Let's hear about 1 owner (family) tractors

6pack · Sep 9, 2012

I am always interested to hear the history of a tractor. So many stories out there of tractors that never left the farm, or have and came back for good!

I have heard my Dad and many others say "I wish I never sold that tractor" for my Dad it was the Massey Harris 44 that they bought new years ago...he has a different 44 now, but just not the same as original....he feels the same way about the Oliver 880

Let's hear some stories and even better some pics from over the years

skip33652 · Sep 9, 2012

john deere 70 dsl std had all options came with 4 bottom mounter plow. Dad traded tractor in in 1974 for 4430. I was liking the 4430 but not liking the loss. found it on farm auction after looking for for years.wont sell again.Paul

El Toro · Sep 9, 2012

The farm was sold after my brother and I were in the military along with the tractors. I do have my garden tractor I bought from Montgomery Ward's in 1971. I still use it for plowing the garden. Hal

jbp · Sep 9, 2012

My dad, Ben Payne traded a McCormick Deering 10-20 and paid $825 boot for a new 1953 Farmall Cub tractor, breaking plow, cultivator and belt pulley. I have that Cub and it runs and looks about a well as it did new. It was used until 1990 to plow tobacco and all the other jobs it was capable of doing on a 150 acre farm. It now is mostly retired except for sawing wood for cooking sorghum and pulling an IH number 15 hay baler in parades. Its been a faithful servant of the Payne family for 59 years. Joe

oldtanker · Sep 9, 2012

My brother in law has an 826 IH that has never left the farm. They got it new as a joint buy between my BIL and his father. They each paid half and my BIL had to pay for the cab because his dad thought it was a waste of money. His dad passed in 81 but he is still farming, now with one of his boys and they are still using it. At 1st is was thier primary tillage tractor.....now it's regulated to pulling wagons, running the square baler and pulling silage wagons. Had it's first engine rebuild at over 11K hours. Been rolled and the cab is long gone.

Rick

TractormanNC · Sep 9, 2012

1940 Farmall M grandfather bought new. Been here ever since. Was our only tractor through the 40's. Now it only pulls hay wagons and trailers.

1957 Farmall 130 dad bought new. Handiest hay raking tractor I've ever used.

Me, I've never bought a new tractor. Closest is a Farmall 656 bought from original owner in 1978 with only 708 hours on it.

sideconsole4020guy · Sep 9, 2012

well the only tractor my family ever bought new was in 1947 my grandpa bought a 1946 A JD and a 2 bottom plow and 2 row cultivator on the G.I. priority when he got back from serving in Germany, He paid $1160 dollars for the set and drove it home from Viborg SD. He told me that evidently someone was not happy with him getting a tractor before them and while it was in the shed over winter they came in one nite and put sand in the crankcase, he started it one day and it didnt have oil pressure, the JD dealer came out and took it to the shop and tore it down, luckily there wasnt any damage done, we still have that tractor and it will never leave the yard, it was only overhauled once but it needs it again, i would like to restore it some time for my grandpa as he is 87 and i know he would like to see it restored,

evilboweivel · Sep 9, 2012

I have an Oliver 66g nf that Grandpa bought 1 year old at a faerm sale. He used it and then both my uncles used it. i bought it along about 98 at my uncle's farm sale and still own it. It still resides at my uncles farm.
Rebuilt and repainted by my cousin in Vo Ag shop late 60's
Ron

NY 986 · Sep 9, 2012

The Farmall M, Oliver 88 row crop gas, and JD 4010 Diesel have never been off the farm here. Grandpa bought the M and 88. Dad bought the 4010. The other tractors are second owner tractors with the exception of the Ford 860. Don't know too much about the Ford and it was a basket case when I bought it. Maybe someday we can add another new tractor to the set.

Bleeding Orange SW Iowa · Sep 9, 2012

We (Pop, Uncle, and I) still have three Allis-Chalmers D-17s that Grandpa bought new at the now-defunct Allen Implement. The 1959 Series 1 was a dealer demonstrator tractor, so I suppose it was technically used (slightly). It has a New Idea trip-bucket loader on it. It is in pretty bad shape, and is the next candidate for re-work. The 1962 Series III and 1966 Series IV (both narrow-front) are still well-maintained and working hard for us. My uncle also still has an AC 185 that he bought new from another dealer. That dealer tried to tell him he needed to finance the purchase, but ended up taking my uncle's stack of cash anyway. Grandpa also bought two used Series IVs at farm auctions that my uncle and Pop bought from him. I bought another Series IV and a 7040 over the years to round out the fleet. The only tractor to escape was an old AC garden tractor (not a mower, but I don't know the model) that Grandpa sold to a local tractor mechanic. I would love to find that tractor again, but I don't have high hopes. Funny, I just realized that only the 185 and the 7040 are younger than me, and only those two and my D17 have been in the family fewer years than me.

71ford100 · Sep 9, 2012

My grandpa and great uncle bought this MM new in
Missouri moved it to CO/WY back to eastern Kansas
and now back to WY.

6pack · Sep 9, 2012

(quoted from post at 09:52:20 09/09/12) I am always interested to hear the history of a tractor. So many stories out there of tractors that never left the farm, or have and came back for good!

I have heard my Dad and many others say "I wish I never sold that tractor" for my Dad it was the Massey Harris 44 that they bought new years ago...he has a different 44 now, but just not the same as original....he feels the same way about the Oliver 880

Let's hear some stories and even better some pics from over the years

Good Stuff guys! we used to have a wards garden tractor years ago...

Haley · Sep 9, 2012

My grandfather,father,and his two brothers all farmed together back in the seventies and bought a brand new 9700 Ford in 1977.They farmed until 1985 and lost everything in a FHA forclosure sale.The 9700 at the time was sitting in the shop on the farm with the motor in pieces.My father was working for some neighbors that farmed close to us, and on the day of the auction he was able to buy it back with money they loaned him(around $2700).He managed to get the 94 acres of family farm land refinanced in his name and the 9700 was put back together.He worked for the neighbors for several years and eventually started back farming on his own again.The 9700 was used through the years to farm up until 2010 when several dry years with no irrigation put him back in foreclosure again but this time the 9700 was tied up on a bank note and its fate is kind of up in the air.I was born in 1971 and this tractor has pretty much always been a part of my life,so I hope maybe I can buy it back again.As it stands today the tractor is sitting in a field close to home with a rod hanging out the side of the block awaiting the lienholder's next move; but the 9700's fate may mean that it goes to an auction and then to the great junkyard in the sky.How much do you pay for a worn out 9700 with over 10000 hours and a blown engine,probably not much, but this one is more like a family member than a tractor so I really hate to see it go.

Bob Bancroft · Sep 9, 2012

My cousin, 20 years my senior, witnessed our grandfather write out a check for the new AC WD(circa 1950) I think it was $1700. Wide front.
In the spring of 1966, as I turned 11 years old, the new JD 2510 showed up. WOW. Didn't think the same company that made the 50 could make that!
Fast forward a few decades. All that's left of the multi-generational home farm is a trailer on 1.5 acres. And a few pieces of machinery. MY cousin was able finally to buy the WD(which I had restored back in the 80's) for about what it cost new. A friend bought the 2510 for me(with my money) I think for about what Dad paid for it. These tractors had always been at the same farm, housed and well cared for. A couple years of setting out really took it's toll.
The 2510 showed up with a wide front. Dad had insisted on narrow, for his drive in cultivator and bean puller. They came out later in the spring and put on the roll-o-matic.
I put a wide front back under it. New seat, and rewired it. As usual, with any old tractor I buy, I'm upside down with it.

old · Sep 9, 2012

I have what was my grand fathers 1935 JD-B. From what I can find out about ti from my mom he got it around 1940 and got it used of course. My dad then got it from him some time around 1977 or so and then when my dad passed on my mom said yep its yours now. Last summer I had my grand kids playing on it so that puts 5 generation sitting on it and playing on it. I remember playing on it when I was a kid. My grand Father has a farm in the Seneca OK area. The picture is of my son driving it in the parade of power at the local tractor show. I also have my dads troy built tiller he got in 1972 and still use it in my garden

wijim · Sep 9, 2012

A 35or37 JD B my grampa bought new, My dad and my uncle farmed with it. Then in the 70s it went into kellers collection in Forest Junction WI. Then my uncle got it back, now my cousin has it still in the family name.Jim

Dmacken · Sep 9, 2012

I have a 1952 CA Allis Chalmers that my uncle bought new. It was sold upon his retirement and was lost for several years. I searched every where for my old friend and just about gave up ever finding it. But, about 20 years later, I was at the FFA consignment sale that happens every year in our town and there it was. I knew that it was the one, because I had bent the pto shaft many years ago when I was clipping the pastures for him and for whatever reason he turned the headlights around backwards and it was still that away. There was a cultivator wrench that came with the tractor that was absolutely useless that he insisted stay in the tool box and it was still in the box. I was able to track down the man that brought it to the sale and traced it back to our family. It is home to stay.

johndeere720diesel · Sep 9, 2012

My dad is the second owner of a 48 case dc 1st owner had an 80 acre dairy frame behind my grandma's house dad was 5yrs old when the neighbor had him driving it on his lap green chopping. Dad bought it when he was 13 and used it to run the baled because the farmall H couldn't do it. For 300 and it has been in the family ever since. It's the only one that he didn't sell out of the 6 or so that he owned at one time in the 70's and 80's that is one that'll never be sold and hope my future kids don't sell it either

massey333 · Sep 9, 2012

I still have 8 of our Familys orginal tractors,Grand father's 1945 101Jr.,dad's 1947 44-6(ser#5),1952 44-4,1953 Ford Jub.,1956 MH333,1961 Case 830,Wifes dad's 1951 JD MT,1952 JD 50.All bought new or within 6 months of new.And to top Olds,6 Gens.have on or driven two of them.All are used at some time for diff.jobs.Plus 12 other Massey Harris I have bought over the years.But I farm with JDs and 1 Case.

MattCatlin · Sep 9, 2012

My boy on his great great grandfathers 4010 bought new in sw
kansas in 1961. Now resides at our place in central mo.

farmerjohn · Sep 9, 2012

Grandpa bought a Farmall Super C in 1951, it was the first one sold in the county. He took real good care of it, used around the farm a lot. I inherited it and had it restored 10 years ago, now does only parades and light work around home.

MrJDMan80 · Sep 9, 2012

My dad and I restored his dad's 1942 2n ford, with plow and original add on steel wheel extentions. My grandmother gave my dad the tractor after the job was done. It will never leave the family. We also restored my other grandfathers farmall cub. My mom's sister now owns that tractor but we get to take it to our local shows.

Grampy · Sep 9, 2012

Son in law has an 8n Ford his dad bought new in "48. This tractor has always been on this ranch. It mowed all the hay they put up for 30+ years. He still has his dad"s Dearborn mower too. The old tractor is still in it"s origanal paint, very faded and rusty looking but we keep it fueled up and serviced because its still handy to have around. Ken

Kerry50 · Sep 9, 2012

My great grandfather bought this A John Deere new in 1937. Pictured with him on the tractor is my uncle and my mother. My mom was born in 1940, so thinking this picture was taken 1942 or 43.

The same tractor as it appears today. My cousin bought it and had it restored a couple of years ago. Tractor shows and parades is all she does now.

David R Inman · Sep 9, 2012

We might have a one family tractor to reside the furthest from its place of purchase, and be the biggest mix of non original Allis-Chalmers WD45 pats. My Grandpa bought a WD45 new in 1953 in Ohio, and farmed with it for years. Sometime between 1998 and 2000 (I was 6-8 at the time so don't know the year) Dad had it hauled to Arizona. Come to find out, only a fraction of the parts where actually of Grandpas original, but we have mostly restored it, but with a D17 motor. In fact, the Serial number isn't even of his original, but he did find the correct rear end in Ohio, but has yet to get it to Arizona.
Ps, we intend to paint the rear rims silver, but haven't done so yet, so for now there just brown primer.

Howard H. · Sep 9, 2012

My Grandpa bought this 4020 powershift brand new with several implements back in '70 or '71.

My uncle passed away a few months ago, so now I'm trying to figure out how to now get it home (4 hours away) since it still has the 283 cotton stripper mounted on it.

I also was able to get the implements he bought with it, like a roll-over moldboard & a cultivator and a BW disc plow, so I'm really happy to get a chance to fix it back up to its former glory...

<a href="http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p268/case600lp/permanent/?action=view&current=DSC_6926.jpg" target="_blank">

DSC_6926.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket

</a>

Howard

6pack · Sep 9, 2012

(quoted from post at 14:44:45 09/09/12)

My great grandfather bought this A John Deere new in 1937. Pictured with him on the tractor is my uncle and my mother. My mom was born in 1940, so thinking this picture was taken 1942 or 43.

The same tractor as it appears today. My cousin bought it and had it restored a couple of years ago. Tractor shows and parades is all she does now.

That is really cool to have those pics!!!

Bspauld · Sep 9, 2012

My BILs dad bought a 25 "spoker D" but not new. The BIL is close to 85 and he was 5 when the tractor was bought, so it was quite new at that time. He ran home from school when he heard them fire it up to unload it. He still has it. in great running order to.

Fordfarmer · Sep 9, 2012

I farm with 5 Ford tractors, 3 of which were my
Grandpa's. The Jubilee ('53) he bought around '55 or
'56 as best anyone can remember. The 7000 ('75) and
4600 ('80) he bought new. Those three still run up
500+ hours yearly, between them.
I know where Grandpa's last Farmall is ('53 Super
H), and my cousin has asked to buy it if it becomes
available. I would buy his Commander 6000 if I could
track it down, too... but it has likely been parted
out by now.

6pack · Sep 9, 2012

WOW! you do not just pop that on and off do ya!

agonair · Sep 9, 2012

My Grandpa purchased an Oliver 88 new in 1950. It
was a '49 model and used as a demonstrator for Daily
Implement in Mattoon, IL. Still in the family and
now is used for tractor cruises, shows, parades. In
it's day it pulled a 3-14" plow, had a New Idea
mounted picker on it, pulled an MM pull type
combine, did some corn shelling and just about
anything else you can think of.

DeltaRed · Sep 9, 2012

Not a tractor...I have my late father's '66 3/4
ton GMC pickup.He purchaced it new in
ElDorado,KS.Speacial ordered it,too.extraheavy
springs,axles,clutch,etc.(entire drive train)I
remember as a child beeing in the dealers showroom
while he'hammered'out the details.Later,I remember
driveing the old '51 Chevy to town and driveing
the new one home.I also remember the '52 8n ford
my grandfather bought new,later purchaced by dad.I
was raised on that tractor.Dad sold it in '68(I
was 12),It went to Mexico(we think)

mike plotner · Sep 9, 2012

This summer we bought back one of my great-grandpas tractors, a 1952 Allis-Chalmers WD. My great grandpa used it along with 2 others on his 300 acre dairy and grain farm. I will be useing it for plowing and picking corn

showcrop · Sep 9, 2012

Looks like if you let the air out of the tires it would be under 13' 6" LOL

Anonymous-0 · Sep 9, 2012

We have my mothers Ford 2N that her uncle purchased new when he returned from WWII. Ignition was a mess, fenders have been replaced as well as the gas tank. We don't the cylinder head or oil pan has ever been removed.

JoeM(GA) · Sep 9, 2012

I have my wife's Great-Grandfathers Allis WC
It was bought new in the spring of 1941. I have the bill of sale on it where it was paid half down and the balance due at harvest. They drove it 60+ miles home from Atlanta to save the $5 delivery charge. Took all one Saturday to get it home. It had some of the first headlights on a tractor in the area and plowed 6 days and nights a week during the season for pay. Family plowed it all day, hired hand all night.
It never left the farm area until they sold out and it came to live with me. I even still have the board my wife stood on as a child as she held on to the straps of her Papa's bib overalls as he plowed.

then and now

<a href="http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d84/Joecdeere/1941%20WC/?action=view&current=awc1.jpg" target="_blank">

</a>

<a href="http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d84/Joecdeere/1941%20WC/?action=view&current=wcpics128.jpg" target="_blank">

wcpics128.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket

</a>

Buckeye Oliver collector · Sep 9, 2012

My grandfather started farming not long after the war with a John Deere A and his Dads' Ford 8N. He eventually got around to getting rid of the 8N on trade in the late 60s for a Massey 135. At some point they sold the 135 and got a Ford 860. Think it was late 60s/very early 70s becaue my Dad pulled the 860 at the fair in 1974 and I know that was the only time they ever pulled it. Anyway they pulled a three bottom plow with the 860 and chopped for the cows with it for 20 plus years so needless to say the clutch and whole tractor overall was pretty worn out when they sold it at auction in 97. He kept the A until 2004 or so when it was sold privately (not running). He bought a 1967 Massey Ferguson 165 diesel in 1970. I think it (165) had less than a thousand hours on it then. It was used on the farm practically daily for cutting hay, picking corn, and plowing until he stopped farming in 1996. They bought the second 165 (also a diesel) I want to say in 1975 but I'd have to ask Dad. It is a 1974 model. Still have both tractors. The "old" 165 was parked in 2005 and sat until this spring. Uncle put a new battery in it and it started right up. Still only has like 4800 hours or so. The other one has 2500 hours on it because they only used it for baling hay and discing. Used to pull very well in the 6500 class at the fair because it has the heavier rear axle that some of them came with. They had a 77 Oliver in the 1970s that I wish they'd kept but it was the Masseys that ran the farm for the most part after 1970. He had a Massey 135 after he got rid of the first one that I'm glad they did not keep. The first was a good tractor but the second they could never keep running right. I remember as a kid how they would cut hay one afternoon, ted the next and bale midday the third day (one pass behind the hay rake sometimes) and unload all of it (usually three flatbed wagons) after supper that night because he did not have alot of places to store loaded hay wagons. I never remember Grandpa's hay getting rained on (instinct?) whether baled or not but I'm sure it happened a few times. I also remember Grandpa always made sure everything was oiled and greased with all the guards in place. My uncle owned over the years a Massey Harris 44. 444, and Massey Ferguson 275. He still has the 44 and the two 165s from the farm. Dad had a Ford 6000, Allis WD, Massey 44, and John Deere 2010 (all at different times) but has since sold them. Dad came real close to buying a Moline UTS that he wishes he had bought for $400 back in the mid-80s. That tractor is quite a puller at the fair. We had the WD about 8 years but the rest were owned for a short time. I can go into the other side of the family but thats a story for another day.

Paul from MI · Sep 9, 2012

Iam fortunate to have two family tractors. The first is a 1948 Allis B my Dad bought new. He traded a 1938 Allis B for it, a new belly mount sicle mower, new plow, and $675 boot. I grew up on it. The second is a 1942 Farmall H my grandfather bought new in the spring of 1942. It is on rubber and soon after he bought it they went back to steel due to WWII. I restored the Allis in 1997 and hope to finish the Farmall this fall.

dstates · Sep 9, 2012

My grandpa traded in a 1941 Farmall H and $1000 to get a new 1952 H. It was delivered in March of 1952. I have the OM which has the delivery page filled out from the dealer who delivered it and has my grandpa's signature.

He farmed 160+ acres with an H, 656 and 1086 until about 10 years ago when he was 85. He still did some tillage work until he had a stroke 7 years ago and he passed away this spring. I now have the H in my garage and am going through it as I start to restore it. I have no use for a tractor, but I had to have it. It will be used for parades and rides from now on.

dstates · Sep 9, 2012

duplicate post...

fixerupper · Sep 9, 2012

Since the time dad started farming only three tractors have left the farm. The rest are still hanging around here and running. I have the 630 Deere dad bought new in the fall of 1960 out of Peterson Iowa and the 4 bottom mounted plow that came with it. It had a Nebraska City dealer sticker on it so some horse trading must have taken place between dealers. I also have a 51 A dad bought new from Johnson Chevy-John Deere in Newell Ia. in the fall of 51 and a 35 A dad bought in 1950 from Johnson's in Newell. The 35 A was bought new in Odeboldt, Ia. and I have the full history on it from the time it was new to the time dad bought it.

I also have a 54 Deere R that my step-mother's dad bought new in Fessenden ND. He traded a 39 D for it. Wish I had the D too!

How new can we go? I still have the 1978 1086 I bought new that my son tells me I will never get rid of. I bought it the year he was born. Jim

theoldtexasfarmer · Sep 9, 2012

I used the famioly farmall super a today in the garden.Father and uncle bought it new in 1949 for $1801.38.Included tractor withbattery,lights,starter,belt pulley,mounting frame,rock shaft,cultivator with clamps,2 pr.disc hillers,middle buster and a cub 23a disc harrow.All attachments are still with the tractor,even the disc.The disc is on the 4th set of blades and tractor has been over hauled and repainted years back and needs both done again.I remember sitting in my fathers lap and steering when I was 4 or 5.It was the only tractor until 1973.It now lives on 3 acres and still does garden work.

6pack · Sep 9, 2012

(quoted from post at 21:35:43 09/09/12) My grandpa traded in a 1941 Farmall H and $1000 to get a new 1952 H. It was delivered in March of 1952. I have the OM which has the delivery page filled out from the dealer who delivered it and has my grandpa's signature.

He farmed 160+ acres with an H, 656 and 1086 until about 10 years ago when he was 85. He still did some tillage work until he had a stroke 7 years ago and he passed away this spring. I now have the H in my garage and am going through it as I start to restore it. I have no use for a tractor, but I had to have it. It will be used for parades and rides from now on.

Sorry for your loss, but every time you look at that H you will have great memories of your Grandfather! post some pics when you are done with resto!

Kenboling · Sep 10, 2012

Mon and dad still have Grandpa's H he bought new in our home town. 1951 It went 7 miles away to farm and came back to my folks place in 1959 and hasn't left since. It still runs like a Cadillac. My Dad repainted and lettered it about 15 years ago. Sure brings back memories when I hear it run, I'm a kid again.

Ken

Let's hear about 1 owner (family) tractors

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

New User

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Similar threads