Young Farmer's Sideline Is Restoring Old Tractors

Young Farmer's Sideline Is Restoring Old Tractors 29-6-8 When Allen Kasten, Hillsboro, Ill., was 14 years old, he restored a 1937 Allis Chalmers WC with the help of a family friend. He did it because he thought it'd be cool to have one. "That was the start of my business which just keeps on growing," says Kasten. Now, the 22-year-old keeps busy farming 320 acres on his own, helping his dad farm and running the tractor business on the side. Kasten restores about six tractors a year, mostly during the winter months. "I usually get back in the shop around November," he says, adding that it takes about three weeks to do most jobs. Although he specializes in Allis Chalmers, he also restores Deere and Internationals. The shop has a hydraulic lift and areas for painting, welding and mechanical work. Right now, he's restoring his own Allis Chalmers WD 45 Diesel and another AC WD 45. Kasten doesn't advertise much aside from attending area antique tractor shows and advertising in the program books. Word of mouth also plays an important role. "I'm booked up right now and have a waiting list." Depending on the project, he charges around $2,000 for the work which includes stripping the machine down, replacing parts and painting. He says his favorite part of the job is talking with the old guys. "They always have stories about how they used to run that kind of equipment. It's pretty neat." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Allen Kasten, 103314 Illinois Route 185, Hillsboro, Ill. 62049 (ph 217 532-5090).

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