Master Parts Maker For Antique Oliver Tractors
Over the past 30 years, Ohio farmer Richard Lynch has turned his ability to make sheet metal parts for Oliver tractors into a thriving business. It started almost by accident when, in 1980, Lynch was restoring an old Hart-Parr 70. He needed side panels but he couldn’t find them at collector shows or through his contacts. Another 70 owner loaned him a clean set of side panels and Lynch found a metal shop that could stamp new replacements for him. Richard asked the shop to stamp a few extras as long as they were at it. Within a few weeks, Lynch had sold those extra panels at a Hart Parr Oliver collector’s show.
“I came home from that show excited about making side panels for old Olivers,” Lynch says. “At the same time I knew I had to learn how to do the work myself in order to make any money at it.” Although it took him nearly 10 years to acquire the know-how and equipment to do the work, Lynch was persistent. In 1990, he started Lynch Farms Tractor Parts after purchasing a milling machine at an auction. Today he and his son Ron build and stock more than 30 hoods and side panels for vintage Oliver tractors originally built between the 1930’s to the 1960’s. His reproduction panels are made for the Fleetline 66, 77 and 88’s and the later “Super” models of those same numbers. He also makes parts for Oliver 3-digit tractors, the styled 60 and 70 series, and the Hart Parr Oliver model 70 side panels.
“Restoring old Olivers must be a huge business across the country,” Ron says with first hand knowledge. “I have to order a new stock of sheet metal every couple months.”
Their business has sold replacement panels throughout the U.S., Canada and even to New Zealand. “The cost to ship side panels ‘down under’ was outrageous,” says Ron. “Luckily I was able to get 2 customers together. One was having a tractor shipped from the U.S. in a container, so we put the panels in with that tractor.” All of the panels sold by the business are primed and ready to be painted by the customer ordering them.
Over the years, he’s acquired and restored just about every Oliver ever made. He has about 45 in his personal collection, including a unique 1946 model 70 Orchard, which gleams like it just came off the factory paint line.
Richard, his wife Peggy and their sons Ron and David are also farmers, raising food-grade corn and soybeans. Between farm jobs and parts manufacturing they find time to attend tractor shows in the Midwest and distant states like California and Florida to promote their business. What began as an only replacement panels business now includes refurbishing tractors, bulldozers, plows, disks and even electric motors. “Once a person gets started in these things it just kind of leads from one thing to another,” says the elder Lynch. “My sons are now a part of the business, and that’s important because it means the show will go on.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Richard Lynch, Lynch Farms Tractor Parts, 1624 Alexander Rd., Eaton, Ohio 45320 (ph 855 847-5900; www.lynchfarmstractorparts.com).
Click here to download page story appeared in.
Click here to read entire issue
Master Parts Maker For Antique Oliver Tractors TRACTORS Antiques Over the past 30 years Ohio farmer Richard Lynch has turned his ability to make sheet metal parts for Oliver tractors into a thriving business It started almost by accident when in 1980 Lynch was restoring an old Hart-Parr 70 He needed side panels but he couldn’t find them at collector shows or through his contacts Another 70 owner loaned him a clean set of side panels and Lynch found a metal shop that could stamp new replacements for him Richard asked the shop to stamp a few extras as long as they were at it Within a few weeks Lynch had sold those extra panels at a Hart Parr Oliver collector’s show “I came home from that show excited about making side panels for old Olivers ” Lynch says “At the same time I knew I had to learn how to do the work myself in order to make any money at it ” Although it took him nearly 10 years to acquire the know-how and equipment to do the work Lynch was persistent In 1990 he started Lynch Farms Tractor Parts after purchasing a milling machine at an auction Today he and his son Ron build and stock more than 30 hoods and side panels for vintage Oliver tractors originally built between the 1930’s to the 1960’s His reproduction panels are made for the Fleetline 66 77 and 88’s and the later “Super” models of those same numbers He also makes parts for Oliver 3-digit tractors the styled 60 and 70 series and the Hart Parr Oliver model 70 side panels “Restoring old Olivers must be a huge business across the country ” Ron says with first hand knowledge “I have to order a new stock of sheet metal every couple months ” Their business has sold replacement panels throughout the U S Canada and even to New Zealand “The cost to ship side panels ‘down under’ was outrageous ” says Ron “Luckily I was able to get 2 customers together One was having a tractor shipped from the U S in a container so we put the panels in with that tractor ” All of the panels sold by the business are primed and ready to be painted by the customer ordering them Over the years he’s acquired and restored just about every Oliver ever made He has about 45 in his personal collection including a unique 1946 model 70 Orchard which gleams like it just came off the factory paint line Richard his wife Peggy and their sons Ron and David are also farmers raising food-grade corn and soybeans Between farm jobs and parts manufacturing they find time to attend tractor shows in the Midwest and distant states like California and Florida to promote their business What began as an only replacement panels business now includes refurbishing tractors bulldozers plows disks and even electric motors “Once a person gets started in these things it just kind of leads from one thing to another ” says the elder Lynch “My sons are now a part of the business and that’s important because it means the show will go on ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Richard Lynch Lynch Farms Tractor Parts 1624 Alexander Rd Eaton Ohio 45320 ph 855 847-5900; www lynchfarmstractorparts com
To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click
here to register with your account number.
