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Antique Tractor Paint and Bodywork

how were early tractors painted?

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Farmallgray

01-21-2006 08:06:13




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I'm looking for info on how tractors were painted in the 20s and 30s. I'd like to know what kind of paint they used and how it was applied. I'm sure most of the companies used silimlar materials and procedures. I have done some research on early automotive paint but cars either used varnishes applied by brush or were sprayed with laquer and buffed. I'm guessing tractors used some type of enamel and were baked
(at least by the time they started using moving assembly lines). Cars couldn't be baked because of all the wood in the bodies. Anyone have any info on this?
Thanks.

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Dave Sherburne,NY

01-21-2006 12:45:24




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 Re: how were early tractors painted? in reply to Farmallgray, 01-21-2006 08:06:13  
A while ago, somebody has some pics posted of
a factory doing paint jobs, I think on the Ih/farmall board.



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CNKS

01-21-2006 13:05:34




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 Re: how were early tractors painted? in reply to Dave Sherburne,NY, 01-21-2006 12:45:24  
If I remember right, that picture showed a guy with a spray gun, was not wearing a charcoal mask -- I believe he died the same day.



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CNKS

01-21-2006 12:32:24




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 Re: how were early tractors painted? in reply to Farmallgray, 01-21-2006 08:06:13  
They weren't baked -- early tractor painting was probably worse than cars--See the WI Historical IH link below -- although it won't give the procedures, in some cases it will give the kind of paint used.



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CNKS

01-21-2006 12:34:22




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 Re: how were early tractors painted? in reply to CNKS, 01-21-2006 12:32:24  
This is the link.



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Steve Forrest

01-31-2006 15:56:39




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 Re: how were early tractors painted? in reply to CNKS, 01-21-2006 12:34:22  
That Wisconsin site which lists details on IH decisions is great. Anyone know of a similar resource for Massey Harris?

Thanks, Steve.



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Farmallgray

01-22-2006 10:20:03




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 Re: how were early tractors painted? in reply to CNKS, 01-21-2006 12:34:22  
I have looked at the paint decisions (at least the ones relating to tractors) and couldn't find much info. Are there other places on the Wisconsin
archives site that I may not be looking? I have seen the pics of the 10-20s being painted. They had to have used some kind of fast drying paint
if they weren't baked. But all the info I can find says that the fast air-drying synthetic enamels didn't come out till the early 30s. They would have needed some place to store them while the were drying (cars took a day or more to dry per coat in the early to mid 20s).
But the photos I have seen show them being driven right off the assembly line and on to the rail dock and being loaded. I wouldn't think they would have used laquers, (most auto makers had switched to laquer by the late 20s) because they required buffing.

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CNKS

01-22-2006 11:31:09




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 Re: how were early tractors painted? in reply to Farmallgray, 01-22-2006 10:20:03  
You have seen the link before, I hadn't read all of it until now -- nothing in it that really answers your question. You bring up a good point about the drying. I don't think there is any paint, then or now where a tractor can be driven off the assembly line without drying. Maybe with the Forbes method mentioned in the PPG/Ditzler link. I said they didn't bake, but I really don't know, My assumpumtions are often wrong. Perhaps they had some sort of a forced air system at the end of their assembly line. Maybe the seat and pedals were installed last and they dried outside--That is a long shot and likely ridiculous -- I would like an answer to your question also.

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Farmallgray

01-22-2006 15:39:07




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 Re: how were early tractors painted? in reply to CNKS, 01-22-2006 11:31:09  
I have checked out those sites and saved all the info. A couple years ago there was an article in Red Power about paint. It mentioned a book called "A century of automotive style". I got that book from the library. I has some good info but doesn't go into a lot of depth. It does say that autos used "baking enamel" on fenders, splash aprons, running boards and other parts that didn't contain wood. It says that baking enamel was only available in black till 1923, then it was available in colors. That is what leads me to believe tractors were baked. Trying to piece things togther by this and photos. I also found the model T club of america web site and it has good info on how model Ts were painted and gives some insight also.

CNKS, would you mind sending me an email?
use "paint" as the subject

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CNKS

01-22-2006 17:04:19




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 Re: how were early tractors painted? in reply to Farmallgray, 01-22-2006 15:39:07  
Sent 7:15PM CST, 1/22/06.



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kirk/ihcollector

01-21-2006 10:15:34




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 Re: how were early tractors painted? in reply to Farmallgray, 01-21-2006 08:06:13  
the Wisconsin Historical Society has lots of information from IH on paint. Colors, formula"s, ect. Great information. Check it out.



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