Posted on 12/17/2009 5:42:01 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo
RICHFIELD, Minn. -- When North Dakotan Dennis McCoy gets together with his uncle Wes in his retirement high rise in Richfield, they farm at the kitchen table.
"That was our first rubber-tired tractor," says Wes to Dennis as they peer at a photo of a 1938 Allis Chalmers WC.
It's moments like this that have led Dennis to one of the great passions in his life: locating and restoring tractors that match the makes and models his grandfather -- Wes' dad Ed McCoy -- used on their North Dakota farm from the 1920s through the 1950s.
Already he's paid for restorations of the Allis Chalmers, as well as 1946 John Deere D and a 1935 Farmall F20.
"They have sentimental value," says Dennis. "I have pictures of my dad and my grandpa and Uncle Wes on them. This is something you can put the story with and the family and the genealogy and have some connection."
One tractor in particular had Wes' eye Thursday they paged through the photos. "All you can see is my leg's there," say Wes as he points to the little boy partially obscured by a 1926 McCormick-Deering tractor in a black & white photo that dating back some 80 years.
"It was a good reliable old workhorse," says Wes proudly.
In truth the horse doesn't look so old anymore. Out in the parking lot of Wes McCoy's retirement home, Lee Sackett -- a tractor restorer from Ellendale, Minnesota -- is getting ready to roll a similar McCormick-Deering out of a trailer.
Sackett just finished the restoration for Dennis. During the delivery from Ellendale to North Dakota, Richfield didn't seem too far out of the way to pay a visit to Wes.
"I love it. I love it," smiled the excited 85-year-old as the tractor fired up and rolled off the trailer.
Soon he was settling into the tractor's cold metal seat. "He hasn't been on that for about 78 years," said Dennis.
Wes grinned from ear to ear as he shifted the McCormick-Deering into gear and took it for a spin around the parking lot.
"That's why I brought it here," said Dennis over the unmuffled din of the 80-year-old tractor.
Dennis knows the only thing better than old tractor, is an old tractor with an age appropriate driver.
George Bush?
My dad and uncle restore mostly Massey Ferguson stuff.
One thing I have gone to a few times is an old machinery show in Aiken, SC. It can be found at http://www.aikenfarmfest.com/
I have a ton of photos and video from the past couple I have gone to and will put them in some online protected gallery next year with all the other higher end stuff I have shot up.
The old machinery is so cool.....
There’s a farm heritage museum in the little town I grew up in. Our Independence day parade is primarily old tractors.
This is one my Dad and Uncle did a wheels up restoration on if I remember right. I can't keep track of what comes and goes since I don't get to visit frequently.
Got a Farmall HV from the early 40’s not long ago. Not for cultivation, but to buck snow, spread gravel and turn compost. Doesn’t burn oil bbut the second gear (work gear) is a little sluggish. I call her the big, red scrap-heap but she’s alright and the price was right. Y’all can have yer big box store MTD’s.
Very nice....
My pal who now resides in Bemidji has a ‘50 Ford Ferguson that he uses for boat launches as well as general beach grooming...
It’s a great piece of history that just keeps on working...
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