FREMONT, Mich. – On Oct. 12, Art Smith Auctioneers presented the John Wolfsen Tractor Collection Auction. Wolfsen had a lifelong interest in the Allis Chalmers line. He had worked at the Allis Chalmers dealership in Fremont for 18 years and was the co-owner of The Power Shop for 24 years. Due to changing interests, he decided to sell the tractor collection he’d amassed over many years.

The live on-site and simulcast auction consisted of 29 lots, with 21 primarily Allis Chalmers tractors, three pieces of other agricultural and heavy equipment, along with five lots of tractor accessories relocated to the Newaygo County Fairgrounds for convenient inspection and bidding. A preview was offered the evening prior to the auction.

Of course, Allis Chalmers (AC) tractors were the star of the event. The auction’s high of $22,500 came right out of the gate for Lot 1, a 1967 AC Model D-21 Series II, diesel wide-front, one of only 1,129 built. It featured a 1000 PTO, 3-point hitch, dual hydraulics, square fenders with lights, and 18.4 x 34” tires. The meter read 1,840 hours.

Coincidentally, Lot 2 picked up second place, at $9,600. It was a 1971 AC Model Two Ten diesel wide-front. It was outfitted with a 1000 PTO, 3-point hitch, dual hydraulics, square fenders, and 18.4 x 38” tires. It had new batteries and only 20 hours on the injectors.

Bids of $5,900 came in for both a 1976 AC Model 175 diesel and a 1976 Model 7000 diesel. The 175 was a wide-front with a 540 PTO, 3-point hitch, dual hydraulics, square fenders with lights, and 18.4 X 30 inch tires. Its engine and Power Direct had been overhauled. The 7000 was a wide-front cab tractor with a 540/1000 PTO, 3-point hitch, dual hydraulics, and 18.4 X 38 inch tires. Its AC needed work. A tidy $5,000 picked up a 1964 AC Model D-15 Series II, gas narrow-front. It had a factory 3-point hitch and sported new paint, hydraulics, seat, and 16.9 x 26 inch tires.

The mid-range of bidding on the Allis Chalmers dropped to $3,200 for a 1970s AC Model 6040 diesel wide-front. It had a 540 PTO, 3-point hitch, single hydraulics, square fenders with lights, and 14.9 x 28 inch tires. Another similarly equipped 1970s Model 6040 only reached $1,800. Bidding bounced back to $3,000 for a 1965 gas-fueled AC Model 190 wide-front. It came with a 540 PTO, 3-point hitch, dual hydraulics, square fenders with lights, wheel weights, and 16.9 x 34 inch tires.

The low end of bidding for Allis Chalmers tractors skirted around $1,000. Slightly above that threshold, hitting $1,200 was a 1959 AC Model D-14 gas-fueled narrow-front, with snap coupler, fenders, wheel weights, and 13.6 x 26 inch tires. A classic 1939 AC Model B wide-front managed $1,100. Its PTO, 3-point hitch, and hydraulics were shop-built; it rode on 11.2 x 24 inch tires. From 1941 came an AC Model WC narrow-front with electric start, belt pulley, fenders, and 12.4 x 28 inch tires, picked up for a surprising $750.

Three non-AC tractors were also available. Two Fergusons – a 1954 Model TO-30 and a 1951 Model TO-20 – sold for $1,150 and $1,100 respectively. Both featured a 3-point hitch, fenders, and 12.4 x 28 inch tires. The auction’s final lot was a 1945 Farmall Model A wide-front, with rear-mounted PTO cable winch, front snow plow, and 11.2 x 24 inch tires. It rolled off for just $950.

Other equipment included a 1990s Kubota Model 2900-GST diesel 4-WD with just 2,317 hours but noted transmission issues, which landed $6,700. It was equipped with an LA480 front loader, a Century backhoe with a 14-inch bucket, 420-70 x 24 inch and 10-16.5 industrial tires, a 3-point hitch, and rollover protection.

An AC Model D 4-WD grader landed $3,100. It was equipped with a WD-45 gas engine, hydraulic lift, 10-foot blade, and manual pivot. A mere $1,000 picked up a late 1970s AC Model F-2 gas-fueled gleaner, with cab, swing-out auger, and 10-foot grain head. The two-owner rig was indoor stored and had been used last year.

Accessories included a set of eight AC pie wheel weights off of a Model D-14. Those went for $500. Later, four lots with single AC slab front tractor weights sold from $100 to $200 each.

For information on Art Smith’s upcoming auctions, visit www.artsmithauctioneers.com