Cleaning out the dairy pens with a 1948 8N was my first job when I was 8 yrs old.
In 2003 my wife found a basket case 8N for sale and bought it for me. I took 4 months to restore it in time to have our 10-yr-old grandson, Luke, drive it in the local parade. He won a blue ribbon. I still had my childhood tractor key for the 8N and over 50 years later it worked in the restored tractor. 
Then… I began searching for running gear so we could build a parade wagon for our grandkids. Just 5 miles from our home I found one sitting in the weeds on a farm where the old wagon had been used to haul irrigation pipe. After pumping up the tires (yes they took air) We hauled it home and with a cutting torch stripped it down so a new frame could be made to receive wooden rails and benches. We built a nice step on the back and seats to haul 15 people. We even wired a 12 volt system so we could have LED lights on the wagon. 
Maiden voyage with the tractor and wagon was for one of our granddaughters 9th birthday with her friends. Then Christmas caroling. By-the-way the 8N serial number is: 24342 (A Palindrome- reads the same backwards). Now we are finished another ’48 8N which will be a twin. Our grandkids (as well as myself) are all learning to drive these great tractors of history. Thank you Henry Ford and Harry. And thank Steiner and others like them who keep this wonderful enjoyment going.!
Dick Shrader
Modesto, California
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