RG, Author at Antique Tractor Blog

Painting Tractors

08/15/2016 by RG 1 Comment

Check out this painter, Charles (Chuck) Freitag! He’s my favorite tractor artist, and for good reason!

I met up with Chuck earlier this summer. We’ve been working together for a while now (Chuck is the artist behind the Oliver fabric that my mom and I produced), and it’s always fun to see him in person!

There are three things that make me a huge fan of Chuck’s work:

1. His attention to detail. Chuck really loves tractors, and it’s apparent in his art. He works hard to get all the little details right. His paintings aren’t just of generic tractors in a field – they are specific tractors, accurate down to the smallest details.

2. His focus on happy farm memories. Chuck’s artwork is full of family scenes. Chuck grew up on a family farm in Iowa. He has a firsthand understanding of farm life, and his artwork reflects people working hard and having fun alongside their families (and favorite tractors). I love it!

3. He’s a really fun guy to be around! I’ve enjoyed getting to know Chuck over the years. He’s been painting for 25 years and certainly knows his stuff, but he’s very approachable and fun to be around. Chuck still lives in Iowa. He’s married and is the father of 6 children.

If you’d like to see more of Charles Frietag’s work (or purchase a print for yourself), check out his website!

Little Tractors

08/08/2016 by RG 1 Comment

Check out this perfect little F-20 tractor. Isn’t it a beauty!

It’s even more impressive when you know the story behind it – this F-20 is half-sized!

My friend Kurt Smith of Milan, MI is the mastermind behind The Little Tractor Company. This is the 40th little tractor he’s made. You may remember seeing some of his work in a previous post – here’s what he’s been up to since then.

The F-20 started with major parts from a couple tractors: the transmission, steering tower, and rear end is a 1955 Economy Power King tractor; the engine forward is from a Cub Cadet with a 3 cylinder gas engine made by Kubota. These tractors were never meant to be combined – but Kurt figured out how to make them work together!

Kurt invested around 320 hours in this tractor. He did all the sheet metal himself, in addition to most all of the mechanical work. Kurt is a real expert with an eye for detail. These custom, handmade tractors are really spectacular!

This tractor features a custom-made radiator. The air cleaner is from a MF 1120.

His mechanic (Les Grodi) did the drive line and shortened the drive shaft. He also figured out how to make the clutch work. His machinist, Todd Thompson, made the front steering tower and rear rims. The rims are made from disc blades!

His 39th little tractor, made earlier this year, is a 1468 International. This tractor started off as a MF 1120 that he acquired from a blueberry farm. It was the perfect base for this project – the driveline is completely unaltered. The engine is a 3-cylinder 16 horsepower Mitshubishi.

His machinist built the heat shield of stainless steel.

These front suitcase weights are a great touch – they’re actually garden tractor weights!

This tractor is fully functional – you could put it to work with a plow, loader, or mower! While Kurt’s tractors usually become show tractors, I think it’s neat that they could also be used as working tractors too!

Kurt displayed both of these tractors at the Red Power Round Up, where he took orders for 2 more tractors that will be similar to the 1468. I can’t wait to see what he’ll come up with next!

Kurt gave us a special sneak peek at what’s in his shop right now: a Moline U! The signature wide front axle is already complete.

If you’d like to learn more about Kurt or even purchase one of these awesome tractors for yourself, check out www.TheLittleTractorCo.com. Thanks for sharing, Kurt!

Massey Harris 44 Orchard and Vineyard Models

08/01/2016 by RG 1 Comment

Check out these pristine Massey Harris 44 Vineyard and Orchard tractors!

These tractors were a part of the Charles Schneider collection (sold by Mecum Auctions earlier this summer). I got to check out these pristine restorations on sale day, and I sure was impressed! I’ve seen lots of MH 44 tractors (it is, after all, the most popular model Massey Harris produced), but I’ve never seen anything like this up close and in person.

These tractors are equipped with a regular MH 44 engine and have many unique features. Both models are equipped with a hand clutch. There are no hydraulics, or place for a belt pulley.

The ultra-rare Vineyard tractor is one of just 30 tractors manufactured. It was produced in 1950. Only 2 tractors of this model are known to be restored today. The tractor sold for $14,500.

With so few Vineyard tractors in existance, details on this model are sketchy. I’ve read (but haven’t confirmed) that the very narrow rear axles proved problematic for the company, eventually resulting in a massive recall of the Vineyard model and a stop in production.

The Orchard version of the same tractor was produced for two years (1950 and 1951). It is also very rare, although not quite as uncommon as the Vineyard model. Approximately 150 Orchard tractors were produced. This tractor’s high bid was $13,500, which did not meet the seller’s reserve.

What a neat pair of Massey Harris tractors!

John Deere 2010 Review

07/25/2016 by RG 24 Comments

The John Deere New Generation line (beginning with the 2010 and its sister models) was truly revolutionary. It represented the first modern, four-cylinder tractors the John Deere company had ever manufactured. Many tractors in this line turned out to be incredibly reliable and are still in use today – most notably, the 4020 John Deere. However, a few losses came alongside the victory. In my opinion, the 2010 is a tractor to steer clear of.

The 2010 was a huge advance for its time. The Deere company tried out lots of new strategies with the New Generation line, and the 2010 included a new engine design. The engine had an inventive deck plate to hold the sleeves in. The deck plate rested directly on top of the sleeves, using some O rings to make a seal.

This is another one of those ideas that sounds great on paper but doesn’t work as well in the field. As the tractor is used during the day – especially if it is turned off and on frequently – the engine naturally expands and contracts. The all-in-one design of the deck plate makes this tiny amount of expansion and contraction a big problem. The O rings aren’t enough to maintain a seal.

In addition to the engine difficulties, the model is also susceptible to a wide variety of PTO problems.

John Deere abandoned the deck plate idea when this model’s production was through. After the 2010, no additional models were made with deck plates. This is great news for the reliability of other tractors in the New Generation line, but it’s bad news for owners of these tractors. A low demand for parts means that parts are difficult to find and expensive.

The 2010 was a huge advance for the time. Nostalgia is strong with these tractors, too. For many farmers, the 2010 was the first modern tractor they owned. The live power, live hydraulics, and ergonomic design were game-changers for the industry. Restoring one can be a real labor of love – just know what you are getting into!

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Painting Tractors

Little Tractors

Massey Harris 44 Orchard and Vineyard Models

John Deere 2010 Review

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