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Where To Go To Get Tractor Seats Restored
If you're tired of sitting on that cracked, ripped, uncomfortable old tractor seat, Bill Buchanan and Jonas Martin can help you.
  These two craftsmen operate a couple of reupholstery shops that specialize in tractor seats. Buchanan's shop, in Linwood, Ontario, specializes in cloth covered seats. Martin's shop, near Wallenstein, Ontario, specializes in weather-resistant Naugahyde coverings.
  The work is a sideline for both men and they sometimes work together on jobs.
  Reupholstering tractor seats can be fairly simple but often requires several hours of work.
  The men have all the forms and patterns to cut new foam padding and coverings for the most popular tractor seats. "One of the easiest and quickest seats to re-cover is the style that Deere used on their 20 through 55 series tractors. We can do those in a short time," says Martin.
  He says one of the most difficult seats to re-cover is the one on Case IH Maxxum tractors. "Those are just beginning to come in to us," he notes.
  "Some of the older Farmall seats are difficult, too, and they sometimes leave off some of the piping or otherwise simplify a cover to save customers some money. But if you want an exact restoration, they can handle that, too."
  Martin says some of the seats that come in from older equipment require metal work before new cushions and covers can be put into place. "We can do some of that here, but more extensive metal work we send out to another shop," he says.
  While they specialize in tractor seats, Buchanan and Martin can work on just about any type of automotive seat, including those from cars, trucks, construction and earth-moving equipment, motorcycles and even bicycles.
  "I suppose if someone wanted furniture, antiques, or a car interior reupholstered, we could probably do that, too," Martin notes.
  For tractor seats, prices range from $65 to $95 (Canadian), plus shipping both ways. Some, however, can run closer to $200. And once in a while, when metal work is extensive, the total bill can come out even higher. "We have to pay by the hour for welding and metalwork," Martin explains.
  He says a small percentage of seats that come in for repairs just can't be fixed. "Sometimes after-market seats are available for less money, and we encourage people to take a look at those. But most of the time, the covers aren't cold-crack resistant like ours are."
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jonas W. Martin, R.R. 1, No. 7595, Wallenstein, Ontario, Canada N0B 2S0 (ph 519 698-9970) or Bill Buchanan, 36 Isabel St., Linwood, Ontario, Canada N0B 2A0 (ph 519 698-9834 please don't call on Sunday).


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2000 - Volume #24, Issue #3