<b>By CINDY LADAGE<br>
Illinois Correspondent</b></p><p>

HARRISBURG, Ill. — Antique tractor auction-goers call Charlie Buchanan the “iron salesman.” On his southern Illinois farm, an International Harvester collector could find almost any piece of equipment in red.<br>

“I’ve been collecting since 1947,” Buchanan explained.
“My family has always been International. I only collect International Harvester. Everything I’ve got is in good shape or I haul it off for junk.”<br>

He started with buying cast iron plows and cultivators. “Someone would buy one, then I’d go to the next sale and buy more seats,” Buchanan said. “Back then, nobody bothered with them. I have some of the biggest walking plows you ever saw. I also have the biggest chisel plow that IH ever built.”<br>

He grew up on a farm and owns 60 acres. Buchanan and his wife live two houses down from where he was born and raised.
“I used to grain farm, and I cattle farm,” he added “I still have the IH 464 that came out with the factory roll guard in 1979 that I bought new to farm with. I also bought new an IH 350 and a 230 that is all original, you don’t see them often. It works like a cow’s tail in fly time. I quit farming in the 1980s and rented it out and went into cattle.”<br>

Buchanan’s affinity for IH plows has been beneficial because many local Amish farmers buy plows and horse-drawn equipment from him.<br>

“The Amish from Wisconsin bought 1,200 acres of ground,” he said. “They came in and bought plows, etc. I sell them a lot of two-row planters. They are good neighbors.”<br>

There are many rare plows in Buchanan’s collection, like a Blackland plow that he said is horse-driven and has the original seat. He also has a Rockbuster plow that Buchanan said was used on construction jobs to break up rocks. Along with plows, tractors, and cast-iron seats, he has manure spreaders and more.
“I just collect rare stuff,” he added.<br>

One rare wagon gear that Buchanan owns has a Hollywood “western” connection.<br>

“This wagon is off of John Wayne’s ranch,” Buchanan explained while pointing at the item. “(Someone who) had worked there, brought it to sell to me. I have got it all restored. His story was that the solid wheels were for rattlesnakes. He claimed they would wrap around wooden wheels and travel with you and bite you. The wagon had a chuck wagon on it.”<br>

While Buchanan is an admirer of the implements, he also loves his IH tractors. He owns a 1955 MTA that he believes is the only one he has seen that came out of the factory with power steering. With less than 500 actual hours on it the MTA has barely been used.
That is just the tip of the iceberg of Buchanan’s IH collection of tractors. He also has an IH 30, 230, 330 and 450, and an IH 200 with wide front that is all original. Buchanan also has his grandpa’s Super C.<br>

“My grandpa bought this new in 1953,” he said. “He gave it to me because he knew I wouldn’t sell it.”<br>

While Buchanan owns many rare tractors, another unique piece he owns is an H hi-crop that was used in Louisiana for sewer jobs. The tractor has sheep’s foot tires.<br>

“It was built by people who rolled steel,” he said. “They bought it new for a sewer job. My friend JD gave me this tractor and I told him that as long as I live it will be in my family.”<br>

The hi-crop is rare, but even more so is Buchanan’s prototype H.
“This was owned by Donald Smith, who owned a packing house” Buchanan said. “IH sent a prototype to try out and some how it never got sent back. This and my MTA, that is my pride and joy.”