Hello All,One of my old high school teachers has a home made tractor that her Father built back in the late 1940's or early 1950's. She calls it a "Short Dog". It was built in a time when money was short and people made do with what was available. She told me that her Father pulled several vehicles out of a gully and made the tractor from several vehicles. It has a Ford model "A" 4 cylinder engine with electric start. It is coupled to a big heavy duty 3 or 4 speed transmission and has what appears to be a Model "A" Ford truck frame and rear end and has cast iron pedals and a steering wheel/system out of some vehicle. The back of the frame has been cut off to shorten the length just behind the rear axle. The rear wheels are the inside rims of what was once a dual wheel set-up. In fact, the extra long rear studs are still there to mount the second wheel and tire on. The rear tires look like the ones that came on old military trucks while the front ones are just old car tires. It has no springs and has a heavy front cast iron axle that pivots in the middle like most factory made wide front tractors. It has several home made implements that go with it including a bucket loader, plow, and box scraper. She also has a spare engine, some extra transmission and various other parts that go with the tractor. The lift on the front for the bucket loader is an electric motor affair with cables to lift the bucket. The owner died back in 1998 and he still drove it around the yard up until he passed away. His cousin continued to crank the engine once a week to keep the battery up until he died back in 2000. The tractor has not been cranked since 2000 but has been stored in the dry and is not stuck. In fact, the tires are still 50% inflated and it looks like you could just put a battery on it and crank it right up. There is an amazing amount of original paint left on it that dates back to when it was built. The only thing missing is the starter and it was removed to be rebuilt by someone. She knows where the starter is and can get it back but it has not been rebuilt yet. Now here is my dilemma. She wants me to have it as she knows that I collect Old Iron. I want to give her a fair price for the whole package but I have no idea what to offer her. She has no idea what to ask for it as it only has sentimental value to her. The old farm has been sold and she needs it all moved in the next 2 weeks so we have to come to a deal real soon. I really would like to hear from you fine folks as to what kind of value would be fair to both of us. Thanks. Tony Leonard
Rockwell, NC
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