Indiana Tractor Collector Really Sees Red

2015 - Volume #39, Issue #5, Page #43

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Indiana farmer Erich “Bud” Meyer caught the red tractor collecting bug when he was 8 years old in 1952 and hasn’t stopped since. That’s when he bought his first tractor, a Farmall B, for just $348. He still has that tractor today, and 62 more of the same color.
    “Every one of those 63 tractors has my fingerprints on it,” Meyer says with pride. “I’ve done some form of repair or restoration on all of them, and they all look good and run like they’re used every day.”
    Meyer is 72 years old and still loves restoration. He recently bought a Farmall Super A, and when that one’s completed, he’ll own a full set of Farmall “Super” models. That 4-tractor line-up includes a Super A, Super C, Super H and Super M. Originally those models were just identified by letter, but later extra options were added. He also owns the conventional letter versions of those models.
    “None of my tractors are trailer queens,” Meyer says with a laugh. “I do all of my own repair and painting, and I’m not a professional painter, but they all look good.” His lineup of tractors starts with the 1939 B and continues through models built in 1979. Many of them are used regularly on his 130-acre Indiana farm. “I’m more of an old tractor buyer than a seller, and I’m definitely an old tractor user,” Meyer says.
    Asked what models he owns Meyer spills out letters from A to MTA, supers, offsets, and numbers including 240, 284, 460 row crop and utility, three 504’s, a 560, 706, 756, 806, 856, 1066, 1466 and a 4166 4-WD. Almost out of breath, he says “That’s not all of ’em, but you get the drift, right?”
     He’s quick to emphasize that all of them are in running condition, including his 1466 with an adjustable 9-ft. blade that he uses for snow plowing. His collection also includes a Farmall 100 manure spreader, a 200 2-row corn planter that he still uses to plant sweet corn, and 2 or 3 trip rope plows.
    Meyer’s enjoyment of collecting is shared with other farmers in Pike County, Ind. and together they hold an annual tractor parade somewhere in the county.
    Asked how long he will continue collecting, Meyer says, “My 13-year-old grandson has been following me around all summer, so he’s learning a lot. My daughters really like them too, so as long as I’m around, they’re staying right here.”
     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Erich “Bud” Meyer, 9491 S. Co. Rd. 800 E., Stendal, Ind. 47585 (ph 812 536-5812).

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Indiana Tractor Collector Really Sees Red TRACTORS Collectors Indiana farmer Erich “Bud” Meyer caught the red tractor collecting bug when he was 8 years old in 1952 and hasn’t stopped since That’s when he bought his first tractor a Farmall B for just $348 He still has that tractor today and 62 more of the same color “Every one of those 63 tractors has my fingerprints on it ” Meyer says with pride “I’ve done some form of repair or restoration on all of them and they all look good and run like they’re used every day ” Meyer is 72 years old and still loves restoration He recently bought a Farmall Super A and when that one’s completed he’ll own a full set of Farmall “Super” models That 4-tractor line-up includes a Super A Super C Super H and Super M Originally those models were just identified by letter but later extra options were added He also owns the conventional letter versions of those models “None of my tractors are trailer queens ” Meyer says with a laugh “I do all of my own repair and painting and I’m not a professional painter but they all look good ” His lineup of tractors starts with the 1939 B and continues through models built in 1979 Many of them are used regularly on his 130-acre Indiana farm “I’m more of an old tractor buyer than a seller and I’m definitely an old tractor user ” Meyer says Asked what models he owns Meyer spills out letters from A to MTA supers offsets and numbers including 240 284 460 row crop and utility three 504’s a 560 706 756 806 856 1066 1466 and a 4166 4-WD Almost out of breath he says “That’s not all of ’em but you get the drift right?” He’s quick to emphasize that all of them are in running condition including his 1466 with an adjustable 9-ft blade that he uses for snow plowing His collection also includes a Farmall 100 manure spreader a 200 2-row corn planter that he still uses to plant sweet corn and 2 or 3 trip rope plows Meyer’s enjoyment of collecting is shared with other farmers in Pike County Ind and together they hold an annual tractor parade somewhere in the county Asked how long he will continue collecting Meyer says “My 13-year-old grandson has been following me around all summer so he’s learning a lot My daughters really like them too so as long as I’m around they’re staying right here ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Erich “Bud” Meyer 9491 S Co Rd 800 E Stendal Ind 47585 ph 812 536-5812

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