tractor judging/respect

What kind of tractors would you like to see at shows?

A tractor restored by an individual that probably looks better than it did when it was new.

or

A tractor restored by a professional where the owner only wrote out the check.

Which of the two do you respect the most?

I think folks should try to make their tractors good-looking but without going crazy at the expense of the way the tractor runs. I'm enchanted with with all old tractors, but most particlularly with those that are mechanically right. "Whatever" as far as paint is concerned. To me, there's nothing better than seeing and hearing a good running and "honest" old tractor.

Anyway, how can you tell at a rally, unless you believe everything you are told (some people do and some lie!)? Some people are ace at the mechanicals and some are ace at paintwork. Some are ace at telling the story of the machine. They all have their place and if someone does all the work except applying the paint, where do you put them in your narrow categories? From me - no chance of saying either of your options. Sorry.

In my view, any of these old tractors can tell a story. Just depends on circumstance. Better than new is someones favourite while as it is, 'but now running' is anothers. I do not care greatly as long as they are kept from the junker and are someones pride and joy.

RAB

I rebuilt the engine with an overbore kit, had the hydra-power gone through and fixed up, and all new wires, hoses, belts, tires etc. It just wouldn't have been right to NOT paint it, as it was just plain rusty and beat. The best part is, it still earns it's keep around here, though not as much as if it were a diesel.

Donovan from Wisconsin

Walt

A row of perfectly restored JD Bs or Farmall Ms is boring. I want to see a variety.

When I'm looking at antique tractors at a show I don't care who did the restoration. If it is correct, fine. If it has a modification tell us what and why. Orchards, HiCrops, Industrials are all interesting.

If you want to brag that you did it your self, show pictures of before, after, and work in progress. Otherwise, a tractor is a tractor.

If that's a multi-year, multi-thousand dollar, correct-to-the-last-Amelite-grease-fitting, rope it off and don't touch it restoration, fine.

If it's a "hit it with a pressurewasher to blow the cowsh!t off it and take it to the show", that's fine too.

Personally, I have a little trouble figuring out how a person can spend years and a bundle of money chasing parts to make sure the restoration is "correct" and then put an acrylic unobtainium paint job on it that cost more than the original tractor and still think it's "correct", but hey, if that's what floats their boat, fine. It's THEIR tractor.

Mine has more errors than a Florida ballot box, but it runs, it pulls stuff, and it tickles me to play with it, and that's what floats my boat.

From a little different angle on the word, I can appreciate the work folks put into restoring, to whatever level, any piece of old iron. I know the enjoyment from working on them. In the last ten year, I've redisovered the satisfaction of tearing down and rebuilding an engine, something I hadn't known since I tore down my '64 Beetle, applying (then and now) what I'd learned from helping Grandpa work on his Farmalls and the Wisconsin on his baler. On the latest one, I gained an especial appreciation of what it takes to be a good painter. (I'm not ready to take on anybody's car yet!)

In that same sense of the word, I also appreciate and respect the folks that bring out tractors and implements in their working clothes.

I can learn from all of them and, will help anyone who asks if I can.

I have little appreciation and only the most basic of human respect for the correct police, who will howl, guffaw, harangue and otherwise make arses of themselves pointing out marked Grade 8s where there used to be dot-head bolts. My greasy tractor was farmerized and repaired, something I continue in keeping it going and working. My "pet" sentimental restoration is real shiny and pretty and runs like a top, but I put a few bent nails back in in place of cotter pins, right where Grandpa left them, and I still use the same rusty old bent gate hinges to hold the drawbar in place. And his old rusty hitch pin.

Dave