45-Year Tractor Collection Covers Many Brands
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Long time FARM SHOW reader Brad Kirkpatrick and his collection of more than 100 farm tractors are “landlocked” smack in the heart of California’s Napa Valley wine country. “I’ve been here since our family raised 35,000 turkeys and 200 cattle on this land back in the 1940’s. Now we’re getting squeezed down to just a few acres,” Kirkpatrick says. “I’ve still got room for the tractors and intend to keep them as long as I can.”
Kirkpatrick has been collecting tractors for nearly 50 years, building a stable of several brands including Ferguson, Oliver, Deere and Allis-Chalmers. His “favorites” are a Ferguson T0 35 and a Model 65 Massey Ferguson, which he bought new. Other Ferguson models include 30s, 35s, 65s and a scarce model 85. “I like these because they’re easy to start and maintain and don’t have a lot of frills,” Kirkpatrick says. He also owns about a dozen Olivers, 45 different Deere tractors, a few Allis Chalmers and a small collection of Caterpillar dozers.
“A lot of people restore and paint their old tractors, add chrome stacks and fancy new tires, but I’m more into just having them in original condition and making sure they run,” Kirkpatrick says. One of those was a Deere Model D Stoker, the 9th one ever built. “A fellow from Nebraska heard I owned it, pestered me long enough and I finally sold it to him,” Kirkpatrick says.
His collection still includes a rare BI, a Deere industrial tractor painted distinctive “Highway Yellow”. Just 183 were built between 1936 and 1941 and Kirkpatrick says not many are around today. The 3,620 lb. tractor has heavier rear axles, housings and bearings than its relative, the Model BR standard tread. It has a different front end that’s drilled and machined to mount a snowplow or grader blade. Its front axle is moved 5 1/4 in. back for better maneuverability. It also has a padded seat, a heavier and shorter drawbar and a shorter airstack, like the BO orchard model.
Other tractors in Kirkpatrick’s stable include an Oliver Industrial Model 60, a couple Minneapolis Molines, two CAT 10s, a Model M Allis crawler with a 318 cu. in. engine and a Model R Deere. Red paint is represented by a a WD International, a Cub, an A, B, C, H and M Farmalls.
“I collect whatever comes along and sometimes have people call for parts, like a speed reducer or a carburetor. I’d like to have the lineup in a museum somewhere, but there’s not much call for that around here.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Brad Kirkpatrick, P.O. Box 25, Pope Valley, Calif. 94567.
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45-Year Tractor Collection Covers Many Brands Long time FARM SHOW reader Brad Kirkpatrick and his collection of more than 100 farm tractors are “landlocked” smack in the heart of California’s Napa Valley wine country “I’ve been here since our family raised 35 000 turkeys and 200 cattle on this land back in the 1940’s Now we’re getting squeezed down to just a few acres ” Kirkpatrick says “I’ve still got room for the tractors and intend to keep them as long as I can ” Kirkpatrick has been collecting tractors for nearly 50 years building a stable of several brands including Ferguson Oliver Deere and Allis-Chalmers His “favorites” are a Ferguson T0 35 and a Model 65 Massey Ferguson which he bought new Other Ferguson models include 30s 35s 65s and a scarce model 85 “I like these because they’re easy to start and maintain and don’t have a lot of frills ” Kirkpatrick says He also owns about a dozen Olivers 45 different Deere tractors a few Allis Chalmers and a small collection of Caterpillar dozers “A lot of people restore and paint their old tractors add chrome stacks and fancy new tires but I’m more into just having them in original condition and making sure they run ” Kirkpatrick says One of those was a Deere Model D Stoker the 9th one ever built “A fellow from Nebraska heard I owned it pestered me long enough and I finally sold it to him ” Kirkpatrick says His collection still includes a rare BI a Deere industrial tractor painted distinctive “Highway Yellow” Just 183 were built between 1936 and 1941 and Kirkpatrick says not many are around today The 3 620 lb tractor has heavier rear axles housings and bearings than its relative the Model BR standard tread It has a different front end that’s drilled and machined to mount a snowplow or grader blade Its front axle is moved 5 1/4 in back for better maneuverability It also has a padded seat a heavier and shorter drawbar and a shorter airstack like the BO orchard model Other tractors in Kirkpatrick’s stable include an Oliver Industrial Model 60 a couple Minneapolis Molines two CAT 10s a Model M Allis crawler with a 318 cu in engine and a Model R Deere Red paint is represented by a a WD International a Cub an A B C H and M Farmalls “I collect whatever comes along and sometimes have people call for parts like a speed reducer or a carburetor I’d like to have the lineup in a museum somewhere but there’s not much call for that around here ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Brad Kirkpatrick P O Box 25 Pope Valley Calif 94567
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