WALWORTH, Wis. – Mecum Auctions capped off a 10-week online Southern Wisconsin Tractors Collection sale. The 30-lot auction featured a selection of 16 antique and vintage tractors, including two Rumely oil pull models from the 1920s. Additionally, the sale offered an unrestored John Deere Webber wagon and 13 lots of farm implements.

All lots were sold through Mecum’s On-Time online-only bidding platform. Most items were subject to a reserve. Buyer’s premiums were set at 10 percent for the tractors and 15 percent for the implements. Cantrell’s Towing, of Colona, Ill., provided transportation quotes for buyers needing transportation of winning lots.

Although the two most historic tractors drew the most attention, neither grabbed the auction’s highest bid. That honor went to a 1960 Farmall B450 diesel, which fetched $13,310 from 64 bids. This rare English-built model featured a unique direct-start 4-cylinder 55 HP diesel engine, unavailable in U.S. tractors of the time. It came with 2-wheel drive, a 3-point hitch, and new rear tires, but its operating condition was unknown.

The 1923 Rumely Oil Pull 16-30 secured second place with a final bid of $12,760, surpassing its reserve price of $11,600 by a significant margin. Although its operating condition was unknown, the tractor featured a horizontal two-cylinder engine powered by a kerosene Higgins carburetor, delivering 16 HP on the drawbar and 30 HP on the belt. It was equipped with steel wheels, a steel frame, a full canopy, and rubber on the rear wheels.

The other oil pull rig, the 1928 Rumely 25-40 X, achieved fourth place. It bid to $7,535 from 45 offers, surpassing its reserve price of $6,600 by nearly 15 percent. Although its operating condition was unknown, it featured steel wheels and frame, a full canopy, a spoke flywheel, new spark plugs, and a Bosch magneto ignition. Another $7,535 was bid for a 1937 John Deere B, which boasted round spoke rear wheels, new rubber all around, and expo-quality paint.

Eleven more vintage Farmall tractors were available, including a 1954 Farmall Super M-TA diesel that took third place at $8,085 on 41 bids. The restored rig had a PTO, belt pulley, clamshell fenders, stainless steel muffler, front and rear weights, and a toolbox. Bidding went to $5,060 for a 1940 Farmall International Model AV. The rare wide-front unit, in unknown operating condition, was believed to be a prototype. It had a rebuilt magneto, PTO, pulley attachment (no pulley), and new rubber.

The other Farmalls included models H, Super H, M, and Super M, spanning the 1940 to 1954 model years. All were sold as-is. Winning bids varied from $440 for an original, unrestored Model H, which featured a PTO, fenders, rear weights, and a belt pulley, to $6,435 for a 1954 Farmall Super H, equipped with a PTO, belt pulley, drawbar, a new seat, and nearly new tires.

Something of a surprise was a previously restored McCormick-Deering Fairway 12 tractor only fetched $1,495 from 13 bids. Even more unexpected was the low activity on the unrestored John Deere Weber wagon. Despite its historic significance, it attracted just three bids and sold for $345, despite falling short of its $400 reserve.

Thirteen lots of farm implements were also offered. Six of them sold for their opening bid of $25, or $29 with the buyer’s premium. Bidding reached $40 for both a good-condition John Deere 3-bottom mounted plow and an older Deere 2-bottom plow. Another John Deere 3-bottom plow, in very good condition, performed notably better, fetching $282 from 14 bids. Meanwhile, a good-condition International Harvester 4-bottom moldboard plow sold for $144.

For information on Mecum’s upcoming auctions, visit:  www.mecum.com.