Re: Collector value vs. practical use value

Posted by Joe Evans on September 19, 2003 at 07:20:19 from (209.41.233.24):

In Reply to: Collector value vs. practical use value posted by Indydirtfarmer on September 19, 2003 at 04:01:53:

I would answer your question by saying 'yes' and 'no'. How's that for a commitment? Seriously, I would say that older, sound tractors will be in demand for a long time for what I call second-level work around a farm--pulling wagons, raking, running elevators, hauling poop, etc. And I would say that the demand will increase.

I don't think, though, that good restored tractors will be in demand for the front-line work. I would not risk depending on 30 yr old tractor to get 1000 acres of beans in.

I would spend big money on the machine that I absolutely have to have available, then buy some good, older tractors for support work. Why spend $30,000 for something that might see 500 hrs of work per year when you can get something that will do those jobs for, say $7,000? At that rate, you could afford multiple support tractors in case one of them is down for repairs. Multiple older tractors of mid-range size doing less demanding, second-level (utility) work will have there useful lives prolonged.

The neighbor has a 1965 Farmall 806. It's a little rough, but he just put $5,000 in it going through the drive train, hydraulics, and brakes. The motor is sound. What would it cost to replace a big hoss like the 806 (the 806 is a hoss in my world of M's, 460's, and 400's) with something new of that size? That 806 will very likely go another 20 years with the use that it sees. Throwing out the criterion of some possible creature comforts, what will something new in the 100HP range do that the 806 cannot do?

Another neighbor who farms my mother's property does the "heavy-lifting" with his relatively new JD, and then drills beans in with an old Oliver 77 and a steel-wheeled Oliver drill. I can't count the times I've gone past a farm and see big 4WD units doing the tilling. Then when I drive past that farm's barn area, I'll see two or three old "beaters". Usually they're Farmall 300's or Super M's with loaders and crap slung all over them. No, they don't have cabs, heaters, stereos, or GPS units, but they're still earning their keep, don't eat much, and will likely do so with no problem for years to come. (Although I have seen guys operate loaders where a GPS system would help them find the center of a manure spreader).

No, restored units won't be in demand for front-line duty, but I see more demand for restored units for utility work.

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