14 replies to this topic

[Gtractor]

Today was our local Orscheln's Farm and Home annual tractor show.  The wind chill was something OVER 100 and typical for Missouri, the humidity was something over 3000%.  

Turnout was down significantly because of that and the many other activities in town today competing for exhibitors and spectators.  The local stores manager is somewhat of an old tractor guru so he goes all out for us.  He donates items every year to our tractor club and we are very appreciative of that.

I took the Fabricobble and hauled the Mrs.'s 1948 Case VAO [big tractor] in. 

I'm not much on judged shows of any kind but the Mrs. took first place so she got a $100 gift card and several free goodies from Van Sickle paint.   Her tractor has been featured on the Van Sickle website for 9 years plus.  There were a few freshly painted tractors there so the VAO's [almost] 10 year old paint job didn't have the most shine but it can still hold its own.   I used lots of hardner on the ONE COAT of VAN SICKLE  paint it got back in early 2005 and it mostly stays inside with old flannel sheets covering it. 

I'll include a pic of the VAO taken back in 2005.  I have to use an old picture because I can't load pics anymore on this junk computor. 

For those that don't know what the "Fabricobble" is, go to the home page and look through "featured tractors" and scroll down to May 2012.   It'll be on the third page.

ENJOY!!

 

 

I didn't win a dern thing......... 

 

[Bolens 1000]

Nice!

Congratulations to you and your wife!

[petrj6]

    OK I gotta ask, Is that a cover over the tractor?  I have seen something like it before.  It must be custom made I assume.  Nice looking machine

[olcowhand]

    OK I gotta ask, Is that a cover over the tractor?  I have seen something like it before.  It must be custom made I assume.  Nice looking machine

 

No, not custom made....factory built orchard tractor.  And congrats to the Mrs!

[Rock farmer]

I didn't win a dern thing.........

And just how where you going to compete against that?

Joe

[LilysDad]

Beautiful tractor!

[MH81]

Wonderful O you have there.

[Gtractor]

No, not custom made....factory built orchard tractor.  And congrats to the Mrs!

Thanx Daniel!  

The tractor is as factory but I had to make the shields from scratch without a pattern as they were long gone when I fiirst saw that tractor in 1994.  The Mrs.'s dad bought it then to brushcut trails in his 35 acre hunting "farm".   I went to pick it up and the old fellow that was selling it said "thats an orchard tractor".  At the time I didn't know what an orchard tractor was but he made sure I took all the factory pieces that were still with it because as he said...  "you'll want those some day".

He was sure right!  When FIL gave it to the Mrs. in 2003 the stipulation was that I had to "fix it up like when it was new".  I left the tractor to sit on the hunting farm just over one hour away from here for over a year thinking I wanted no part of that.  It was in very bad shape.   The national Case show was going to be in close proximity in 2005 so I decided I'd tackle the job.   The "after" picture shows three months of labor,  every second I wasn't at work or sleeping.  I got done with one day to spare but there is only one coat of paint on it and in full sunshine I can see primer in a couple of spots.  No one notices it until I point it out.

Case made a total of 1547 VAO's in 1948 but all the tinwork was optional and most didn't opt for the additional expense.  The Mrs. seldom drives it because she is short and can't see over the shields. 

[bhts]

Congrats to the misses and it sure is a nice looking tractor.

[grnspot110]

Congrats to her!!!      

 

I decided it was too hot for me to come down & set around on an asphalt lot!  ~~ Lowell

[Sawdust]

Good looking tractor & congrats to the Misses.

[KC9KAS]

Congrats to you for rebuilding the tractor and congrats to your wife for winning 1st place!

[JD DANNELS]

That isa cool and rare tractor!! There are still quite a few VAs running around here. In fact my cousin offered to sell me one.
ButI have never seen an orchard model except in pictures.

[CRFarnsworth]

Congrats. to the wife!      Nice tractor!

 

Glad that you managed to endure that kind of wind chill .   Rick

[HDWildBill]

Congratulations on First place!