Restored New Hart-Parr Is A Show Stopper
Although Dave Preuhs is deep into the history of almost every type of old machinery ever produced, Hart-Parr tractors are perhaps his favorite topic. A Hart-Parr collector for over 50 years, Preuhs is a go-to guy for information and a frequent contributor to H-P historical articles. A letter he received from a Wisconsin man in 1988 led him on a path to find information and parts for the farmer’s New Hart-Parr. Ten years later, he bought the tractor from the man unseen.
Preuhs says he and his wife rescued the weather-beaten tractor that had barely survived parts scavengers. It was serial number 74 that Hart-Parr built at its Charles City, Iowa, plant in 1918. Preuhs later learned that his friend had bought a New Hart-Parr, serial number 73, a few years later.
Preuhs used reference visuals from the 1994 “Hart-Parr Photo Archive” book to guide his restoration. The book’s detailed black-and-white manufacturing photos helped him locate and adapt a radiator from a 1938 DeSoto automobile for his tractor. Based on those visuals, he also fabricated fenders, wheel bull gears and a new fuel tank.
Preuhs says his New Hart-Parr’s rusted and frozen engine needed significant attention. He rebored the block and installed new sleeves, pistons, rings, wrist pins and valves. He rebuilt the magneto and the Madison-Kipp 6 feed mechanical lubricator.
The New Hart-Parr joins several other Hart-Parr tractors in his collection, including a 20, 30, 18-26, and a 4-cylinder 22-40. The 22-40 has two engines from a 20 side by side. Both engines run on a single crankshaft and sound like smooth-running 4-cylinders.
Preuhs says he bought his first Hart-Parr after seeing an ad for an 18-36 in a farm magazine in 1973. “I went to see it, and the owner told me he’d load it up and deliver it to me for $650. A few weeks later, he showed up, and I’ve been hooked on Hart-Parrs ever since. They’re easy to work on because everything is fairly accessible.”
Preuhs says he’s loved machinery since he was old enough to work on his family’s farm. When he started farming on his own, he acquired an old threshing machine from his wife’s grandfather. He and two neighboring brothers got it running and decided to show friends and family how it worked. That demonstration turned into threshing bees on Preuh’s farm every August for three years.
“People liked the demonstrations so much that they formed the Le Sueur County Pioneer Power Association in 1977 with annual shows every August,” Preuhs says. Now, 50 years later, the Association has more than 500 members and its own showgrounds. It hosts an annual August weekend event that often draws more than 10,000 visitors. Preuhs lives just a few miles from the show site and regularly hauls several tractors to the event, including his pristine New Hart-Parr. “It always attracts a lot of attention,” Preuhs says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dave Preuhs (oldtractor@gmail.com).
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Restored New Hart-Parr Is A Show Stopper TRACTORS Antiques Although Dave Preuhs is deep into the history of almost every type of old machinery ever produced Hart-Parr tractors are perhaps his favorite topic A Hart-Parr collector for over 50 years Preuhs is a go-to guy for information and a frequent contributor to H-P historical articles A letter he received from a Wisconsin man in 1988 led him on a path to find information and parts for the farmer’s New Hart-Parr Ten years later he bought the tractor from the man unseen Preuhs says he and his wife rescued the weather-beaten tractor that had barely survived parts scavengers It was serial number 74 that Hart-Parr built at its Charles City Iowa plant in 1918 Preuhs later learned that his friend had bought a New Hart-Parr serial number 73 a few years later Preuhs used reference visuals from the 1994 “Hart-Parr Photo Archive” book to guide his restoration The book’s detailed black-and-white manufacturing photos helped him locate and adapt a radiator from a 1938 DeSoto automobile for his tractor Based on those visuals he also fabricated fenders wheel bull gears and a new fuel tank Preuhs says his New Hart-Parr’s rusted and frozen engine needed significant attention He rebored the block and installed new sleeves pistons rings wrist pins and valves He rebuilt the magneto and the Madison-Kipp 6 feed mechanical lubricator The New Hart-Parr joins several other Hart-Parr tractors in his collection including a 20 30 18-26 and a 4-cylinder 22-40 The 22-40 has two engines from a 20 side by side Both engines run on a single crankshaft and sound like smooth-running 4-cylinders Preuhs says he bought his first Hart-Parr after seeing an ad for an 18-36 in a farm magazine in 1973 “I went to see it and the owner told me he’d load it up and deliver it to me for $650 A few weeks later he showed up and I’ve been hooked on Hart-Parrs ever since They’re easy to work on because everything is fairly accessible ” Preuhs says he’s loved machinery since he was old enough to work on his family’s farm When he started farming on his own he acquired an old threshing machine from his wife’s grandfather He and two neighboring brothers got it running and decided to show friends and family how it worked That demonstration turned into threshing bees on Preuh’s farm every August for three years “People liked the demonstrations so much that they formed the Le Sueur County Pioneer Power Association in 1977 with annual shows every August ” Preuhs says Now 50 years later the Association has more than 500 members and its own showgrounds It hosts an annual August weekend event that often draws more than 10 000 visitors Preuhs lives just a few miles from the show site and regularly hauls several tractors to the event including his pristine New Hart-Parr “It always attracts a lot of attention ” Preuhs says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Dave Preuhs oldtractor@gmail com
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