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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Antique tractors - restored or original

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David Bate

04-25-2006 12:16:57




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In the past in England there were some awful restorations, paint over the oil, rust & dirt.
The main magazine here has pushed "Rolls Royce" restorations, if it aint better than exhibition finish - youve failed !!!
The other end is the "barn find" covered in oil, rust & hen sh+t, battered & bent BUT starts on 1st swing of starting handle, and purrs away in the field at a working event as good as the day it was made. At least this way it doesnt matter if it gets dirty, using it to work an implement is the best fun you can have with an old tractor.

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jeffcat

04-26-2006 12:34:13




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 Re: Antique tractors - restored or original in reply to David Bate, 04-25-2006 12:16:57  
The same goes for cars and tractors and a lot of other stuff. If you want the keep it in your living room with a table cloth over it; fine. Polish it evey week and kiss it good night. I have done very nice restores on my Gravely and my Troy tiller. I still use them and store them under a tarp. When you wash them up and go to the local farm fair it is a lot of fun. There are many "paint job" restorations out there and a true 100% tractor should have paint on the wires and everywhere else! Looks like He--- but it is correct! What ever floats your boat! Jeffcat

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MJ in the UK

04-26-2006 10:01:44




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 Re: Antique tractors - restored or original in reply to David Bate, 04-25-2006 12:16:57  
I have two very nice barn find tractors here in the UK. One is a 1945 Farmall H wide front reg number GNN 987, the other one is a 1956 Fordson Diesel Major reg number VRR 19 so look out for them at this summers rallies. Beacause the Major has not been painted the front grilles are in blue paint and not orange as the above mentioned magazene editor seems to think they ought to be. Imet him with my tractor at Belvoir Castle rally last year an pointed this out to him. If any of you are going to Belvoir Castle rally on the 20th and 21st May I will be doing the tractor ring commentry. MJ

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David Bate

04-26-2006 04:16:58




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 Re: Antique tractors - restored or original in reply to David Bate, 04-25-2006 12:16:57  
Hi guys; must admitted that I am GUILTY too. My 1966 MF 135 was in great overall shape but needed mechanical work, whilst it was stripped down, went ahead and had it shot blasted & resprayed. Now it looks like everyone elses.
Leaving my 1962 Fordson Super Major in excellecent barn condition, too good to mess with.
The 1954 Fordson Major KFD68 Orchard tractor was a wreck, had to do a total rebuild.
Thanks to all of you who sent me details of how to include photos on this site, being a Homer Simpson havnt got it right yet! If anyone wants to see my "junk" send me an email with your email address & I'll send you photos.

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Majorman

04-25-2006 22:11:22




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 Re: Antique tractors - restored or original in reply to David Bate, 04-25-2006 12:16:57  
David, if your talking about that "well known" "top restorers" magazine with articles from "experts", who paint tractors the wrong colour, fit timing chains to tractors that have had gear systems and give away "bitser" tractors as a specific model then I think you are totally correct.

I am always amazed that these "paint shop reconditioned" jobs with their modern tin work (or even glass fibre) are classed as worth more than a tractor that is just as it left the factory.

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revjj

04-25-2006 18:29:58




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 Re: Antique tractors - restored or original in reply to David Bate, 04-25-2006 12:16:57  
I have an old 22-36 McComick Deering that was once owned by some local threshermen and housemovers (I got the thresher, too). Anyhow, the paint ain"t too good and the rear endhousing and fenders are beat up and have a blacksmith repair..Oh, and the steering wheel rim has been brazed back on.

I wouldn"t restore the tractor for a million bucks. Why? All that damage was done when a house got away from them going down a hill, and Levi Carrouth (drivng the tractor)went over the hood and into safety.

Lots of 22-36s and 15-30s are around in showroom shape, but I have a tractor that was run over by a house!

PS two strokes on the crank and she"s a going.

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Jason(Pa.)

04-25-2006 16:23:44




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 Re: Antique tractors - restored or original in reply to David Bate, 04-25-2006 12:16:57  
I agree with Cue P. It don't matter. I have tractors done up real nice that I only show then I got my play tractors that i don't got to worry so much about. I like to look at both kinds. i don't like it when someone gets a nice Barn freash tractor and actually makes it worse by doing a fast attempt at restoring it. Just my 2 cents. Bottom line go out and have FUN!!!!! !!



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Cue P.

04-25-2006 14:29:46




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 Re: Antique tractors - restored or original in reply to David Bate, 04-25-2006 12:16:57  
Why cant others just let folks do what ever makes them happy. If your happy fixin up a tractor to look ok so be it. If you want to gold plate every nut and bolt fine. If you want to drive a bucket of good running rust in the field have at it! I say everyone is different - its what makes hobbies enjoyable and the world go "round.



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DCM

04-25-2006 16:22:53




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 Re: Antique tractors - restored or original in reply to Cue P., 04-25-2006 14:29:46  
I don"t know if its my imagination but I have been at a few shows and ran a few and the original antique tractors in their work clothes always get the most attention it seems. An original tractor won"t get the criticism that a restored one will either.Dan in Alberta



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John (C-IL)

04-25-2006 19:25:00




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 Re: Antique tractors - restored or original in reply to DCM, 04-25-2006 16:22:53  
I will agree that an original is becoming more rare everyday and will draw just as much attention and often praise as a carefully and expensively restored one.



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