Unexpect "Barn Find"

Kernopelli · Dec 22, 2018

My son called me this morning and asked if I wanted to go with him to a sawmill in near by Coulterville IL to get some rough sawn lumber. When we pulled up to this old mill I could not help but notice the 20-30 Farmall tractors and International wheel loaders sitting outside. When we got inside the barn I was awestruck......row after row of Farmall, International and McCormick Deering machines! My son went with the owners grandson to look at wood and I was given the OK to look at the tractors! I wandered around for about a half hour drooling over what appeared to be at least 1 of every model made between 1940-1958 ( each tractor had a small sign designating year and history of the machine). When I found my way back over to my son, the owners grandson asked me if I had been over to the "other building" yet? I said "No but lead the way"......all I could say was OH my God! It contained the real collection, 1 of every model of "International" tractor produced between 1917-1939. Sitting by an old wood stove was the boys grandfather/ collection owner Mr. Marian Greer who confirmed that the collection indeed included at least one of every model produced between 1917 to 1958 ( and yes, they all run).....I think he said about 150 different models with about 150 more duplicate machines!! According to Mr. Greer, this is the only complete collection covering those years in North America ( I assume it is actually in the world).

Mr. Greer mentioned several times that his collection is open to the public and free to view. I urge any one in the S. IL, S.E. MO or Western KY area to consider taking an afternoon to check this collection out! Along with Farmall, McCormick and International, he also of course has a few Titan and Moguls and I saw a few Gibson, A.C. and Cub models as well. Antique tool, mill and grain equipment are also on display. Anyone who would like Mr. Greer's contact information can shoot me a PM.

dieselcrawler · Dec 22, 2018

Wow... sounds like a fun place to check out.

dragoneggs · Dec 22, 2018

Fantastic! Any pictures?

TractorGuy · Dec 23, 2018

I have to say it!

Kernopelli · Dec 23, 2018

I will be returning soon to buy some black walnut for a new dining room table and I WILL take pics! I'm pretty sure I'm the last flip phone user in the civilized world or at least that's what the young salesman at Verizon insinuated the last time I was in there. Anyway, as such my attempts to take pics were basically useless. I will returned prepared however.... pics soon to follow!!

Wakey · Dec 23, 2018

I searched to see if they had a website ot there, but came up empty.

Here are some really interesting old pics from the Farmall factory.

Histioric photos: IH Farmall Works | Local | qconline.com

radios1 · Dec 23, 2018

Kernopelli said:
I will be returning soon to buy some black walnut for a new dining room table and I WILL take pics! I'm pretty sure I'm the last flip phone user in the civilized world or at least that's what the young salesman at Verizon insinuated the last time I was in there. Anyway, as such my attempts to take pics were basically useless. I will returned prepared however.... pics soon to follow!!

so, how many tractors did you buy from them the last time?..

MtnViewRanch · Dec 23, 2018

Kernopelli said:
I will be returning soon to buy some black walnut for a new dining room table and I WILL take pics! I'm pretty sure I'm the last flip phone user in the civilized world or at least that's what the young salesman at Verizon insinuated the last time I was in there. Anyway, as such my attempts to take pics were basically useless. I will returned prepared however.... pics soon to follow!!

This is funny, I actually paid to get my flip phone. I just don't care for those others. What a find in that collection of old iron.

:thumbsup:

Kernopelli · Dec 23, 2018

radios1 said:
so, how many tractors did you buy from them the last time?..

LOL. I didn't come home with any tractors, my wife is not as understanding as his ( she does a lot of their auction searching and bidding). I think Mr. Greer is very much in the business of buying, I didn't ask him if he would sell anything but I SERIOUSLY doubt he would sell even one of his machines. He explained that his collection was primarily an investment for his family and held in trust. During this part of our conversation he pulled a pocket knife and a small crescent wrench out of his pocket and said " Legally speaking, this is the only thing that still belongs to me" .

MtnViewRanch said:
This is funny, I actually paid to get my flip phone. I just don't care for those others. What a find in that collection of old iron. :thumbsup:

I paid for mine too! 2 yrs ago I went to Verizon to buy a smart phone and by the time they explained their plans, I was so mad I just picked out another flip phone. When they tried to charge me a $20 "upgrade fee" for purchasing another new flip phone I went ballistic......literally. My poor wife almost crawled under a bench and by the time I got done dressing down the manager I'm not sure he didn't quit and join a monestary out of shame.