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Eye-Catching "Tractor Mirrors"
"People really get a kick out of them. They're definitely unique," says Dave Krueger, Mulino, Ore., about his authentic tractor grille mirrors.
   The mirrors were on display at the recent Northwest Ag Expo in Portland, Ore. The 1/8-in. thick glass mirror is set inside a replicated tractor grille shell made of ABS plastic. The grille shell is the exact same color and size as the original tractor and includes a reproduction of the tractor's original emblem.
  Krueger offers 3 tractor models so far: a 1947-1952 Ford 8N grille; a 1953 Ford Golden Jubilee; and a 1954 Ford NAA which is identical to the Golden Jubilee except for the emblem. He also plans to soon offer a 1932 Ford car mirror. Each of the tractor models sells for $250 plus S&H.
  A Deere GPO wooden mock-up was also on display at the show, but is not for sale.
  "The Ford tractor grille mirrors are authentic down to the hole at the bottom for the tractor's starting crank," says Krueger. "The colors match the original tractor. Because of the ABS resin that's used, the color goes all the way through the material. There's no paint involved so there's no concern with chipping, cracking, or peeling.
  "The emblems I use are an exact reproduction of the original Ford emblems, and are the same emblems you'd use if you were restoring the tractor. The grille shells look so realistic that some people believe I must be using the actual front end of a tractor, restoring and repainting it. They don't like the idea that I might be robbing parts from antique tractors. However, I don't use any sheet metal parts at all."
  Krueger says he made the 1935 Deere GPO wooden mock-up for display only and has no plans to offer it for sale. "I replicated the Deere name for this display model, which I cannot sell. There are tight guidelines in regard to reproducing and selling anything that's copyrighted or patented. I'm not replicating the Ford emblems; I'm purchasing them. I can't even consider production without first working through Deere."
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, DMW Enterprises, Inc., 18280 S. Old Clarke Rd., Mulino, Ore. 97042 (ph 503 957-9091; dek@bctonline.com; www.dmw-enterprises.com).


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2011 - Volume #35, Issue #2