The color of tractors

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I saw a very sanitary 1940's Ford truck one time that didn't have a spec of paint left and had surface rust. I am pretty sure the guy cleaned it up somehow and clear coated it. He may have even sanded and etched it first. However he did it; it was quite well done and came out unexpectedly attractive and fitting for an ancient truck. Now I see old tractors and/or trucks setting as yard art and I seem to appreciate the natural rust color better.

Yeah, that "patina" look just doesn't move me whatsoever.
I think it was more of a "collector" thing to warrant "originality" as a marker of authenticity to justify worth.
I see anything like that at a car show and I'm completely turned off and won't even acknowledge it.
Sort of what I think of "rap stuff" some call "music". Some, as with auto patina, may call it "artistic" but I am not in that group.

Now as far as the "yard art"; I can appreciate old relics that haven't been touched because it is reminiscent of a long ago story line and not trying to be anything else but a ghost of a long ago existence.
Sort of like finding the petrified bones of a dinosaur.

 

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In my experience Massey dealers are as good as any other, the Massey company however shows little respect for customers and I've found their factory service advisors arrogant, their manuals vague and incomplete. The dealership I bought my Massey from went bankrupt shortly after I purchased my tractor and I had to rely on the factory reps for help and understanding. One of them told me "you are too stupid to own a tractor!" My occupation was a Nurse Anesthetist. A new owner of the dealership was extremely helpful, but I have never recommended Massy too anyone. I think of that tractor as my "Massive Turdison"! The new dealer sells Kioti too and I've been happy to send a bunch of folks over to buy the Kioti. I'm sure I'm not the only one that's happened too. If I ever buy another tractor it definitely will not be an Agco product. SamO

If Agco came out with an all yellow tractor with aluminum colored wheels, I dunno if anything would dissuade me from buying it.
I also must be stupid if i equate this:
flat,1000x1000,075,f.jpg, with this:boohoo-x-megan-fox-collab-162100127.html

 

[Cougsfan]

Yeah, that "patina" look just doesn't move me whatsoever.

I had never even heard the term "patina" before. Shows how out of touch I am with the custom car world. I did google the word and saw images of "patina" cars, and I agree, most of them looked quite phony. The one that I saw did tickle my fancy though. Probably like everything else, some patinas are better than others.

 

[RoostersGarage]

There's real patina that comes from years of life. Then there's the fake patina where some paints it several different colors then sands through the colors in various spots to make it appear real, then they clearcoat it. There's also the fake patina where they take a painted panel and sand it down, then apply something to accelerate the rust so it's real rust and it doesn't look fake. Some natural patinas look outstanding, and I've seen some created patinas that look great. In my youth I loved everything looking new, now I prefer it to look like it's been used. There's a certain quality about seeing a piece of equipment that's been used and doesn't just have fresh paint sprayed over rust, dirt, and everything else.

 

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There's real patina that comes from years of life. Then there's the fake patina where some paints it several different colors then sands through the colors in various spots to make it appear real, then they clearcoat it. There's also the fake patina where they take a painted panel and sand it down, then apply something to accelerate the rust so it's real rust and it doesn't look fake. Some natural patinas look outstanding, and I've seen some created patinas that look great. In my youth I loved everything looking new, now I prefer it to look like it's been used. There's a certain quality about seeing a piece of equipment that's been used and doesn't just have fresh paint sprayed over rust, dirt, and everything else.

Takes all kinds.
I see something old and my first inclination is to want to "restore it" like it came from the factory 70 or 80 yrs ago..but i might paint it yellow with aluminum colored wheels.
I don't like patina as a demonstration of "value worth" or "hey, look at me, I'm old."
I have never learned to like it unlike snail salad.

 

[SmallChange]

I grew up with red tractors Farmall but JD colors always caught my eye.

I grew up using a Farmall Cub, which I guess was once red, but it seems to me they're really a blend of faded red and patchy iron oxide brown. I mean, if I saw one that was actually red, it'd strike me as odd.

I wish my blue NH was a nice golden yellow, sort of a double yellow line shade, school bus yellow. Seems like it'd be best for safety if I ever work around car traffic, easiest to see around dusk, and so forth. This has made me think the color is the prettiest tractor color. It's odd, because other safety features like ROPS and seat belt, while much appreciated, don't seem "pretty". But that yellow, o man....

 

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I grew up using a Farmall Cub, which I guess was once red, but it seems to me they're really a blend of faded red and patchy iron oxide brown. I mean, if I saw one that was actually red, it'd strike me as odd.

I wish my blue NH was a nice golden yellow, sort of a double yellow line shade, school bus yellow. Seems like it'd be best for safety if I ever work around car traffic, easiest to see around dusk, and so forth. This has made me think the color is the prettiest tractor color. It's odd, because other safety features like ROPS and seat belt, while much appreciated, don't seem "pretty". But that yellow, o man....

PAINT IT YELLOW. (sorry for yelling but you got me excited).

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

My experience in 'comparing colors' was very instructive. My bro and I were on the verge of taking over the farm [owned by my dad but farmed by his bro, our uncle who was slowly retiring]. We needed a new 30-40 hp machine and my dad somehow talked local dealers to 'lend' us a JD and a Ford for what turned out to be a 4 month [most of the summer], head to head by us bros [we already had an older MF and very old Oliver 77 which was on its last legs]. Both my bro and I were clearly biased toward the JD so every time the dealer showed up to try to close the deal we put in our bids for that one but dad always pointed out several points we were not taking into consideration and the bro and I started waffling because we could see dads points. In the end we went with the Ford and were never sorry. The Ford was slightly cheaper but the the real issues were that it was also just slightly better at almost everything where we could compare them directly head to head [plowing using the same plow for example] and the dealership was much better which was a great help to us greenhorns. AND the damn thing is still working [on a cousins farm] 45 years later.
If you can get the dealers to do that kind of head to head it is a lot of trouble until you make the call but it can't be beat to get a machine you will love.

What you are describing here is only something of fairy tales. There is no tractor dealer anywhere that would let a customer take a tractor out for a 4 month demo much less two of them.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

I was raised by 4 John Deere with a 8N Ford and AC G mixed in. When I went to work I worked for a dealer that sold MM and MF. Along the way he also sold Nuffield, Leyland, McConnell-Marc, Oliver and White. Having worked on most all brands I would prefer MM but due to their collector possibility I can't afford one. My shed has 3 Massey's filling it and I will say after working on them all Massey's are simple tractors to repair, that cannot be said for understanding the hydraulic system though. Was able to purchase them at a very reasonable price repair what issues the and now have a dependable tractor.
As with most manufacturers locally there used to be dealers just a few minutes away. 6 JD, 5 IH, 3 Case, 2 AC, 3 MF, 1 MM. Probably a few more I don't remember.
But as the dealers aged and they mandated the dealer update to more modern looking building to improve their image, many dealership owners were aging and decided to close or sell out. Then the manufacturers thought it was costing too much to support small or single dealers and again a few left or were bought out to create the huge dealer conglomerates we have now.
As a customer this has created an environment were the dealer can either be a good dealer or a bad dealer depending on if he wants your business. They know that if you don't purchase from them and unless you border two dealer conglomerates you will go to the closest dealer probably the same conglomerate. The only dealers left are at least a 45 minute drive, and one is JD the other is AGCO, With none in the county where there used to be a dozen or more.
Personally I do not want any of these new tractors. Too much electronics and frivolous add ons. And they are imported even some from former enemies who will gladly accept our payment for their poorly made products.
Yes if you are questioning all the tractors in my shed are USA built. An MF TO35, MF20 ind, Mf245 w232 loader, and an MF14.

Wow that was a lot of dealers. Where are you from? Are you still in the Ag business?

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

I think Green is a good color. I also think Red and both oranges are good colors, even both blue are good colors. I think JD, Kobota, kiota, LS, and Mahrinda all make good tractors - and have a place in the market. My Kubota dealer is very good. The local JD dealer is not. (in my view). And that visit made a lasting impression on me.

The salesman did not say hello. Didn't introduce himself. As a matter of fact, didn't even stop staring out the window. It was sooo clear that he had not interest in selling ANY small equipment to me. I always wonder why. But it now know why.

If I had told him I wanted a combine, or head, or 400 hp tractor, it would have been different. JD does have a place - in large AG equipment. Farmers do depend upon JD service to do many repairs to combines during harvest. And some dealers show up in 1 or 2 hours. But the tractor I wanted to buy was only 32K, but a lot to me. He clearly had nothing to do, but had no interest in selling me a 50hp tractor that I asked about. He actually told us that he did not have anything like that. I passed three in the lot as I left lot. I think JD makes an important product for larger farmers who needs on call service. And apparently necessary since we are the in time of proprietary software.

But as far as the compact tractor market, I share the view of my JD dealer, they don't care to sell me one, and I don't care to trouble them. Suits me fine. JK was the first tractor I looked at, and now the last I would consider buying.

JJ you're not alone in your experience with JD. I too have experienced everything you have described as have many others. What's sad is JD makes great equipment but the attitude stinks so bad that it makes you want to choose something else.