My vintage workhorses

[pfoxy]

Rich, what a gorgeous place you have! Nice tractors too, and I think the combination of abilites between the Ollie and the Fergie will cover most of your needs for a long time.

I have an '88 John Deere 750 compact and a '38 Farmall F14.

With no three point and no hydraulics, no power steering, no electric start, no lights, etc, the F14 is about one step better than a horse, but I still find things to do with it. Spreading manure, disking, mowing with the sicklebar, most anything that just needs a drawbar. I wouldn't mind trading up to something with electric start and a three point (or something you can get a three point kit for) like say, an H or an M, but the time I spent returning "The Red Menace" from the dead was marvelous therapy at a time when I desperately needed it.

 

[RichZ]

Mark, the point of many vintage tractors not having "live" hydraulics is a valid one, but if you start with a vintage tractor, like I did, you won't miss something you never had. My Fergie doesn't have live hydraulics but my Ollie does. Actually it doesn't make much difference to me, you get used to it quickly.

I'm glad you've started looking, and don't hesitate to ask questions! We're all here to help!!

 

[RichZ]

There ya go, Paul! Get a copy of the Want Ad Digest! That's where I got my Fergie out of. You won't be sorry when you get your old workhorse, and you'll have a ton of fun with it!

Keep me posted about your search!

 

[RichZ]

Thanks, for the kind words, Paul! I think my two old workhorses will serve me well. But I wouldn't mind getting a Farmall, just to ride around on! To my wife and me, they are the quintessential(sp?) tractors! They're beautiful! I'm glad to see that a lot of TBN'ers have Farmalls!

 

[s1120]

<font color=red>Keep me posted about your search! </font color=red>

Maby after my old house sells I will have a little scrach to pick something up. [Michele, don't read this] I would like something with a loader though. I would not mind a trip loader, any things better then a shovel . /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[RichZ]

Paul, I don't have a loader on my Fergie, so I made sure the Ollie had one. As everyone said, it's the most useful implement. I don't know how I survived without one!!

I think the search for a tractor, especially a vintage one, is all part of the fun. I had a blast going to different farms and trying out the tractors. And then of course there's auctions. I got Fergie from a farm and Ollie from an auction.

Like I said, keep me posted, and let me know if I can help!

 

[RichZ]

Mark, I missed your attachment before. That 444 looks pretty nice. It's a nice tractor!
Made from 1967-71. Horsepower at the pto 38.09. Live pto. Gas engine. Weight-3838 pounds.

I like it! Especialy the gas engine! Both my tractors are gas. They're much quieter and start easy even in the coldest weather. Now see if you can get him down on the price!

Good luck!!! Keep me posted!!

 

[knucklehead]

Isn't it purty? There's also a 2000 series Ford in the other dealer direction. I suffer from too many good dealers syndrome. The two I'm sorta sticking with are great, and they love old stuff. I love the hunt, and will keep looking after I buy - in fact, I wonder if I should buy and sell a bit to support the habit. Trouble is, according to my lovely and always right wife, I would have a harder time parting with a tractor (or a rifle) than with my friends (but not her).

You can be sure I'll keep posting - take a look at how long I've been a member vs number of posts!

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

Knucklehead,
I live in Northern Cumberland County. I frequent Waterman's several times a year. While they are good people and I like them, I 've found them to demand top dollar for their used equipment. I don't know anyone who owns a 444, so I can't offer you any help there. My family still has 2 old Farmall 504's that go like the Energizer Bunny. The 504 is my favorite tractor and if you could find a good one, you wouldn't regret it. They are a big machine though (approx 45 HP), so you wouldn't want one for mowing your lawn!!!

 

[RichZ]

Mark, the Ford 2000's are very nice tractors. I've looked at many and really like them.
They were made from 1962-75. Horsepower: Engine-36, PTO-30.57,Drawbar-27.7

And you're right, it's so much fun to look for tractors. So far I have two vintage tractors. Even my wife says, as we save more money we should get a tractor for each major implement. It saves the trouble of taking them on and off the 3ph, and gives you a reason to have more!!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif (Of course you gotta save the money first!)/w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif

Like you, I could never sell a tractor once I own it. I actually get attached to them. Luckily, so does my wife. A friend suggested (actually it was John Miller III) that we could upgrade our smaller tractor and sell our Ferguson. My wife said, "You're not gonna sell Fegie, are you? How could you?" I told her not to worry! I'm very lucky my wife loves tractors (and farming) as much as I do!/w3tcompact/icons/love.gif