?
What is a tchotschke??
 
Ted, your tractor looks great. I worked on an M a couple years ago. It looks rough and has numerous mods on it, but it's a working tractor. I'm currently working on a F-20, that will have numerous mods made on it, but will otherwise be "restored". To each his own. I enjoy the hobby and especially find it interesting what others do with their projects.
 
(quoted from post at 21:22:42 11/09/09) Your problem is this you brag about winning first prize and your tractor isnt original. We can see from the pic and if we would look at the tractor probably would find more stuff that isnt oroginal so why keep posting about my tractor won first prize just what kind of a show and who did the judging sure didnt knbow their tractors. Some of us on this site know what was original and wasnt just wonder what kind of a "CONTEST"your group is running.
Click to expand...
I don't know how all tractor shows are judged, but in car shows there is a "concours" class where everything had better be absolutely original, right down to the type of paint used. In most of these, the cars are actually better than they were when they came from the factory, because "factory" cars usually have flaws. Probably the same with tractors. I see no problem with shows where the winner is just the best looking and/or the best re-finished one of the bunch and this is probably the case here... original or not.
Congratulations on a great looking old tractor! I'd be proud of it too.
 
Okay, I take it back. Gene bender was digging on your tractor AND the judging.

gene, give it a rest. You know what they say... If you want a job done right, you gotta do it yourself. Since you don't like how that tractor show was run, why don't you hold your own tractor show and you can declare EVERYONE losers for one nit-picky detail or another? I guarantee you'll only be holding it once.

What was the judging criteria for this tractor show? Gee, umm, maybe BEST LOOKING TRACTOR, period? It doesn't always have to be a concours competition.
 
I had an old ford 8n a few years ago with a Monroe seat. Did a
lot of checking and found it came as a dealer option.
Anyway very nice looking tractor.
My 2404 was originally industrial yellow. I painted it red. My tractor
I figure I can paint it any color I want. Still keep expecting the
paint police to show up at my door some day.
 
This last weekend i had to judge 165 IH tractors from 1915 to 1970 at the Newark tractor show. It took some doing but i did not put a tractor down if it had a part or an attachment wich was available during the working life of the tractor. MJ
 
That seat is not listed as an attachment or otherwise in the parts manual -- dealers did it on their own because people liked it. Technically it is incorrect. Practically it is fine, provided you can stand to look at it.
 
Hi Dell
just thought I would introduce myself . I have been in aviation for nearly thirty years. And I enjoy working on tractors as well . Give me a call sometime and we can talk tractors and airplanes.

Best Regards

Larry
Burlington Wi.
800-338-5420
 
First of all, to TCHOTCHKE. This is a Yiddish word that originally came from a Polish word, czaczka (Polish cz is pronounced like English ch in "church"). My dictionary says it means "cheap trinket." It's one of those words you might hear around NYC, but probably not much elsewhere. As to judging, well, I'd be happier without the competition. I love the parades where people get to show their work without worrying about who is the best and shaming those who don't make it to the top. Still, for those who love the competition, why not? As to using a tractor versus keeping it for show, that's a matter of personal preference. I'd rather use one than keep it in the garage except for a few weekends in the summer when it is trailered to a show, but again, there's nothing wrong with either approach. I have a few things around the house that I love for themselves. They are useless to anybody else, but I sometimes just look at them, run my hands over them, admire them. The other half of this household doesn't really understand, but she humors me (I know that's not always the case with wives, so I've heard, anyway). If I had a really beautiful tractor, I'd want to look at it, admire it, look again to see how the mechanical problems were solved (well, or not so well, as with most machines), then do it all over again next week. But then, I'd want to DRIVE the beautiful tractor, so it'd get dirty and wouldn't look so beautiful, I guess. But aren't tractors supposed to get dirty? Aren't we all just farmers at heart, even if we don't farm any more?

Speaking of looking at how machines are made and mechanical problems solved, if you are ever near
Windsor, Vermont (in eastern Vermont, on the Connecticut River, about an hour north of the Massachusetts state line), go and see the American Precision Museum. This museum houses numerous old machine tools, of the kinds used in factories as far back as (maybe) 1825: lathes, milling machines, drills. The museum is small--you can walk around fifteen minutes, or spend a day if you like to look very carefully at how people solved problems many years ago. Admission is a few dollars. The museum is closed now for the winter, but you can check out the hours by looking up American Precision Museum. Few people go there, and you will be welcomed by the attendant. Pictures are allowed.

I am going to post some comments on another museum of interest to guys like us. I'll call it Ford Museum.
 
Ted,great looking tractor!Got a buddy of mine r.estored one just like it.He was going on a trip and his friend was gonna paint it.He didnt know anything bout tractors and asked the guy what color he wanted it.I dont care if you paint it purpleIm going on vacation.Come home and had a purple Farmall.That was 5 yrs ago.Still pulls with it at our club pulls all summer long.Far as I know no one has ever badmouthed it.It is beautiful though. Hoss
 
(quoted from post at 18:07:48 11/10/09) Come home and had a purple Farmall.Hoss
Click to expand...
Works for me... but then I live in Kansas and both of my daughers graduated from KSU :D .
Go 'Cats!!
 
Len got is sorta covered. , Yes, it is Yiddish, and Yiddish is traditionally written in Hebrew, so the spellings in English are all over the board. That said, Yiddish broke out of NYC MANY years ago. I was setting up an event in St. Louis for alumni of a universtiy in Ohio. My local leader for the event asked, "What are you bringing for tschotsckes? Those pocket calendars were a big hit last year."

Cheap trinket is about the size of it. It would be like the keyfobs they give out when they open the new gas station/convenience store, pens from the credit union, refrigerator magnets . . . THe ones I mentioned from one show I went to has been making medallions about half the size of a credit card each year for their participants, magnetic backing on a nicely finished brushed metal plate, varying in tone from brass to copper to steel, nicely printed with the name, location and year of the event.
 
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