Lurayfarmer
Member
In a recent forum exchange I offered to post some pictures of my TO35 after a 6-month stay in my shop. This tractor came from Mentor, Ohio, where it was originally purchased in 1955. The seller was the second owner, having acquired the tractor some 25 years ago when he bought a part of the Meister estate. The tractor had been purchased as a gift for Gilbert Meister, co-founder of the American Fruit Grower Publishing Company and its magazine (still published) American Fruit Grower. The seller said the tractor was stored in a shed on the property and showed about 440 hours on the tractormeter. He said he had used it occasionally for chores around the property and claimed everything worked. He was right. From the feel of the gears, the clutch, the steering, the 3-pt hitch, and everything else mechanical, the tractor feels new.
Over the winter I cleaned up the body panels (painted gray), replaced the corroded gas tank, and tended to other minor electrical issues with a new harness. Left to do are the wheels which will have to wait till fall. The tractor carries its original tires, in good usable condition. Generator and starter are original to the tractor.
As to performance, the tractor is lithe, powerful,and superbly engineered. It will sustain PTO speed in 2-high going up a slope while driving a 6-ft Bush Hog mower. Lots of little extras that make it a joy to drive. On the empty license plate holder -- I bought a rusty 1954 Ohio farm plate on eBay and sent it off to Darry's Plate restorations SIX MONTHS AGO. He's a nice guy for sure, but six months is a little ridiculous. I hope I get the plate back at all. Fortunately I bought a pair!
Pictures attached.
Bill
Over the winter I cleaned up the body panels (painted gray), replaced the corroded gas tank, and tended to other minor electrical issues with a new harness. Left to do are the wheels which will have to wait till fall. The tractor carries its original tires, in good usable condition. Generator and starter are original to the tractor.
As to performance, the tractor is lithe, powerful,and superbly engineered. It will sustain PTO speed in 2-high going up a slope while driving a 6-ft Bush Hog mower. Lots of little extras that make it a joy to drive. On the empty license plate holder -- I bought a rusty 1954 Ohio farm plate on eBay and sent it off to Darry's Plate restorations SIX MONTHS AGO. He's a nice guy for sure, but six months is a little ridiculous. I hope I get the plate back at all. Fortunately I bought a pair!
Pictures attached.
Bill