Everyone expects to see a tractor or two at the Illinois State Fair, but at this year’s there were 67 beautiful antiques for visitors to enjoy, which was an increase over last year’s total of 56.

Norm Claussen and Mike Hall of the Illinois State Fair Museum Foundation have worked the past year contacting owners of antique tractors to ensure there were a variety of brands.

Some included Fords with a 1953 Ford Jubilee, a John Deere GP, a 30 Ferguson, a Farmall 560, a Graham Bradley Standard, a Massey 44 Special, International Harvester Orchard OS4, an Allis-Chalmers WC, a 1947 Silver King, a Minneapolis-Moline G 1000 Vista and a Oliver OC3 crawler.

One of the featured tractors was a lovely 1919 Waterloo Boy owned by Irwin Conklen from New Holland, Ill. Just a few years shy of hitting the century mark, this tractor is Serial No. 16311 and after it was built, it was shipped to Jesup, Iowa.

Aug. 12 was Veteran’s Day and the military tractor on display honored men and women who serve in the Armed Forces. The 1963 tractor is a tug, used to pull equipment. It is a Model 200 ISG owned by Mike Fred of Robert, Ill.

One unique lawn and garden tractor at this year’s show was a 1952 Red-E owned by Jack Geary of Greenview, Ill. “It was built in Wisconsin in 1952,” Jack said.

The Red-E began as two-wheel walk-behind tractor and they were produced in Milwaukee. After 1950 they were produced in a four-wheel version. According to an article in Gas Engine magazine, “these tractors were painted green, as RED-E meant ‘ready,’ not the color red.”

“A man at the University designed these when they were first produced,” Jack said.

Author Ed Balcomb wrote the man was a student of Earl Welbourne, a professor of mechanical engineering at Marquette University in Milwaukee. He took an interest in this first tractor, which was built in 1918 and put into production in the early 1920s.

Jack said the Red-E was more common up North, and not many were in central Illinois. “You could get these with a Wisconsin or Briggs & Stratton engine. You could also get an electric start, although mine doesn’t have one,” he explained.

This Red-E is a little different than others because it has the name Crosley on the front. “This has a Crosley transmission and clutch with a forward rear end,” Jack explained. “Crosley took it and used it to pull around carts at the plant.”

Jack has been collecting tractors for more than 40 years: “I farmed at one time and worked for 22 years at the Allis-Chalmers plant here in Springfield. I took my severance pay and built a shop; it was known as Jack’s Farm and Auto Repair. I have retired, now.”

These days the shop serves as a repair and restoration for Jack’s 35 antique tractors.

Big Bud was on hand again at the fair. “This is the third year it has been here,” Norm shared. “It is used for tiling.”

This year’s display was sponsored by Big R, Beck’s Seed and the Secretary of State for Illinois.

Both the Vintage Ag Assoc. and the Prairieland Heritage Museum, along with other clubs, are represented in the exhibit. “You don’t have to be a member of any club, though, to show your tractor,” Norm said.

This is the eighth year the antique tractors have been on display. Last year, Norm estimated between 7,000-10,000 people came through their exhibit. As of the third day into this year’s fair, with the mild weather, it looked like that number might have been exceeded.

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.