ALL ABOUT TRACTORS

BY PAUL WALLEM

 Few of us spend more than 10 to 12 hours daily in our car. However, farmers during busy season will often spend more than that in tractors.

This could be one of the reasons farmers have such close ties with their tractors. And that’s where they want to be. They would rather be there than anywhere else. (However, I recall that as a 13-year-old cultivating corn, I would have been happier anywhere else!)

Years ago, driving new tractors on the first day was a special event. With each one, there were new features. Electric starters were a huge step forward, as was power steering. First came umbrellas that kept the sun off. Cabs were much better, as were transmissions and seats. 

Progress has never ended. The comfort level in today’s cabs matches our cars. Some now

sit in the cabs monitoring the autonomous controls while managing other operations on the farm. 

I’ve wondered what motivates tractor collectors. Some collect the same models that they grew up on, while others collect random brands as a hobby, even though farming is not their career.

I’ve interviewed three friends who represent all these categories. They have all been collecting for a lot of years. One farmed, the other two did not. Here are their stories:

Darrell Davis, college professor/collector 

An Iowa farm boy, Davis started college knowing he wanted to major in accounting. Then, after a short period with Price Waterhouse, he chose to teach accounting. In the meantime, he acquired his Dad’s Farmall 400. While teaching at the college level, he obtained his PhD and taught for 36 years. He retired near his daughter, bought 40 acres, and continued collecting tractors, as follows:

Farmall 400 that had been his Dad’s main tractor:  A D-17 that he bought on auction thinking he might farm the 40 acres;  A Ford Jubilee which he loaned to the local golf course, and a Ford 8N:  A Ferguson TO-30 that a friend gave to him: An Allis WD45 that he bought in memory of the WD that he drove as a farm kid;  A Massey Ferguson 30, purchased in memory of his Granddad.

Is Darrell a collector? I found out by asking if he would sell any of them. He answered NO. Traders buy and sell. Collectors don’t sell. That convinced me he’s a collector, not of any 

brand, but five different colors. He just likes tractors.

He’s never gotten the farm out of his blood! He serves as township supervisor and teaches part-time as a substitute.

But - in his spare time - he works with his tractors!  

Ron Werner, pilot/farmer/collector 

Werner combined two careers, dividing them almost equally. Born on a Nebraska farm, his first tractor memories involve a Minneapolis-Moline KT, at age 7 or 8, driving and then cultivating at the same age. He majored in ag mechanization in college, joined ROTC, and then switched to the Marine Reserves with the opportunity to fly T-28s. (He had obtained his pilot certificate before college.) 

Following graduation, he joined United Airlines and married a year later. In 1966, Ron and his wife purchased 30 acres near Chicago’s OHare Airport, where United is based. In the following years, he divided his time between United and farming the 30 acres plus an additional rented 40. He bought a WD Allis at that time. In 1972, they bought another 200 acres.

In later years, he split his time between United Airlines and farming, purchasing and operating 333 acres before retiring in 2001. His final years with United were as a Captain in 747s and 777s.

Between 1972 and the present, he acquired the following 19 tractors:

1 Allis WD, 2 JD 70, 2 JD 50, 2 JD A (one owned originally by his grandfather), l JD B, I Oliver 77,  1 COOP E3, 1 JD G, 2 JD 730, 1 MH 44, 2 JD 4010, 1 IH 656, 1 JD 4430, 1 JD 3020.

Werner retired from active farming in the 1990s but kept operating hay fields and cattle until 2018. The 2 - 4010s and the 4430 were used throughout the years for fieldwork. 

His is an unusual story of a lifetime divided between the airline and farming/collecting. The collection is mostly Deere but includes five other brands, for a total of 21.

Mike Silberhorn, corporate/collector/trader 

Siberhorn was born in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., and raised on farms in Indiana and Illinois. 

His first tractor memory was at age 8 when he learned how to drive a Farmall H, standing up. 

In junior high, he pulled their drag with an Oliver 88. While in high school, he thought about becoming a farmer, but by college, his interest turned to ag mechanization. He majored in Agriculture at the University of Illinois and worked at the University dairy barns. 

Following college, he worked for International Harvester Company for 12 years. After IH’s breakup, he spent 20 years with Cub Cadet Corporation. 

While with Cub Cadet, he started collecting IH tractors, some of which needed repair. He bought VHS tapes that provided mechanical advice and did his own repairs. He aimed to show the collection at the 2000 International Harvester Red Power Roundup. Following the IHCC Roundup, he commented to his wife that he wondered what to do next, and she said, “Sell them all and start over.” He did precisely that. 

Since 2000, he has owned and restored between 35 and 40 International tractors. 

He held on to the following tractors and used them for tractor rides and fair displays; Super M, B with dual seats, Farmall 300, I-340, I-350.

Mike is a trader more than a collector.

His final comment during our interview was, “I survived all my mistakes.”

Paul Wallem was raised on an Illinois dairy farm. He spent 13 years with IH in domestic and foreign assignments. He resigned to own and operate 2 IH dealerships. He is the author of

THE BREAKUP of IH & SUCCESSES & INDUSTRY FIRSTS of IH. See all his books on

www.PaulWallem.com. Email comments to pwallem@aol.com